Nutrient Requirements of Chickens and Turkeys

Jeffre D. Firman *

Tables from Nutrient Requirements of Poultry, 8th revised edition, 1984, National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20418.


Table 1. Body weights and feed requirements of broilers.

Age
(weeks)		 Body Weight (g) Weekly
Feed Consumption (g)		 Cumulative
Feed consumption (g)		 Weekly
energy consumption
(ME kcal/bird)		 Cumulative
energy consumption
(ME kcal/bird)
Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
1 130 120 120 110 120 110 385 350 385 350
2 320 300 260 240 380 350 830 770 1,215 1,120
3 560 515 390 355 770 705 1,250 1,135 2,465 2,255
4 860 790 535 500 1,305 1,205 1,710 1,600 4,175 3,855
5 1,250 1,110 740 645 2,045 1,850 2,370 2,065 6,545 5,920
6 1,690 1,430 980 800 3,025 2,650 3,135 2,560 9,680 8,480
7 2,100 1,745 1,095 910 4,120 3,560 3,505 2,910 13,185 11,390
8 2,520 2,060 1,210 970 5,330 4,530 3,870 3,105 17,055 14,495
9 2,925 2,350 1,320 1,010 6,650 5,540 4,225 3,230 21,280 17,725

* Typical for broilers fed well-balanced diets containing 3,200 ME kcal/kg
Conversion chart: 454 grams/lb; 1,000 grams/kilogram; 2.2 lbs./kilogram


Table 2. Nutrient requirements of leghorn-type chickens
as percentages or as milligrams or units per kilogram of diet.

Energy base Growing
0-6 weeks		 Growing
6-14 weeks		 Growing
14-20 weeks		 Laying Laying
Daily intake
per hen (mg) **		 Breeding
kcal ME/kg diet * 2,900 2,900 2,900 2,900 2,900
Protein (%) 18 15 12 14.5 16,000 14.5
Arginine (%) 1.00 0.83 0.67 0.68 750 0.68
Glycine and serine(%) 0.70 0.58 0.47 0.50 550 0.50
Histidine (%) 0.26 0.22 0.17 0.16 180 0.16
Isoleucine (%) 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.50 550 0.50
Leucine (%) 1.00 0.83 0.67 0.73 800 0.73
Lysine (%) 0.85 0.60 0.45 0.64 700 0.64
Methionine + cystine (%) 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.55 600 0.55
Methionine (%) 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.32 350 0.32
Phenylalanine + tyrosine (%) 1.00 0.83 0.67 0.80 880 0.80
Phenylalanine (%) 0.54 0.45 0.36 0.40 440 0.40
Threonine (%) 0.68 0.57 0.37 0.45 500 0.45
Tryptophan (%) 0.17 0.14 0.11 0.14 150 0.14
Valine (%) 0.62 0.52 0.41 0.55 600 0.55
Linoleic acid (%) 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1,100 1.00
Calcium (%) 0.80 0.70 0.60 3.40 3,750 3.40
Phosphorus, available (%) 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.32 350 0.32
Potassium (%) 0.40 0.30 0.25 0.15 165 0.15
Sodium (%) 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 165 0.15
Chlorine (%) 0.15 0.12 0.12 0.15 165 0.15
Magnesium (mg) 600 500 400 500 55 500
Manganese (mg) 60 30 30 30 3.30 60
Zinc (mg) 40 35 35 50 5.50 65
Iron (mg) 80 60 60 50 5.50 60
Copper (mg) 8 6 6 6 0.88 8
Iodine (mg) 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.30 0.03 0.30
Selenium (mg) 0.15 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.01 0.10
Vitamin A (IU) 1,500 1,500 1,500 4,000 440 4,000
Vitamin D (ICU) 200 200 200 500 55 500
Vitamin E (IU) 10 5 5 5 0.55 10
Vitamin K (mg) 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.055 0.50
Riboflavin (mg) 3.60 1.80 1.80 2.20 0.242 3.80
Pantothenic acid (mg) 10.0 10.0 10.0 2.20 0.242 10.0
Niacin (mg) 27.0 11.0 11.0 10.0 1.10 10.0
Vitamin B12 (mg) 0.009 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.00044 0.004
Choline (mg) 1,300 900 500 ? ? ?
Biotin (mg) 0.15 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.011 0.15
Folacin (mg) 0.55 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.0275 0.35
Thiamin (mg) 1.8 1.3 1.3 0.80 0.088 0.80
Pyridoxine (mg) 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 0.33 4.50

* These are typical dietary energy concentrations.
** Assumes an average daily intake of 110 g of feed/hen daily.


