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Protein in the diet
 Protein is essential to all poultry and waterfowl for growth and development, repair and maintenance of tissues such as feathers, skin and muscles and also for the production of eggs.
Protein is made up of amino acids some of which are classed as essential, that is they cannot be synthesised, or cannot be synthesised quickly enough by the bird and must be provided in the diet. Whereas non essential amino acids can be synthesised by the bird themselves. Of the essential amino acids lysine and methionine are the two most significant and deficiencies of these amino acids can lead to a reduction in productivity. The amount of protein each bird requires will depend very much on its age, breed and use, for example young chicks need a relatively high protein level for rapid growth, in contrast adult cockerels will have a lower protein requirement.
The ingredients used in a sack of poultry feed will be carefully selected to provide a balanced ration, for example soya is a good source of protein while cereals such as wheat tend to be lower in protein and by using a variety of ingredients this ensures that the protein requirements of the bird are met.
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