Synthetic and Crystalline Amino Acids: Alternatives to Soybean Meal in Chicken-Meat Production

SIMPLE SUMMARY: There is a distinct possibility that synthetic and crystalline, or non-bound, amino acids will partially replace soybean meal in diets for broiler chickens and reduce the dependency of the chicken-meat industry on soybean meal as its principal source of protein. The genesis of this partial replacement will be the successful development of reduced-crude protein diets. A reduced-crude protein diet contains less soybean meal, and therefore less crude protein, but an increased array of essential and even non-essential non-bound amino acids so that requirements are met. There are, however, several challenges to be overcome if reduced-crude protein diets are to be successfully developed and adopted. ABSTRACT: This review explores the premise that non-bound (synthetic and crystalline) amino acids are alternatives to soybean meal, the dominant source of protein, in diets for broiler chickens. Non-bound essential and non-essential amino acids can partially replace soybean meal so that requirements are still met but dietary crude protein levels are reduced. This review considers the production of non-bound amino acids, soybeans, and soybean meal and discusses the concept of reduced-crude protein diets. There is a focus on specific amino acids, including glycine, serine, threonine, and branched-chain amino acids, because they may be pivotal to the successful development of reduced-crude protein diets. Presently, moderate dietary crude protein reductions of approximately 30 g/kg are feasible, but more radical reductions compromise broiler performance. In theory, an ‘ideal’ amino acid profile would prevent this, but this is not necessarily the case in practice. The dependence of the chicken-meat industry on soybean meal will be halved if crude protein reductions in the order of 50 g/kg are attained without compromising the growth performance of broiler chickens. In this event, synthetic and crystalline, or non-bound, amino acids will become viable alternatives to soybean meal in chicken-meat production.