The possibilities for reducing nitrogen losses in poultry farming

Abstract

Nitrogen loss is a potential source of pollution in poultry production. It may be reduced by either greater use of mass produced amino acids or by chicken genotypes which use dietary amino acids more efficiently. Unsufficient knowledge of the precise requirements in limiting amino acids after methionine and lysine or a slight toxicity at high concentrations of free amino acids in feed can pose problems. However, a reduction of 10% in nitrogen waste can be expected through this technique, without affecting production. Adding more amino acids could lead to a reduction of 35% in nitrogen waste as long as growth rate and feed efficiency were not affected adversely. Genotypes transforming dietary amino acids into body proteins more efficiently may give a reduction of 15% in nitrogen loss. These genotypes will probably exhibit changes in their relative needs of amino acids. Overall, both these approaches give grounds for hope of reducing nitrogen loss by up to 50% in intensive poultry farming. At the present time they can contribute to a reduction of 25%.