Supplementation of guanidinoacetic acid to broiler diets: Effects on performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and energy metabolism

• DOI: 10.3382/ps.2011-01585
• Publication Date: 2012-01-17T22:06:31Z
• Authors: J. Michiels; L. Maertens; J. Buyse; A. Lemme; M. Rademacher; N.A. Dierick; S. De Smet
• Keywords: Starter; Creatine; Negative control

Creatine, (CREA) a central constituent in energy metabolism, is obtained from dietary animal protein or de novo synthesis guanidinoacetic acid (GAA). Especially all-vegetable diets, supplemental CREA GAA may restore the availability tissues, and hence, improve performance. In this study, 768 one-d-old male Ross 308 broilers were assigned to 1 of 4 diets: negative control, corn-soybean-based; control supplemented with either 0.6 1.2 g per kilogram feed; positive (60, 30, 30 g/kg fish meal starter, grower, finisher respectively). Each treatment was replicated 6 pens 32 birds each. At end grower period (d 26), 2 pen euthanized for metabolic measurements. Four selected at slaughter age 39) determine carcass characteristics meat quality. Compared supplementation resulted an improved gain:feed ratio (P < 0.05) ADG 0.05; + 2.7 2.2% g/kg, respectively) throughout entire period. Breast yield higher diets compared that 30.6 vs. 29.4%) comparable (30.2%). With regard quality, lower ultimate pH values, cooking press fluid losses, color L* values observed those diet 0.05). These effects small, however. The levels breast higher, respectively, GAA-fed 0.01). did not affect plasma traits, except insulin-like growth factor I concentrations almost twice as high animals fed all other treatments. included performance whole rearing increased yield.