The objective of this study was to determine the protein requirement for broiler breeder hens using factorial method. The requirement of crude protein for maintenance (CPm) was determined using nitrogen balance technique in metabolism assay. The birds were fed with four protein levels in order to get a positive, a close to zero and a negative nitrogen balance. To determine the crude protein weight gain requirement (CPg), two experiments were carried out. The first was calculate to determine the net nitrogen requirement and the other to determine nitrogen use efficiency for body deposition, from 26 to 33 weeks old. The crude protein requirement for egg production (CPe) was determined by content of crude protein of eggs measured in birds from 31 to 37 weeks old. The protein requirement for maintenance was 2,282 mg CP/kg0.75/day and the protein efficiency 60.79%. The nitrogen requirement for weight gain and egg production were: 356 mgCP/g and 262 mg of CP/g, respectively, and the protein efficiency utilization were: 40 and 46.80% for weight gain and egg production, respectively. The prediction equation for broiler breeder hens was : CP = 2,282W0.75 + 0.356G + 0.262 EM, where CP is crude protein requirement (g/bird/day), W is body weight (kg), G is weight gain (g/day) and EM is egg mass (g/day).
broiler breeders hens; factorial method; nitrogen balance; prediction equation; protein requirement
