Dietary crude protein level and amino acid balance can influence the susceptibility of poultry to enteric disorders
by affecting nitrogen metabolism and enteric microflora. Excess crude protein or poor amino acid balance can be a
metabolic stress to chicks and poults, thereby adversely affecting feed intake, feed conversion, and growth. Excess
dietary protein and amino acid forces the birds to eliminate nitrogen via the kidneys, which elicits a flushing (diruresis)
response. Excess dietary protein may also shift the microflora to a more proteolytic population (e.g. clostridia), which
can adversely affect gut health. Amino acid balance can be improved by reducing dietary crude protein to about 90%
of NRC recommendations and supplementing with lysine, methionine and threonine.