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METABOLISM AND NUTRITION |

* Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO 63167; and
Colorado Quality Research, Wellington, CO 80549
1 Corresponding author: donald.m.lucas{at}monsanto.com
| ABSTRACT |
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0.05) to that of broilers fed conventional maize diets without supplemental L-Lys HCl. Both broiler performance and carcass data demonstrate that the bioefficacy of the incremental Lys in LY038 or LY038 x MON 810 grain was not different from that of Lys in conventional maize diets supplemented with L-Lys HCl. Thus, LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 can be considered as wholesome as and more nutritious than conventional maize due to its higher-than-average Lys content.
Key Words: broiler performance carcass quality Corynebacterium glutamicum-derived lysine feedback insensitive dihydrodipicolinate synthase cordapA lysine maize
| INTRODUCTION |
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Lysine maize (hereafter called LY038 or LY038 x MON 810) was developed by stably integrating into the maize genome the cordapA coding sequence under the control of the maize Glb1 promoter to direct the expression of the Corynebacterium glutamicum-derived Lys feedback insensitive dihydrodipicolinate synthase (cDHDPS) protein predominantly in the germ portion of maize kernels (Belanger and Kriz, 1991; Falco et al., 1995; Galili, 2002). The introduction of the cordapA gene into maize results in the production of maize grain with higher-than-average Lys content, relative to conventional maize, and improved nutritional value for use as a feed ingredient in broiler diets. The LY038 was conventionally bred with MON 810, which produces the Cry1Ab protein from Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki strain HD-1, protecting against feeding damage from the European corn borer (Ostrinia numbilalis). The resulting combined-trait maize, LY038 x MON 810, is protected from feeding damage by the European corn borer and produces grain with higher-than-average Lys content, relative to conventional maize. Results from past broiler studies (Taylor et al., 2003a,b,c; Flachowsky et al., 2005) have shown that inclusion of MON 810 grain in broiler diets had no meaningful negative effect on broiler performance or carcass characteristics compared with those of broilers fed conventional maize grain-based diets.
This study was designed to evaluate performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed diets containing LY038 or LY038 x MON 810 compared with that of broilers fed control or conventional reference corn-based diets formulated to a Lys level below that required for optimal bird performance, whereas all other essential amino acids were present at levels, relative to Lys, above those required for optimal bird performance (NRC, 1994; Emmert and Baker, 1997). The bioefficacy of the incremental Lys in LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 was assessed by comparing responses of broilers fed diets containing LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 with those of broilers fed control and conventional reference maize diets formulated with and without supplemental crystalline Lys (L-Lys HCl). L-Lysine HCl has been reported to be approximately 100% bioavailable for broilers (Sibbald and Wolynetz, 1985; Nelson et al., 1986; Izquierdo et al., 1988; Neme et al., 2001). All diets were formulated to the same nutrient specifications with the exception of the intended difference in Lys concentration. L-Lysine HCl was added to the Lys-supplemented diets to provide a dietary Lys concentration equivalent to that of diets containing LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 grain. Observation of bird performance and health throughout the study provided a basis for assessing the wholesomeness of diets containing LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 grain compared with L-Lys HCl-supplemented control or conventional reference maize grain-based diets.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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Experimental Design
Eight maize sources (LY038, LY038 x MON 810, a conventional control with similar genetic background to the test maize, and 5 conventional reference hybrids) were used to formulate 14 diets. Grain from multiple conventional reference maize hybrids was included to demonstrate the range of broiler performance and carcass characteristics observed for diets containing different commercially available reference maize hybrids under the conditions of this feeding study. Control and 5 reference maize grain sources were formulated into diets with and without supplemental L-Lys HCl. Targeted Lys concentration of the respective control and reference maize diets, with and without L-Lys HCl supplementation, differed by 0.079 percentage units. The 14 dietary treatments were assigned in a randomized complete block design to 10 blocks of 14 pens. Each dietary treatment was offered to 10 pens of 10 birds each (100 birds/treatment, a total of 1,400 birds). An additional 2 chicks were placed in each pen initially (total of 12 birds/pen) to compensate for early chick mortality during the first 7 d posthatch. At d 7, the group size was standardized to 10 broilers/pen. The initial criterion for d-7 bird removal was slow growth, followed by random selection for the majority of birds removed.
