Glutamic acid may play a role in skin integrity, which could influence carcass quality. A study was undertaken to determine if supplementing l-Glu would influence the live performance and carcass quality of broilers when using different cereal and anticoccidial sources. The study consisted of 2 cereal sources (wheat or corn), 2 l-Glu levels (0 or 1.75%), and 2 anticoccidial sources (monensin or halofuginone), for a total of 8 treatments with diets meeting or exceeding nutrient recommendations for essential amino acids and energy for the starter (0 to 17 d of age), grower (18 to 43 d of age), and finisher (44 to 48 d of age) feeds. Each dietary treatment was fed to 4 replicate pens of birds containing 33 chicks/pen at the time of placement. Adding l-Glu to the starter diets with monensin improved FE regardless of the cereal source; however, the opposite was true for halofuginone. Feed efficiency at d 43 and 48 was improved with added Glu, although during the grower period, cereal and anticoccidial sources did influence FE independently. Bruising of wings and drumsticks, and back skin problems were influenced by anticoccidial source. Adding Glu reduced drumstick deformities, especially when halofuginone was used in the diets. Yields of breast fillets and tenders were significantly greater for corn-fed vs. wheat-fed broilers. Breast fillet yield (g) was lower for broilers fed halofuginone. Drumstick yield (%) was increased with the addition of Glu to the diet. Supplementing the diet with Glu reduced carcass defects, which may reflect the need for Glu in connective tissue formation during rapid growth. The benefit of Glu may depend on the anticoccidial and cereal sources used.