Effects of dietary protein, methionine and lysine on urinary amino acid excretion in turkeys

1. Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary protein and amino acids on urinary excretion of amino acids and nitrogen in colostomised turkey hens. 2. Normal and colostomised turkeys 8 weeks of age were fed on control and high protein diets. Body weight gains of both types of birds were similar. Diet did not affect the amino acids in the urine significantly, but urinary nitrogen was higher with the high protein diet. 3. Normal and colostomised turkeys 10 weeks of age were fed a diet with either supplemental DL-methionine or L-lysine hydrochloride (each 20 g/kg diet). DL-methionine depressed gain and resulted in considerable excretion of methionine in urine. Lysine had little effect on weight gain or urinary lysine.