A sound nutrition program is essential to a success-

ful poultry operation. From an economic standpoint,

feeding accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the cost of produc-
tion. To maximize production at the least cost, producers
Poultry should pay close attention to the nutritional require-
ments of the species. The word nutrient refers to a broad
Nutrition category of organic and inorganic compounds found in
food that are essential for maximum growth, egg produc-

Information tion and feed efficiency. Feed efficiency refers to the

amount of food, in pounds, required to produce a pound of

for the Small body weight, or in the case of egg production, pounds of
feed required to produce a dozen eggs. Nutrients essential
for building and maintaining a successful poultry flock
Flock include water, carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, and
minerals. This publication addresses the function of indi-
Kenneth J. Wilson vidual nutrients and notes variations in nutrient require-
Graduate Assistant, Poultry ments among classes of poultry. It may be useful for small
flock producers, hobbyists, and commercial producers.
R. Scott Beyer
Specialist, Poultry Science Water ing on environmental
Kansas State University Without a doubt, water conditions.
is the most important For the flock to achieve
nutrient required by poul- maximum production
try. It is the least expensive, efficiency, water should
and usually the most be readily available and
neglected. free of pathogenic microor-
Water represents about ganisms and toxic levels of
70 percent of the total body minerals and chemicals.
weight of poultry and Zero units total bacteria
around 65 percent of the and total coliform bacteria
total weight of eggs. per milliliter of water is
Decreased production or desirable. The maximum
mortality will occur sooner acceptable level is 100 units
with water deprivation of total bacteria and 50
than food deprivation. This units of coliform bacteria
is especially noticeable per milliliter of water.
during the summer when Excessive mineral levels
outside temperatures are may adversely affect
high. Water helps regulate performance. One of the
body temperature, lubri- main consequences of high
cate and transport feed mineral levels in drinking
through the digestive tract, water is an increase in wet
and eliminate waste. litter. Wet litter provides a
There is no precise water good growth medium for
requirement for poultry mold and bacteria, which
because water intake is can reduce performance
related to numerous factors and flock health. The water
including age, body condi- supply should be tested if
tion, diet, temperature, there is concern about its
humidity, and accessibility. safety for consumption.
Kansas State University As a rule of thumb, poultry
will consume twice as Carbohydrates
Agricultural Experiment Station and Certain carbohydrates
Cooperative Extension Service much water as feed. This is
subject to change depend- are required in order for

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 the body to use other various fiber components. grain dust. Nutritionists
nutrients. Carbohydrate Important sources of typically use animal fat or
storage in the body is carbohydrates for poultry an animal-vegetable fat
relatively small compared include cereal grains and blend when balancing
to fat storage. The limited cereal grain by-products. poultry diets. Competition
carbohydrate storage with the human food
occurs in the liver and Fats market usually results in
muscle in the form of Fats perform certain high prices for vegetable
glycogen. Glycogen is a physiological functions oils. The high cost prohibits
highly branched structure within the body. They are use when formulating
composed of glucose. Plant used as an energy reserve, least-cost rations. An
carbohydrate energy is insulation against tempera- antioxidant should be
stored in the form of starch, ture extremes, tissue added to poultry diets
which is also a highly membranes, and to protect when fat is added in order
branched structure com- vital organs. A group of to prevent the fat from
posed of glucose. Carbohy- vitamins referred to as fat- turning rancid. This is
drates and fats are usually soluble require the pres- especially important
grouped together under a ence of fat in order to be during hot weather.
larger category referred to effectively absorbed by the
as energy. body. Fats are used to Proteins
Dietary energy is increase the energy content Proteins are a large
needed to support produc- of the diet. Using carbohy- complex class of nutrients
tion and maintenance. drates by themselves fails composed of smaller units
Growth rate and/or egg to achieve the target energy known as amino acids. The
production are factors that level. Fat has 2.25 times location of proteins in the
affect the energy required more energy than carbohy- body is quite broad. Pro-
for production. Other drates on an equal-weight teins are found in struc-
factors include body size, basis. Fats are composed of tural tissue, blood, en-
environmental conditions, smaller components zymes, and hormones.
level of activity, stress known as fatty acids. Of On a dry-weight basis,
factors, such as disease and these fatty acids, poultry the body of a mature
parasites, and rate of have a specific requirement broiler is more than
feathering. for linoleic acid, so it is 65 percent protein.
Carbohydrates are the termed an essential dietary The contents of an egg
largest source of energy fatty acid. Essential means are about 50 percent pro-
used in poultry diets. it must be provided in the tein. Digestion of feed
Carbohydrates common in diet because the body can proteins results in the
poultry diets are starches, not construct it out of other liberation of individual
sugars, cellulose, and other compounds. The feeding amino acids.
non-starch compounds. value of fat varies depend- For nutritional purposes
Cellulose and the non- ing on whether it is unsat- amino acids are grouped
starch compounds are urated or saturated. Young into two categories known
typically classified as crude poultry are less able to as essential (indispensable)
fiber. Most starches and digest saturated fats. At and non-essential (dispens-
sugars are used well by room temperature, unsat- able). Essential amino acids
poultry; the fiber portion is urated fat is a liquid, while are those that cannot be
not. saturated fat is a solid. synthesized in adequate
In formulating poultry Corn oil, soy oil, and amounts to meet growth
diets efforts are made to canola oil are examples of and maintenance require-
minimize the fiber concen- unsaturated fat. Tallow, ments. There are 22 amino
tration. This is in contrast lard, poultry fat, and acids commonly found in
to human nutrition where a choice white grease are feed ingredients. Eleven
high-fiber diet is recom- examples of saturated fat. of the 22 amino acids,
mended. Poultry lack In addition to its nutri- referred to as essential
certain digestive enzymes tional value, adding fat to amino acids, must be
required to digest the the feed aids in reducing provided in poultry diets.

