The continued need for DL-methionine

in organic poultry diets

National Organic Standards Board Meeting 

Seattle, Washington 

April 24, 2019

Kristjan Bregendahl, Ph.D.

Poultry Nutritionist, Devenish Nutrition 
 

 

 

Amino acids—not protein 

◆ 20+ amino acids in protein 

■ Needed for normal, physiological needs 

■ 12 amino acids are dietary essential for poultry 
 

 

 

 

Amino acids—not protein 

◆ 20+ amino acids in protein 

■ Needed for normal, physiological needs 

■ 12 amino acids are dietary essential for poultry 

◆ Amino acids are needed in different amounts 
 

 

 

 

Amino acids—not protein 

◆ 20+ amino acids in protein 

■ Needed for normal, physiological needs 

■ 12 amino acids are dietary essential for poultry 

◆ Amino acids are needed in different amounts 

Methionine

Threonine

Lysine 

Tryptophan

Valine 

Arginine 

Glutamate

Alanine

Aspartate

Histidine 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Amino acids—not protein 

◆ 20+ amino acids in protein 

■ Needed for normal, physiological needs 

■ 12 amino acids are dietary essential for poultry 

◆ Amino acids are needed in different amounts 

■ First-limiting amino acid 

● Supplied in least amounts compared to requirements 

Methionine

Threonine

Lysine 

Tryptophan

Valine 

Arginine 

Glutamate

Alanine

Aspartate

Histidine 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Histidine

Amino acids—not protein 

◆ 20+ amino acids in protein 

■ Needed for normal, physiological needs 

■ 12 amino acids are dietary essential for poultry 

◆ Amino acids are needed in different amounts 

■ First-limiting amino acid 

● Supplied in least amounts compared to requirements 

Methionine

Threonine

Lysine 

Tryptophan

Valine 

Arginine 

Glutamate

Alanine

Aspartate

Threonine 

Lysine 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Amino acids—not protein 

◆ 20+ amino acids in protein 

■ Needed for normal, physiological needs 

■ 12 amino acids are dietary essential for poultry 

◆ Amino acids are needed in different amounts 

■ First-limiting amino acid 

● Supplied in least amounts compared to requirements 

● Methionine for poultry 

Methionine Methionine Threonine Lysine Tryptophan Valine Arginine Glutamate Alanine Aspartate Histidine 
 

923

 820

—

35

 26

186

6

 5

2,000

 22.5

 0.60

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 

DL-Methionine 2 

Soy oil, organic 10 

Monocal (21% P) 28 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 

Salt 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 

Total 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 923 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 820 

DL-Methionine 2 — 

Soy oil, organic 10 35 

Monocal (21% P) 28 26 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 186 

Salt 6 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 5 

Total 2,000 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 22.5 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 0.60 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 923 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 820 

DL-Methionine 2 — 

Soy oil, organic 10 35 

Monocal (21% P) 28 26 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 186 

Salt 6 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 5 

Total 2,000 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 22.5 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 0.60 

←

←

250 lb/ton difference 

4.7% difference 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 923 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 820 

DL-Methionine 2 — 

Soy oil, organic 10 35 

Monocal (21% P) 28 26 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 186 

Salt 6 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 5 

Total 2,000 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 22.5 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 0.60 

←

←

250 lb/ton difference 

1 organic flock w/20,000 hens 

+ 100 tons organic soybean meal 

+ 125 tons organic soybeans 

+ 100 acres of organic land 

4.7% difference 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 923 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 820 

DL-Methionine 2 — 

Soy oil, organic 10 35 

Monocal (21% P) 28 26 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 186 

Salt 6 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 5 

Total 2,000 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 22.5 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 0.60 

←

←

250 lb/ton difference 

1 organic flock w/20,000 hens 

+ 100 tons organic soybean meal 

+ 125 tons organic soybeans 

+ 100 acres of organic land 

Excess protein 

• Wet litter 

• Ammonia 

• Foot-pad lesions 

• Blindness 

• Respiratory issues 

• E. coli peritonitis 

4.7% difference 
 

 

DL-Methionine alternatives...? 