Table 3. Body weights and feed requirements of leghorn-type pullets and hens.

Age
(weeks)		 Body weight
(g/week) **		 Typical Feed
consumption (g) *		 egg production
(hen-day %)
0 35 45 --
2 135 90 --
4 270 180 --
6 450 260 --
8 620 325 --
10 790 385 --
12 950 430 --
14 1,060 460 --
16 1,160 460 --
18 1,260 460 --
20 1,360 460 --
22 1,425 525 10
24 1,500 595 38
26 1,575 665 64
30 1,725 770 88
40 1,815 770 80
50 1,870 765 74
60 1,900 755 68
70 1,900 740 62

* Pullets and hens of Leghorn-type strains are generally fed ad libitum but are occasionally control-fed to limit body weights. Values shown are typical but will vary with strain differences, season and lighting. Specific breeder guidelines should be consulted for desired schedules of weights and feed consumption.
** Based on diets containing 2,900 ME kcal/kg, consumption will vary depending upon the caloric density of the diet, environ- mental temperature and rate of production.


Table 4. Nutrient requirements of broilers
as percentages or as mg or units per kg of diet.

Energy base kcal Weeks 0-3 Weeks 3-6 Weeks 6-8
ME/kg diet * 3,200 3,200 3,200
Protein (%) 23.0 20.0 18.0
Arginine (%) 1.44 1.20 1.00
Glycine + Serine (%) 1.50 1.00 0.70
Histidine (%) 0.35 0.30 0.26
Isoleucine (%) 0.80 0.70 0.60
Leucine (%) 1.35 1.18 1.00
Lysine (%) 1.20 1.00 0.85
Methionine + Cystine (%) 0.93 0.72 0.60
Methionine (%) 0.50 0.38 0.32
Phenylalanine + Tyrosine (%) 1.34 1.17 1.00
Phenylalanine (%) 0.72 0.63 0.54
Threonine (%) 0.80 0.74 0.68
Tryptophan (%) 0.23 0.18 0.17
Valine (%) 0.82 0.72 0.62
Linoleic acid (%) 1.00 1.00 1.00
Calcium (%) 1.00 0.90 0.80
Phosphorus, available (%) 0.45 0.40 0.35
Potassium (%) 0.40 0.35 0.30
Sodium (%) 0.15 0.15 0.15
Chlorine (%) 0.15 0.15 0.15
Magnesium (mg) 600 600 600
Manganese (mg) 60.0 60.0 60.0
Zinc (mg) 40.0 40.0 40.0
Iron (mg) 80.0 80.0 80.0
Copper (mg) 8.0 8.0 8.0
Iodine (mg) 0.35 0.35 0.35
Selenium (mg) 0.15 0.15 0.15
Vitamin A (IU) 1,500 1,500 1,500
Vitamin D (ICU) 200 200 200
Vitamin E (IU) 10 10 10
Vitamin K (mg) 0.50 0.50 0.50
Riboflavin (mg) 3.60 3.60 3.60
Pantothenic acid (mg) 10.0 10.0 10.0
Niacin (mg) 27.0 27.0 11.0
Vitamin B12 (mg) 0.009 0.009 0.003
Choline (mg) 1,300 850 500
Biotin (mg) 0.15 0.15 0.10
Folacin (mg) 0.55 0.55 0.25
Thiamin (mg) 1.80 1.80 1.80
Pyridoxine (mg) 3.0 3.0 2.5

* These are typical dietary energy concentrations.


Table 5. Nutrient requirements of turkeys
as percentages or as mg or units per kg of feed

