A model for the description and prediction of the response of laying hens to amino acid intake

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Abstract
A model which describes the response of groups of laying hens to different levels of amino acid intake is presented. The model is based on the assumption of simple linear relationships between amino acid intake and the output characteristics, egg production and maintenance, for individual birds. The response for a group of birds is then derived as the average of the individual responses. The shape of this flock—response curve depends on seven parameters, namely the mean maximum egg output (Ē max), variation in E max, mean body weight (W), variation in W, the correlation between egg output and body weight, and two constants (a and b) representing respectively the quantities of amino acid required for unit egg output and for maintenance of unit body weight. Three methods of manipulating the model are described. These use (i) a computer simulation procedure; (ii) the exact solution for the model and (iii) some reasonable approximations for practical application. The use of the model for describing experimental data and for predicting amino acid requirements is discussed, and the main limiting assumptions and some possible extensions of the principles involved are pointed out.