Ingredient Methionine 

(%) 

Lysine 

(%) 

Met:Lys ratio Data source 

Soybean meal 0.64 2.85 22 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn 0.17 0.24 71 Bregendahl, internal value 
 

 

 

DL-Methionine alternatives...? 

Ingredient Methionine 

(%) 

Lysine 

(%) 

Met:Lys ratio Data source 

Soybean meal 0.64 2.85 22 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn 0.17 0.24 71 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn, high-methionine 0.32 0.44 73 Jacob et al. 2008. 

JAPR 17:440 
 

 

 

 

 

DL-Methionine alternatives...? 

Ingredient Methionine 

(%) 

Lysine 

(%) 

Met:Lys ratio Data source 

Soybean meal 0.64 2.85 22 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn 0.17 0.24 71 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn, high-methionine 0.32 0.44 73 Jacob et al. 2008. 

JAPR 17:440 

Sunflower meal 1.04 1.60 65 Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 

Canola meal 0.70 1.92 36 Bregendahl, internal value 

Linseed (flax) meal 0.48 1.10 44 Bregendahl, internal value 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DL-Methionine alternatives...? 

Ingredient Methionine 

(%) 

Lysine 

(%) 

Met:Lys ratio Data source 

Soybean meal 0.64 2.85 22 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn 0.17 0.24 71 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn, high-methionine 0.32 0.44 73 Jacob et al. 2008. 

JAPR 17:440 

Sunflower meal 1.04 1.60 65 Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 

Canola meal 0.70 1.92 36 Bregendahl, internal value 

Linseed (flax) meal 0.48 1.10 44 Bregendahl, internal value 

Silkworm meal (India) 1.05 2.75 38 Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 

Black soldier fly larvae, defatted 0.90 3.22 28 Mwaniki et al. 2018.

Poul. Sci. 97:2829 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DL-Methionine alternatives...? 

Ingredient Methionine 

(%) 

Lysine 

(%) 

Met:Lys ratio Data source 

Soybean meal 0.64 2.85 22 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn 0.17 0.24 71 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn, high-methionine 0.32 0.44 73 Jacob et al. 2008. 

JAPR 17:440 

Sunflower meal 1.04 1.60 65 Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 

Canola meal 0.70 1.92 36 Bregendahl, internal value 

Linseed (flax) meal 0.48 1.10 44 Bregendahl, internal value 

Silkworm meal (India) 1.05 2.75 38 Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 

Black soldier fly larvae, defatted 0.90 3.22 28 Mwaniki et al. 2018.

Poul. Sci. 97:2829 

Brazilian tree nut protein powder 3.35 1.51 2222 Burley and Patterson. 

2017. Poult. Sci. 96:3994 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 1,195 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 570 

DL-Methionine 2 — 

Soy oil, organic 10 10 

Monocal (21% P) 28 28 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 186 

Salt 6 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 5 

Total 2,000 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 17.8 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 0.51 

← Leave as-is 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 1,195 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 570 

DL-Methionine 2 — 

Soy oil, organic 10 10 

Monocal (21% P) 28 28 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 186 

Salt 6 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 5 

Total 2,000 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 17.8 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 0.51 

←

←

Leave as-is 

Deficient! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Ingredient (lb/ton of feed) DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Corn, organic 1,193 1,195 

Soybean meal, domestic, organic 570 570 

DL-Methionine 2 — 

Soy oil, organic 10 10 

Monocal (21% P) 28 28 

Limestone (fine+coarse blend) 186 186 

Salt 6 6 

Vitamin premix, organic 5 5 

Total 2,000 2,000 

Crude protein, % 17.8 17.8 

Methionine+cysteine, digestible, % 0.60 0.51 

←

←

Leave as-is 

Deficient! 
 

