EFFECTS OF THE RELATION LYSINE: ARGININE DIGESTABLE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL LAYING HENS IN LAYING PERIOD

Abstract

The work was performed to evaluate the effect of the relation of arginine:lysine (Arg:Lys) digestible on the performance of light and semi-heavy laying hens. 360 birds (180 light (LSL) and 180 semi heavy (Lohmann Brown)) were distributed randomly in 5 experiments with six birds each. The experimental period was composed of four phases of 28 days of age, being evaluated from 40 to 56 weeks of age of the birds. A total of 12 treatments were performed in a factorial schema 3 x 2 x 2, constituted by three levels of arginine (0.64, 0.72 to 0.79%), two levels of lysine (0.71 to 0.78%) and two lineages. Excluding the effect of lineages, the treatments were done with six relations: Arg: Lys, as the following arrangement: T1 = Relation= 0.91 or 0.64% Arg (-10%) and 0.71% of Lys digestible (level Normal); T2 = Relation 1.01 or 0.72% of Arg and 0.71% Lys digestible, normal levels or control; T3 = Relation 1.11 or 0.79% Arg (+10%) and 0.71% Lys digestible (normal level), T4 = Relation 0.82, or 0.64% Arg (-10%) and 0.78% Lys digestible (+10% of normal); T5 = Relation 0.92 or 0.72% Arg (normal) and 0.78% Lys digestible (+10% of normal); T6 = Relation 1.01 or 0.79% Arg (+10%) and 0.78% Lys digestible (+10% of normal). The levels of Arg and Lys did not affect the evaluated characteristics (P> 0.05), however, the lineage semi-heavy presented better values for food conversion by mass and specific gravity of eggs (P _ 0.05). Interactions were observed between Lys * Lineage to food conversion and between Lys*Arg to production, weight and conversion to mass of eggs. It is recommended the relation 0.91 or 0.64% Arg and 0.71% Lys digestible. Keywords: Aminoacids, nutrition, hens.