Efficacy of dietary guanidinoacetic acid in broiler chicks

Three studies were conducted to determine the arginine (Arg) sparing effect of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and the efficacy of GAA to support growth performance and muscle phosphagen homeostasis in chicks when supplemented in either Arg-deficient or Arg-adequate diets. Study 1 established that 0.12% GAA supplementation increased (P < 0.05) gain:feed (G:F) by 7% on average compared with the 0.0% GAA negative controls. Bodyweight gain (BWG) increased (P < 0.05) and G:F (P < 0.05) for d 15 to 22 and d 8 to 22 with increasing Arg and GAA supplementation, proving that diets were successfully Arg deficient, and Arg and GAA supplementation alleviated the deficiency. Muscle metabolites, including phosphocreatine (PCr) and PCr:ATP, were increased (P < 0.05) by an average of 101% and 103%, respectively, with 0.12% GAA compared with the 0.0% GAA negative controls. Total Cre (tCre) was increased (Arg and GAA interaction, P < 0.05) by 41 and 51% with 0.12% GAA when included in diets containing 0.0 or 0.16% added Arg, respectively. Hematological and clinical chemistry outcomes were unaffected by GAA treatment, and plasma concentrations of essential amino acids appeared to be reflective of improvements in growth performance. Study 2 confirmed that 0.12% GAA supplementation increased (P < 0.05) BWG and G:F (P < 0.05) from d 0 to 28 by 6 and 8%, respectively, when compared with the negative control diet. Muscle concentrations of both PCr and tCre were increased (P < 0.05) with addition of 0.12% GAA by 66 and 49%, respectively, compared with the negative control (Arg-deficient). In Study 3, 0.12% GAA supplementation increased (P < 0.05) G:F d 14 to 27 by 3% when compared with the negative control (Arg-adequate) diet. Muscle PCr and tCre concentrations were also increased (P < 0.05) in chicks receiving 0.12% supplemental GAA by 26 and 18%, respectively, as compared with the negative control (Arg adequate). Improvements in growth performance and muscle phosphagen concentrations in broiler chicks consuming practical diets supplemented with GAA indicates that this feed additive is a suitable replacement for Arg.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• DeGroot, Amanda

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dilger, Ryan N.

• Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA)
• Broiler
• muscle phosphagens

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2014 Amanda DeGroot

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/72902

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72902