 

Marginal methionine deficiency 

◆ Production 

■ Low egg production 

■ Low egg weight 

■ Increased feed consumption 
 

 

 

 

Marginal methionine deficiency 

◆ Production 

■ Low egg production 

■ Low egg weight 

■ Increased feed consumption 

◆ Animal welfare 

■ Poor feathering 

■ Aggressiveness 

■ Feather pulling 

■ Cannibalism 

Pictures: Australian Eggs 
 

 

 

 

 

The continued need for DL-methionine

in organic poultry diets

National Organic Standards Board Meeting 

Seattle, Washington 

April 24, 2019

Kristjan Bregendahl, Ph.D.

Poultry Nutritionist, Devenish Nutrition 
 

 

 

Organic laying-hen diet 

Amino acid,* % DL-Methionine 

allowed 

DL-Methionine 

not allowed 

Requirement 

Methionine+cystine 0.61 0.61 0.61 

Methionine 0.36 0.31 0.34 

Lysine 0.88 1.18 0.71 

Threonine 0.67 0.86 0.51 

Tryptophan 0.17 0.24 0.15 

Arginine 1.09 1.45 0.73 

Valine 0.74 0.84 0.59 

Crude protein, % 17.80 22.50 — 

*Digestible amino acids 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DL-Methionine alternatives...? 

Ingredient Methionine 

(%) 

Lysine 

(%) 

Met:Lys ratio Data source 

Soybean meal 0.64 2.85 22 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn 0.17 0.24 71 Bregendahl, internal value 

Corn, high-methionine 0.32 0.44 73 Jacob et al. 2008. 

JAPR 17:440 

Sunflower meal 1.04 1.60 65 Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 

Canola meal 0.70 1.92 36 Bregendahl, internal value 

Linseed (flax) meal 0.48 1.10 44 Bregendahl, internal value 

Silkworm meal (India) 1.05 2.75 38 Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 

Black soldier fly larvae, defatted 0.90 3.22 28 Mwaniki et al. 2018.

Poul. Sci. 97:2829 

Brazilian tree nut protein powder 3.35 1.51 2222 Burley and Patterson. 

2017. Poult. Sci. 96:3994 

DL-Methionine 99.001 0.00 ∞ Evonik (AminoDat 5.0) 
Synthetic Methionine

Replacement

Strategies Explored 

Dr. Heather K. Burley, Ph.D. 

Poultr y Nutrition/Environmental Management 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balancing amino acids vital to poultry well-being! 

• Methionine (Met) is one of 10 essential amino acids (AA) for poultry 

• AA are building blocks of protein; to make various proteins in the body, 

AA all need to be a specific levels, like the pieces of a puzzle 

If you are missing 

one piece, you 

can’t build the 

puzzle or protein 

• Met 

deficiencies 

cause ↑ feather 

pecking & 

cannibalism 

and ↓ growth & 

egg weight 

If you have duplicate 

pieces, these extra 

pieces can’t be used 

• Excess AA are 

excreted, makes 

manure wet, 

causes foot lesions, 

↑ ammonia in air 

• Poultry, like humans, are naturally omnivorous 

• Plants are “incomplete” proteins for poultry since they do not provide all 

essential AA; animal products are “complete” proteins and high in Met 

• Thus, challenging to provide sufficient Met for organic poultry without 

conventional meat-based ingredients or synthetic AA allowed in feed 

without provide excesses of other AA 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breeds DO NOT Differ in their Requirement for

Specific AA Levels/Ratios 

• Poultry categories (broilers, layers, turkeys, etc.) differ in AA needs based 

on age, size, & purpose (build different proteins for meat vs. eggs) 

• Individual breeds within categories DO NOT differ in RATIO of AA 

needs (i.e. you still need the same puzzle pieces to build a specific puzzle) 

• Slower growing (12 vs. typical 5-7 wks to market) breeds CAN have 

lower DAILY AA needs, but they do not grow/produce as well, with 

poorer feed efficiency, decreased meat yield, lower producing layers and 

these breeds are not widely available in the U.S. 

