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Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance
Dissertation (MSc (Animal Nutrition))--University of Pretoria, 2018.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1867613629088530432 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | van Rensburg, Jansen |
| author_browse | van Rensburg, Jansen |
| author_facet | van Rensburg, Jansen |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Dissertation (MSc (Animal Nutrition))--University of Pretoria, 2018. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/110017 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:11.002Z |
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| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
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| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/110017 Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance van Rensburg, Jansen skyla.cummings@yahoo.com Cummings, Skyla methionine DL-methionine (DLM) broiler production cost FCR Dissertation (MSc (Animal Nutrition))--University of Pretoria, 2018. Methionine is an essential amino acid that plays many vital roles in the body. Methionine is also the first limiting amino acid in maize-soya bean oilcake meal base poultry diets. Therefore, methionine has to be supplemented in the diet by adding synthetic methionine. DL-methionine (DLM) is commonly used and although it is an effective supplement, it is expensive. Due to the ever increasing price of raw materials and feed additives, as well as the importance of methionine in a broiler’s diet, an alternative to DLM is required. A commercially available product, MethPlus, is marketed as an adjuvant to methionine to help reduce the cost of producing broiler feed and improve meat characteristics. The aim of the two trials was to determine if the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, could replace part of the DLM in a broiler diet while maintaining performance. The first trial was a pilot trial that compared the effect of two different formulations of MethPlus on performance parameters, incidence and severity of foot pad dermatitis (FPD), carcass traits and meat quality in broilers. In the second trial only one MethPlus product, as recommended by the company, was tested. In Trial 1, a total of 1104 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were placed into an environmentally controlled house for a 37-day trial period. The chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups with twelve replicates of 23 birds each. A Positive Control treatment was formulated using DLM as the methionine supplement to reach total methionine (natural plus synthetic) levels in the diet as recommended in industry for optimum performance. A Negative Control diet was identical to the Positive Control but with only 50% of the DLM which was added to the Positive Control. Two treatment diets were included that contained the same level of DLM as the Negative Control and replaced 50% of the DLM added to the Positive Control with one of two MethPlus products (called MethPlus 1 and MethPlus 2). In Trial 2, a total of 1380 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were placed into an environmentally controlled house for a 37-day trial period. The chicks were randomly divided into five dietary treatment groups with twelve replicates of 23 birds each. A Positive Control treatment was formulated according to the recommended industry standards and used DLM as a synthetic methionine supplement to reach total methionine (natural plus synthetic) levels. Two Negative Controls were included, one with 0% DLM and the other with 50% DLM of the Positive Control. Two treatment diets were also included, one with 100% of DLM of the Positive control replaced with MethPlus and the other with 50% of DLM of the Positive control replaced with MethPlus. In Trial 1, starter phase was fed from day 0-12, grower phase from day 12-25 and finisher phase from day 25-37. Performance data (mean body weight, mean feed intake and feed conversion ratio) in Trial 1 was collected weekly as well as on days when phase of feed was changed. The occurrence of FPD was evaluated on day 35. Total mortalities for each treatment were recorded. Four chickens per replicate were slaughtered on the final day of the trial, day 37, to measure carcass traits namely, carcass weight, fat pad and portion weights (drumsticks, thighs and breasts). Dressing percentage and drumstick, thigh and breast weights as a % of the carcass weight were calculated. Drip loss was measured using the right half of the breast (with bone). xii In Trial 2, starter phase was fed from day 0-14, grower phase from day 14-28 and finisher phase from day 28-37. Performance data (mean body weight, mean feed intake and feed conversion ratio) was collected weekly and on the final day of the trial. Total mortalities for each treatment were recorded. Two chickens per replicate were slaughtered on the final day of the trial, day 37, to measure carcass traits. The right breast that was used to measure drip loss had no bone as well as no skin. The results for Trial 1 showed no difference (P >0.05) between performances of broilers from the different treatment groups. There was also no treatment effect (P >0.05) on mortality rate or FPD incidence. Broilers from the Positive Control group had a higher (P 0.05) effect on drip loss of the breast meat. In Trial 2, it was found that when 50% of the diet’s DLM was supplemented with MethPlus broiler body weights did not differ (P >0.05) from the Positive Control, although their feed intake and FCR for the 37 day period were higher. The Negative Control (50% DLM) and 50% MethPlus treatments performed at similar rates, and seldom differed from the Positive Control. It was found that the Negative Control (50% DLM) did not differ (P >0.05) from the Positive Control for body weights, feed intake or FCR. The Negative Control (0% DLM) and 100% MethPlus groups had the worst performance out of the five treatments and performed on par with each other. The Negative Control (0% DLM) had the highest accumulative FCR and lowest portion weights. In conclusion it was found that MethPlus cannot replace 50% of DLM in a broiler diet without having some negative effects on performance data. Animal and Wildlife Sciences MSc (Animal Nutrition) 2026-05-15T17:26:05Z 2026-05-15T17:26:05Z 18/06/21 2018 Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2263/110017 en application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | methionine DL-methionine (DLM) broiler production cost FCR Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance |
| title | Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance |
| title_full | Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance |
| title_fullStr | Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance |
| title_short | Use of the methionine adjuvant, MethPlus, to partially replace DL-methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance |
| title_sort | use of the methionine adjuvant methplus to partially replace dl methionine in broiler diets without sacrificing performance |
| topic | methionine DL-methionine (DLM) broiler production cost FCR |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/110017 |