Effects of dietary taurine on growth and Escherichia coli resistance in chickens.

White Leghorn chicks selected for either high (HA) or low (LA) antibody response to SRBC were used in two experiments to ascertain the effects of differing levels of dietary taurine on growth, levels of taurine in blood plasma, heart, and brain, and response to Escherichia coli inoculation. A different level of dietary taurine was associated with maximal growth in each of the two selected populations. Line HA expressed greater growth with a relatively low level of taurine, whereas Line LA expressed greater growth with a relatively high level of taurine. Line LA chicks had a higher level of taurine in the heart than did Line HA chicks. Although increases in dietary taurine resulted in linear and curvilinear increases in plasma and heart taurine levels, they had no effect on brain levels. No apparent resistance or susceptibility to E. coli exposure was associated with stock or differing levels of dietary taurine.