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 Nonessential amino in foods in small quantities. Minerals
acids are those the body Like the other nutrients, Minerals are inorganic
can make in sufficient they are an essential part compounds divided into
amounts as long as the of a good nutrition pro- two classes: macrominerals
appropriate starting com- gram. Adequate intake and microminerals.
pounds are available. The levels of vitamins are Macrominerals are needed
presence or absence of necessary for normal body in relatively large amounts,
essential amino acids will functions, growth and and microminerals in small
dictate the quality of the reproduction. Vitamin amounts.
feed protein. Lysine and deficiencies can lead to a The macrominerals
methionine are the two number of diseases or include calcium, phospho-
most critical amino acids in syndromes. rus, chlorine, magnesium,
poultry nutrition. Deficien- Vitamins can be divided potassium, and sodium.
cies of these two amino into two classes: fat soluble Calcium is important for
acids leads to a significant and water soluble. The fat- normal bone development,
loss in productive effi- soluble vitamins include blood-clot formation,
ciency. vitamins A, D3, E, and K. muscle contraction and
Nutritionists will typi- Vitamin A is required for maintaining good eggshell
cally employ multiple normal growth and devel- quality. Phosphorus also is
ingredients to meet the opment of epithelial tissue important for normal bone
amino acid needs of poul- and reproduction in poul- development. It is a a
try because there is no try. Vitamin D3 is required component of cellular
single ingredient that for normal growth and membranes and a require-
contains adequate amounts development of bones ment for many metabolic
of the essential amino and for eggshell formation. functions.
acids. This concept is Vitamin K is an essential Chlorine is used in
referred to as the use of part of blood-clot forma- digestion as a component
complementary proteins. tion. Vitamin E is a power- of hydrochloric acid found
An example is the use of ful antioxidant. in the stomach. It is in-
corn, which is low in The water-soluble volved in water and acid/
lysine, and soybean meal, vitamins include the base balance in the body.
which is low in methion- B-complex vitamins — Sodium and potassium are
ine, together in a ration. vitamin B12, biotin, choline, electrolytes important for
By themselves neither corn folacin, niacin, pantothenic metabolic, muscle, and
or soybean meal can acid, pyridoxine, ribofla- nerve functions. They also
provide enough essential vin, and thiamin — and are involved with water
amino acids to maximize vitamin C. The B-complex and acid/base balance.
performance. But when the vitamins are involved with Magnesium assists with
two are combined, they many metabolic functions metabolic and muscle
provide adequate amounts including energy metabo- functions.
of the essential amino acids lism. Poultry can synthe- The microminerals
and are said to comple- size vitamin C, so no involved in metabolic
ment each other. requirement has been functions include copper,
Amino acid supplements established for this vita- iodine, iron, manganese,
are typically included in min. It may be beneficial in selenium and zinc. Iodine
poultry diets because of some circumstances, such is used to produce thyroid
the economic advantage of as birds subjected to stress. hormones that regulate the
adding them to the diets. Nutritionists usually rate of energy metabolism.
These amino acid supple- add a vitamin premix to Zinc is involved with many
ments include l-lysine the diet to compensate for enzymatic processes in the
hydrochloride and dl- fluctuating levels found body. Iron aids in oxygen
methionine. naturally in food. This transportation within the
ensures the bird has the body. Selenium has
Vitamins required amounts neces- antioxidative properties
Vitamins are a group of sary for normal productive
organic compounds found efficiency.

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 but may be toxic at high Summary References
levels. Ground limestone The productivity, repro- National Research Council.
and oyster shell are the duction and health of the 1994. Nutrient Requirements of
primary sources of cal- flock greatly depends on Poultry. 9th rev. ed. National
cium. Phosphorus and the quality of the feed they Academy Press, Washington,
DC 20055.
other calcium sources receive. Make sure the feed
include monocalcium is appropriate for the bird Scott, M. L., M. C. Nesheim,
phosphate, dicalcium and R. J. Young. 1982. Nutri-
species. For example, do
tion of the Chicken. 3rd ed.
phosphate and not feed layer mash to M. L. Scottand Associates,
deflourinated phosphate. growing chicks because the Ithaca, New York.
Common salt is the pri- calcium content will be too Leeson, S. and J. D. Sum-
mary source of sodium high and other nutrients mers. 1997. Commercial Poul-
and chlorine. too low. This will result in try Nutrition. 2nd ed. University
The levels of magne- reduced performance and Books, Guelph, Ontario,
sium, potassium and other can lead to mortality. Canada.
minerals not listed here Likewise, do not feed Carter, T. A. and R. E.
typically will be supplied broiler or turkey feed to Sneed.1997. Drinking Water
by other dietary ingredi- laying hens because the Quality for Poultry. Poultry
ents such as corn, soybean calcium is too low and Science and Technology
meal, and meat and bone other nutrients too high. Guide # 42. Extension Poultry
meal. Nutritionists use This will result in poor Science, North Carolina State
trace mineral University, Raleigh, North
eggshell quality and re-
Carolina.
(micromineral) premixes duced egg production.
when formulating diets to
supply the required
amounts of microminerals
needed for production and
maintenance.

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Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. In each case,
credit R. Scott Beyer and Kenneth J. Wilson, Poultry Nutrition Information for the Small Flock,
Kansas State University , December 2000

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
EP80 December 2000
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