Maize Grain
The LY038, LY038 x MON 810, control [LY038(-)], and 1 conventional reference grain (DKC61-42) were produced in Maui County, Hawaii, during the 2004–2005 growing season. The other 4 conventional reference grain sources included in this study (Pfister 2730, Asgrow RX772, DKC62-15, and Pioneer 34M94) were produced in Warren County, Illinois, in 2004. Mycotoxin (Romer Laboratories, Union, MO) and pesticide residue (Covance Laboratories, Madison, WI) analyses were conducted on each corn grain source before initiation of the study to verify that the levels were below the limits of concern for broiler performance. Proximate [CP (955.04 and 979.09), crude fat (960.39 and 948.22), crude fiber (962.09), ash (942.05), and moisture (926.08 and 925.09)] and amino acid (982.30) and analyses (Covance Laboratories) were performed on the grain according to methods of AOAC International (2005). Carbohydrate values were calculated by difference using the fresh weight-derived data [% carbohydrates = 100% – (% protein + % fat + % moisture + % ash)].
Diets
Diets were formulated based on the nutrient analyses for specific lots of LY038, LY038 x MON 810, conventional control [LY038(-)], and conventional reference maize fed in this study (Table 1
). A crumbled starter diet (59% wt/ wt maize, as fed) was fed from d 0 to 21 (Table 2
), and a pelleted grower-finisher diet (66% wt/wt maize, as fed) was fed from d 21 to 42 (Table 3
). Diets containing LY038 or LY038 x MON 810 and diets containing control [LY038(-)] or conventional reference maize supplemented with L-Lys HCl were targeted to contain 1.05 and 0.90% total Lys, as-fed basis, for the starter and grower-finisher phases, respectively. The diets containing control [LY038(-)] or conventional reference grain and not supplemented with L-Lys HCl were targeted to contain approximately 0.97 and 0.82% total Lys for the starter and grower-finisher phases, respectively. Based on results of previously published studies (Kidd et al., 1998; Labadan et al., 2001; Corzo et al., 2002, 2006) and the results of a preliminary experiment using the same strain of birds and test facility utilized for the current study, the selected target dietary Lys concentrations were expected to be in a range in which bird performance and carcass parameters would be sensitive to a change in dietary Lys concentration. Lysine levels in all diets were below the NRC (1994) requirements and the Illinois ideal Lys:amino acid ratios (Emmert and Baker, 1997), so the broilers would be growth-responsive to changes in dietary Lys quantity and availability. The amount of L-Lys HCl added to the diets requiring Lys was determined based on the difference between the amount provided by the maize, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal and the desired level of total dietary Lys. Methionine, Cys, Arg, Trp, and Thr were formulated to meet or exceed 105% of the Illinois ideal Lys:amino acid ratio based on 1.05 and 0.90% Lys levels for the starter and grower-finisher diets, respectively. This assured that Lys would be the first limiting amino acid in all study diets. A coccidiostat, salinomycin (Sacox, Intervet Inc., Millsboro, DE), was included in all diets at a level of 50 g/ton. Diets were analyzed (University of Missouri, Experiment Station Chemical Laboratories, Columbia, MO) to confirm nutrient composition (Tables 2
and 3
).
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Statistical Analyses
Statistical analyses were conducted on performance (live weight, feed consumption, and adjusted feed efficiency for d 0 to 21, d 21 to 42, and d 0 to 42 intervals) and carcass [chilled carcass and fat pad weight (g and % live wt) and breast, thigh, drum, and wing weight (g and % chilled wt)] measurements, as well as moisture, protein, and fat values for breast and thigh meat. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) was carried out using a linear mixed model procedure (PROC MIXED) of SAS version 9.1 (SAS Online Doc, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC).
The statistical model included effects of treatment and block, with the experimental unit being the pen. The main effect of diet was tested, and if the overall F-test for the diet effect was significant (P
0.05), the following mean value contrasts were made at the 5% level of significance: (1 and 2) LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 diets, respectively, vs. the control [LY038(-)] diet without supplemental Lys; (3 and 4) LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 diets, respectively, vs. the control [LY038(-)] diet with supplemental Lys; and (5) the population of control [LY038(-)] and reference hybrid diets without supplemental Lys vs. the population of control [LY038(-)] and reference hybrid diets with supplemental Lys.
| RESULTS AND DISCUSSION |
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Diet Analytics.
