EFFECT OF DIETARY TAURINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME IN BROILER CHICKENS

Dietary taurine supplementation (0, 0.05, 0.10, or 0.20%) was examined as a means of reducing sudden death syndrome (SDS) in male broiler chickens (624 per treatment) raised to market weight. Total mortality and sudden death syndrome were lower for broilers fed taurine-supplemented diets. The feed-to-gain ratio from 3 to 6 wk decreased linearly with increasing dietary taurine while taurine addition had no effect on 3-wk or 6-wk body weight, or feed-to-gain ratio from 0 to 3 wk. Key words: Sudden death syndrome, taurine, broiler chickens