Diets and Treatments
Experimental treatments consisted of three diets: 1)
high CP (High), 2) low CP with additional synthetic amino
acids (Low), and 3) an equal blend (1:1) of High and Low
CP treatments (Medium). Crude protein and amino acid
contents of corn and soybean used to formulate the diets
were obtained from their respective amino acid analyses.
Within a time period all diets were isocaloric. The starter
and grower diets were fed during Weeks 1 through 3 and
Weeks 4 through 6, respectively. The composition and
nutrient values for the diets are shown in Table 1. The Low
protein treatment was supplemented with more essential
amino acids to meet NRC minimum recommended values
(NRC, 1994). However, the analyzed data showed that the