Sex - Age (weeks)
Energy base M(0-4)
F(0-4)		 M(4-8)
F(4-8)		 M(8-12)
F(8-11)		 M(12-16)
F(11-14)		 M(16-20)
F(14-17)		 M(20-24)
F(17-20)		 Holding Breeding
hens
kcal ME/kg diet * 2,800 2,900 3,000 3,100 3,200 3,300 2,900 2,900
Protein (%) 28 26 22 19 16.5 14 12 14
Arginine (%) 1.6 1.5 1.25 1.1 0.95 0.8 0.6 0.6
Glycine + serine (%) 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.5
Histidine (%) 0.58 0.54 0.46 0.39 0.35 0.29 0.25 0.3
Isoleucine (%) 1.1 1.0 0.85 0.75 0.65 0.55 0.45 0.5
Leucine (%) 1.9 1.75 1.5 1.3 1.1 0.95 0.5 0.5
Lysine 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.0 0.8 0.65 0.5 0.6
Methionine + cystine (%) 1.05 0.9 0.75 0.65 0.55 0.45 0.4 0.4
Methionine (%) 0.53 0.45 0.38 0.33 0.28 0.23 0.2 0.2
Phenylalanine + tyrosine (%) 1.8 1.65 1.4 1.2 1.05 0.9 0.8 1.0
Phenylalanine (%) 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.55
Threonine (%) 1.0 0.93 0.79 0.68 0.59 0.5 0.4 0.45
Tryptophan (%) 0.26 0.24 0.2 0.18 0.15 0.13 0.1 0.13
Valine (%) 1.2 1.1 0.94 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.58
Linoleic acid (%) 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0
Calcium (%) 1.2 1.0 0.85 0.75 0.65 0.55 0.5 2.25
Phosphorus avail (%) 0.6 0.5 0.42 0.38 0.32 0.28 0.25 0.35
Potassium (%) 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6
Sodium (%) 0.17 0.15 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.15
Chlorine (%) 0.15 0.14 0.14 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12
Magnesium (mg) 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600
Manganese (mg) 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60
Zinc (mg) 75 65 50 40 40 40 40 65
Iron (mg) 80 60 60 60 50 50 50 60
Copper (mg) 8 8 6 6 6 6 6 8
Iodine (mg) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
Selenium (mg) 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Vitamin A (IU) 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000
Vitamin D (ICU) ** 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 900
Vitamin E (IU) 12 12 10 10 10 10 10 25
Vitamin K (mg) 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0
Riboflavin (mg) 3.6 3.6 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 4.0
Pantothenic acid (mg) 11.0 11.0 9.0 9.0 g) 9.0 9.0 9.0 16.0
Niacin (mg) 70.0 70.0 50.0 50.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 30.0
Vitamin B12 (mg) 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003
Choline (mg) 1,900 1,600 1,300 1,100 950 800 800 1,000
Biotin (mg) 0.2 0.2 0.15 0.125 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.15
Folacin (mg) 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.0
Thiamin (mg) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
Pyridoxine (mg) 4.5 4.5 3.5 3.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.0

* These are typical ME concentrations for corn-soy diets. Different ME values may be appropriate if other ingredients predominate.
** These concentrations of vitamin D are satisfactory when the dietary concentrations of calcium and available phosphorus conform with those in this table.


Table 6. Growth rate, feed and energy consumption of large-type turkeys.

Age
(weeks)		 Body weight (kg) Feed Consumption
Weekly (kg)		 Feed Consumption
Cumulative (kg)		 ME consumption
per week (Mcal)
MFMFMFMF
1 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.30 0.30
2 0.27 0.24 0.20 0.17 0.30 0.27 0.60 0.50
3 0.58 0.47 0.45 0.39 0.75 0.66 1.1 0.80
4 1.0 0.70 0.61 0.46 1.36 1.12 1.7 1.2
5 1.5 1.1 0.70 0.60 2.06 1.72 2.3 1.6
6 2.0 1.6 0.86 0.76 2.92 2.48 2.9 2.1
7 2.6 2.1 1.08 0.89 4.00 3.37 3.5 2.6
8 3.3 2.6 1.30 1.04 5.30 4.41 4.1 3.1
9 4.0 3.1 1.51 1.18 6.81 5.59 4.8 3.6
10 4.7 3.7 1.78 1.34 8.59 6.93 5.2 4.1
11 5.5 4.3 1.99 1.47 10.58 8.40 5.7 4.6
12 6.3 4.8 2.25 1.59 12.83 9.99 6.3 5.1
13 7.1 5.3 2.51 1.70 15.34 11.69 7.1 5.5
14 8.0 5.8 2.66 1.75 18.00 13.44 7.8 5.8
15 8.8 6.3 2.89 1.82 20.89 15.26 8.4 6.1
16 9.7 6.7 3.05 1.92 23.94 17.18 8.8 6.4
17 10.5 7.1 3.13 2.03 27.03 19.21 9.6 6.7
18 11.3 7.5 3.27 2.07 30.34 21.28 10.2 6.9
19 12.1 7.8 3.43 2.15 33.77 23.43 10.9 7.1
20 12.8 8.1 3.60 2.23 37.37 25.66 11.6 7.3
21 13.5 -- 3.71 -- 41.08 -- 12.5 --
22 14.2 -- 3.82 -- 44.90 -- 12.9 --
23 14.8 -- 3.94 -- 48.84 -- 13.2 --
24 15.4 -- 4.05 -- 52.89 -- 13.5 --

* Jeffre D. Firman, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia Reviewed October 1, 1993

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Ronald J. Turner, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Missouri and Lincoln University, Columbia, Missouri 65211.

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