Low crude protein diets supplemented with free amino acids in laying hens : effects on performance, egg quality, N-efficiency, N-excretion, economics and diet carbon footprint

Providing laying hens diets with a reduced crude protein (CP) content that are supplemented with free amino acids (AA) to cover the AA requirement might be helpful in reducing the soybean meal content of Latin American origin, and thus in reducing the amount of non-EU protein in the diet. This report describes the results of an experiment in which the effects of low CP diets, with a partial replacement of soybean meal by free AA, on laying performance, egg quality, and N-excretion were evaluated in laying hens from 39-51 weeks of age.