Studies of the effects of creatine on performance of laying hens, on growth and carcass quality of broilers

An experiment on laying hens and 4 experiments with broilers were carried out. Four trails were carried out with male broilers over a period of 35 days (trial 1, 2, 3) and 84 days (trial. 4), respectively. The effects of creatine (0.5/1/2/5/10 g/kg diet) as feed supplements were investigated. In trial I enrichment with creatine significantly improved body weight gain in comparison to control group. In trial 2 and 3 body weight gain was equal between groups. In trial 4 body weight gain was depressed after I g creatine supplementation over the 84 day period. No effects on the carcass quality of broilers could be shown in the four Experiments. A total of 144 laying hybrids were allocated to 4 groups with 36 hens per group. The experiment was carried out in the 13 laying month and began when the hens reached an age of 23 weeks. In the 30th, 45th and 65th life weeks the egg composition was examined and then eggs were collected and stored in the incubator. The graded supplement (0.5/1/2 g/kg diet) of creatine increased the daily feed intake of the hens. The laying intensity which lay on average of the 13 months between 92 % and 93 % as well as the egg weight (60-61 g) and from this were resulting the daily egg mass production were equal between all groups. The feed conversion of the 2 g creatine group was significantly worse in comparison with the control. In all three hatching trials the number of fertile eggs, hatched chickens and chicken weight were not influenced by feed supplement.