The relevance of this study stems from the need to enhance the economic efficiency and environmental sustainability of broiler production. A key direction is the optimization of protein nutrition, specifically reducing the proportion of expensive soybean meal and the overall crude protein level in broiler diets without compromising productivity. The novelty of this work lies in a comprehensive evaluation of an innovative feeding strategy that combines three elements: the inclusion of corn gluten as the primary plant-based protein component, precision balancing of the diet for limiting amino acids using a complex of crystalline amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine, valine, isoleucine), and the application of a synergistic complex of exogenous proteases (KEMZYME and Lonct, 250 g/t each) to enhance the digestibility of plant protein. A 35-day scientific feeding trial conducted on 300 Ross 308 broiler chickens established that reducing crude protein by 2.0 percentage points during the starter period and by 1.5 percentage points during the grower period, followed by amino acid correction, significantly improved productivity. The greatest synergistic effect was achieved in the group with additional protease supplementation: by day 35, live body weight increased by 9.2% (to 2287 g), feed conversion ratio improved by 8.8% (to 1.46 kg/kg), and the absolute weight of the valuable pectoral muscle increased by 12.3%, while maintaining a high dressed carcass yield (66–67%). The observed adaptive metabolic changes, such as an increase in liver weight and abdominal fat, as well as elevated serum triglyceride levels, were not accompanied by statistically significant negative shifts in key clinical and biochemical parameters (total protein, liver enzyme activity), confirming the physiological safety of the feeding strategy employed. Thus, the combined use of corn gluten, crystalline amino acids, and a protease complex in reduced-protein diets represents a scientifically sound, resource-saving, and environmentally oriented technology for modern broiler production, ensuring a significant increase in poultry productivity and feed efficiency
Keywords
Broilers, reduced-protein diet, crystalline amino acids, proteases, corn gluten, productivity, feed conversion ratio, vegetarian compound feeds