Alternative Feeding Strategies Cannot Reduce 

Synthetic Methionine Needs 

• Lower dietary energy increases feed intake, but not enough to make up for 

Met deficient diets 

• Birds given the choice between energy- and protein-rich ingredients in 

attempt to have them select for balance diets with sufficient Met; however, 

instead they selected highly palatable energy-rich ingredients (e.g. corn) 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foraging/Pasture Access is NOT Sufficient

to Replace Synthetic Methionine 

• Forage/pasture for poultry: 

• Pasture Intake low (only 2-8% of diet) 

• Palatability of plant species differ greatly 

• Moisture high (dilutes nutrients) - Met low - only 0.17-0.40% 

• Digestibility low (poultry cannot utilize pasture like cattle/goats) 

• Pasture not available in cold/winter months 

• Pasture rotation needed to prevent “burn out” from manure 

• Insect/worm intake very low (only 0.42% of crop contents) and 

present a disease/parasite risk 

Wood, G.M. (1956) ; Moritz et al. (2005) ; Horsted et al. (2006); Rack et al. (2009) 
 

 

 

 

 

Numerous Ingredients Investigated

(some promising, but ALL with challenges) 

Ingredient % Met 

(as is) Issues 

Brazil nut meal 3.35 Very limited availability; ↑ cost 

Inedible egg white (dried) 3.06 No organic available; antinutritional factors 

Casein 2.70 No organic available; ↓ digestibility; ↓ Cys 

Inedible egg blend (70:30 alb:yolk) (dried) 2.44 No organic available; antinutritional factors 

Fish meal 2.20 Fishy taint to eggs; gizzard erosion; ↑ cost 

Potato protein 1.64 No organic available; antinutritional factors 

Algae (Chlorella) 1.33 Production difficult; heavy metals 

Earthworm meal 1.23 Limited availability; heavy metals; biohazard 

Corn gluten meal 1.20 No organic availability; ↑ pigments in yolk 

Sunflower seed meal (w/o hulls) 1.04 Limited availability; low Lys 

Black soldier fly larvae meal 0.89 Low availability; consumer acceptance 

Soybean meal (expeller/typically fed) 0.55 Low Met 

High methionine corn 0.34 Poor yield; high moisture (↑ mold issues) 

Corn (typically fed) 0.18 Low Met 
 

 

 

 

 

Conclusions 

 Insufficient Met leads to deficiency symptoms in 

poultry (e.g. increased feather pecking/cannibalism

and lower growth/egg size) 

 Extreme, impractically high protein diets can be

formulated to meet requirements without synthetic

Met, but so many other AA are fed in excess that bird

health and manure and air quality suffer as a result 

 No single strategy/ingredient (OR combination of

methods) can fully replace synthetic Met in poultry

diets currently, despite extensive research 

 Pasture access does not aid in meeting Met needs 

 Recommendation would be to maintain current 

average lifetime allowance for organic poultry until 

an effective alternative can be identified 
 

 

 

 

 Fed 100 percent certified organic feed, except 

for trace minerals and vitamins used to meet 

the animal’s nutritional requirements.--

 Managed without antibiotics, added growth 

hormones, mammalian or avian byproducts, or 

other prohibited feed ingredients (e.g., urea, 

manure, or arsenic compounds). 
 

 

 

 

 Presented to NOSB as an allied industry group 

looking for options to a common problem. 

 Members consisted of broilers and layers 

farmers. 

 Members cover all forms of organic egg 

production Pastured to larger scale. 

 Industry funded to support research, trials and 

literature search. 

 Provided information to NOSB and gave 

timeline for projects. 
 Organic Valley has looked at 

 Milk Whey 

 Potato Starch 

 High Methionine corn 
 

 

 

 

 Chino Valley Ranchers 

 Did sister birds test one not fed any methionine 

 Day of age to 65 weeks 

 Looked at Mulberry Leaves 

 Looked at Brazil Nuts 
 High methionine corn trial (Three Years) 

 UC Davis Black Soldier Fly Study (Two Years) 

 Literature Review (Starting) 

 Looking into planting field trial of corn 
 

 

 UC Davis study 

 80 birds to 65 weeks of age (two groups) 

 Methionine Task Force funded $67,000.00 

 UC Davis made several media releases while 

study ongoing. Final paper being released 

shortly. 
 