The targeted Lys levels for the diets containing LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 as well as control and reference maize diets supplemented with L-Lys HCl were 1.05 and 0.90% in the starter and grower-finisher diets, respectively. The measured Lys levels in the LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 diets averaged 1.08 and 1.03% for the starter diet and 0.89 and 0.91% for the grower-finisher diet (Tables 2
and 3
, respectively). Control and reference maize diets supplemented with Lys ranged from 1.05 to 1.13% (average 1.08%) for the starter diets and ranged from 0.87 to 0.92% (average 0.89%) for the grower-finisher diets. Differences in Lys levels between control and reference maize diets with and without supplemental Lys were targeted to be 0.079% for both starter and grower-finisher diets. The measured differences in Lys levels between diets with and without supplemental Lys ranged from 0 to 0.12% (average 0.07%) for the starter diets and from 0.04 to 0.09% (average 0.06%) for the grower-finisher diets. Based on the bird performance results obtained in this study, the formulated Lys levels, supported by detailed feed preparation records, most likely reflect the actual Lys level in the diets more accurately than the measured Lys levels presented in Tables 2
and 3
.
Broiler Health.
The birds in all groups were in good health throughout the study based on twice daily pen observations. During the first 7 d of the study, chick mortality was low (total of 8 birds, 0.5%, due to bacterial infection) and unrelated to treatment. Similarly, mortality from d 7 to 42 was low and unrelated to treatment, averaging 1.1% and ranging from 0 to 2% across all treatments (data not shown).
Responsiveness of the Test System to Change in Dietary Lys
The growth responsiveness of broilers to Lys was demonstrated by measured differences (P
0.05) in rate of weight gain and feed efficiency of broilers fed diets containing control and conventional reference maize supplemented with Lys compared with their nonsupplemented Lys-deficient counterparts for d 0 to 21, d 21 to 42, and d 0 to 42 (Table 4
). Carcass yield measurements (chilled carcass, fat pad, breast, drum, and wing weight, but not thigh weight) as well as meat composition (moisture and protein, but not fat, content of breast and thigh meat) responded (P
0.05) to a calculated 0.079% Lys addition to starter and grower-finisher diets containing lower total Lys content than required for optimal bird performance and carcass quality. Increased BW and improved feed efficiency with Lys addition to Lys-deficient diets has been reported by numerous investigators (Kidd et al., 1998; Labadan et al., 2001; Corzo et al., 2002, 2006). These results are also consistent with results of a preliminary experiment with male Cobb x Cobb 500 strain commercial broilers in the same test facility used for the current study that yielded the following optimal dietary Lys concentrations (as-fed basis) for respective growth phases (diets) and parameter responses: 1) for d 0 to 21 (starter diet), 1.22% for weight gain and 1.38% for feed efficiency; 2) for d 21 to 42 (grower diet), 0.87% for weight gain and 1.04% for feed efficiency and 0.92 and 0.95% for breast yield (g and % chilled carcass, respectively); and 3) for d 42 to 56 (finisher diet), 0.96% for weight gain, 0.97% for feed efficiency, and 0.90 and 0.96% for breast yield (g and % chilled carcass, respectively).
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0.05) for both the starter and grower-finsher phases and the entire test period for broilers fed diets containing LY038 or LY038 x MON 810 vs. diets containing either the control or conventional reference maize not supplemented with L-Lys HCl (Table 5
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0.05) when the control and reference maize diets formulated with Lys as the limiting amino acid were supplemented with L-Lys HCl. Bioefficacy of the incremental Lys in LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 grain [present as free Lys as compared with essentially all the Lys in conventional maize that is present as protein-incorporated Lys (see total and free Lys content of each grain source fed in this study in Table 1
0.05) yield of total chilled carcass and parts, including breast, drums, and wings, but not thighs (Table 6
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0.05).
The bioefficacy and bioavailability of the incremental Lys expressed in LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 grain was demonstrated by the lack of difference (P > 0.05) in performance and carcass measurements of birds fed diets formulated with LY038 or LY038 x MON 810 compared with the performance and carcass measurements for birds fed diets containing either the control or conventional reference maize at the same inclusion rate as LY038 and supplemented with L-Lys HCl. Enhanced growth, feed efficiency, and carcass yield due to the increased level of available Lys in LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 grain were demonstrated by the superior (P
0.05) performance of broilers fed diets containing LY038 or LY038 x MON 810 compared with that of broilers fed control or conventional reference grain diets without supplemental Lys but otherwise identical in composition. No unexpected effects on bird performance or health were observed with the feeding of LY038 or LY038 x MON 810 grain. Therefore, LY038 and LY038 x MON 810 can be considered as wholesome as conventional maize when fed to poultry and more nutritious than conventional due to its higher-than-average Lys content, relative to conventional maize.
Received for publication February 26, 2007. Accepted for publication June 15, 2007.
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