Yup. There remains much disagreement in the industry. and there's variation in methodologies and assumptions. Even where methodologies (for testing amino acids content) are the same, the study assumptions can alter the outcomes.
The conditions in which a battery hen is raised, for instance, and the way its managed, will have definite impact on their dietary needs as compared to a backyard hen you plan to keep for some number of years. Likewise on breed - most of these studies are designed around leghorns, CornishX, or a commercial layer hybrid (RSL/BSL typically) - the needs of a chicken that takes far longer to be productive (such as my Brahma) or that produce much less frequently (ditto the Brahma) are likely to be much different.
Consider the classic Leghorn. Large to Jumbo white eggs, 6 days a week, very early maturing to about 4.5# hen. Lots of those in backyard flocks, "old reliable".
Now consider other backyard flock birds with white eggs, the Phoenix and the Sultan. Small white eggs, maybe one every two to three days or so, slow to mature, eventually gets to 4# with a whole lot of pretty feathers. Really, birds to show off to the neighbors, not for production.
No one is going to propose they need the same diet, yet all are "white egg layers".
You do your research, reach your own conclusions, feed your flock, and monitor the results. Its all any of us can do.
These are good points. Additionally, nutrition intake depends on the quantity of the feed intake. I found that only NRC, 1994 publication gives the nutrition percentage based on the 100 gm/hen/day intake. So for those three listed sources the nutrition suggested is in these ranges:
CP:15-18%, LY:0.52-0.84%, ME:0.22-0.36%, TRP:0.12-0.19%.
Unfortunately dealer didn’t get the right answer from Kalmbach (“if you mix 1/4 122 supplement with 3/4 corn, you will have all proper nutrients”). Which is not correct. He will try to go to Kalmbach again and speak to their nutritionist.
These are published info for Kalmbach 122 supplement, for yellow corn and oats:
K122: CP-44%, LY-2.75%, ME-0.75%, TRP- X.XX%
YCORN: CP-9.42%, LY-0.265%, ME-0.197%, TRP-0.067%
OATS: CP-18.9%, LY-0.701%, ME-0.312%, TRP-0.234%
Prices of these, by 50 lbs/bag, based on local feed&seed store are:
K122-$0.44/lb, Yellow corn-$0.16/lb and Oats-$0.30/lb.
Mix of 1/4 K122 plus 3/4 corn would yield:
CP-18%, LY-0.89%, ME-0.34%, TRP- 0.05%+x.xx% at the price of $0.23/lb.
Apparently TRP is below suggested value.
Mix of 1/4 K122, plus 1/4 oats plus 1/2 corn would yield:
CP-19.9%, LY-1.0%, ME-0.364%, TRP-0.09%+x.xx% at the price of $0.27/lb.
Almost double TRP over the mix with 75% corn.
Mix of 1/4 K122, plus 1/2 oats plus 1/4 corn would yield:
CP-21.8%, LY-1.1%, ME-0.39%, TRP-0.133+x.xx% at the price of
$0.30/lb.
Just at the low end of the range of TRP requirements.
Mix of 1/4 K122 plus 3/4 oats would yield:
CP-23.7, LY-1.21%, ME-0.42%, TRP-0.18%+x.xx% at the price of $0.32/lb.
This mix has the TRP value at the high end of requirements.
The mix with 3/4 oats meets TRP but quite exceeds all other requirements and is the most expensive mix. Wonder if some of the higher values might be detrimental including quite high CP.
I still will wait to see if the local dealer can find if possibly K122 has some TRP. Off hand, would shoot for the TRP in the range of 0.15-0.17%.
Any comments are welcome.
BTW, U_Stormcrow, if you know your TRP I would love to know it.