 

 

 We propose to investigate the nutritional inputs and flock outcomes for using Hermetia illucens (black 

soldier fly) larvae as a potential supplemental 

methionine source. Our objective is to develop an

easily accessible and sustainably produced protein

source that can be mixed with the commercial feed in 

order to supplement the methione in organic broiler and layer rations. Our selection of black soldier flies is

due to the potential bio-residue conversion rates,

which could offer farms additional environmental 

benefits. Our study will be conducted in two phases

over 2 years (Fall 2016 to Fall 2018). Phase 1 will define

optimal feedstocks for cultivation and conduct the

nutritional analysis of supplements. Phase 2 will move

optimized supplements to field trials. 
 

 

 

 

 

 Feeding trial started at 2.28 pounds per day/35 

hens or .065 pounds per hen per day 

 14,000,000 organic layers = 910,000 pounds per 

day of dried larvae per day. 

 In late stages of life this was reduced to .57 

pounds per day/35 hens .017 pounds per day 

 14,000,000 organic layers = 238,000 pounds per 

day of dried larvae per day 

 This does not take into account any broiler 

needs. 
 

 

 Passed for use in poultry rations on 1/1994 as 

long as it is on the nation list of allowed 

synthetics 

 Tap review done in 2001 

 First put on allowed list on 10/01 with a sunset 

of 10/05 

 Addressed in 2/1/2005. At 2010 sunset by 

Livestock Committee and put back on list for 

only two years. 
 

 

 No cap. 

 NOSB wanted to see results. 

 NOSB felt we needed more time. 

 The board of 2010 wanted to make final 

decision on Methionine and wanted the issue 

closed once and for all. 
 

 

 

 NOSB passed methionine with and cut the 

2010 levels in half or more based on species 

(layer/broiler/turkey). 

 Went from 4.0 for layers and 5.0 for broilers 

and turkeys to 2.0 for layers and broilers 2.5 for 

turkeys and others 
 







 Spring 2015- Methionine petition from 2012 

that was tabled in San Antonio was finally 

voted on. Passed 10-4 with the following: 

 Changed the hard cap to an average over the 

life of the flock at the following levels: 

Layers 2.0 pounds 

Broilers 2.5 pounds 

Turkeys/Ducks 3.0 pounds 
 

 

 

 We need to advance the work on insects as a 

possible methionine source. 

 We need to continue the work on high protein 

corn. 

 We need to explore any and all natural sources 

of methionine. 

 We need to look once again at breeds of layers 

to satisfy current members. 

 Pasture as a source of methionine. 
 Thank you! 
Methionine Update 2019 

• Midwest Poultry Show 

• 03/12/2019 

• David Will Methionine Chair 
 

 

Methionine Update 2019 

• Methionine rule before 1/28/2019 

Hard cap for all poultry 

2 pounds for layers and broilers 

3 pounds ducks and turkeys 

Post 1/28/2019 

Average over flocks life 

2 pound average layers 

2.5 pound average for broilers 

3 pound average for ducks and turkeys 
 

 

 

 

 

Methionine Update 2019 

• NOSB meeting in April 2019 in Seattle 

• Methionine will be up for renewal 

» 2 step vote for extension. Seattle and Pittsburg. 

» We were asked to make 10 – 15 minute presentation. 

» Using outside of Industry voices. 

» Putting together history of Methionine. 

» Second meeting and vote for renewal to happen in 

October 2019. 
 

Methionine Update 2019 

• What can you do to help 

• Join Methionine Task Force. 

• Write letters. 

• Come to NOSB meetings. 

• Join video NOSB public comment period.