Nonprotein nitrogen for growing chickens.

Diammonium citrate (DAC) and urea were not used beneficially as nitrogen sources in the diet of young chicks. Supplementation of 0.43% urea to a low-protein practical diet did not significantly affect gain or feed efficiency. Adding 2.85% or 5.70% DAC to a low-protein basal depressed growth and feed efficiency significantly. Percentages of nitrogen intake absorbed and retained by chicks were depressed by DAC. When diets were balanced by added amino acids. DAC did not depress weight gains, but nitrogen percentage retention was still decreased by DAC.