[Protein and amino acid metabolism in the digestive tract of growing bull calves. 5. The amino acid flow into the duodenum]

Effect of underfeeding on metabolism of portal-drained viscera in ewes

We investigated whether short-term underfeeding could induce adaptative mechanisms in portal-drained viscera (PDV) that would allow nutrients to be spared for vital functions in adult ewes. Six ewes (three of them fitted with catheters in the mesenteric artery and portal and mesenteric veins) were fed, in a double 3×3 Latin square design (2 weeks per experimental period), a regrowth of natural grassland hay at 143 (high; H), 88 (medium; M) and 51 (low; L) % of their energy maintenance requirements. The digestibility of the diet was measured in all six ewes and the net portal fluxes of nutrients in the three catheterized ewes. The organic matter content and N digestibility of the diet were not affected by underfeeding. Urinary and faecal N losses and N balance were linearly related to feed intake. Arterial concentration of acetate was linearly related to feed intake. Arterial concentrations of the other volatile fatty acids, 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, glucose, NH3, urea and total amino acids were not affected by underfeeding. Arterial concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased with underfeeding. The portal net release of all volatile fatty acids, 3-hydroxybutyrate and NH3were linearly related to intake. The portal net flux of both essential and non-essential amino acids, and thus total amino acids, remained unchanged between levels H and M, and decreased between levels M and L. A significant net uptake for glycine and total non-essential amino acids occurred at level L. The portal net uptake of glucose, urea, glutamate and glutamine, and the portal net release of lactate and NEFA were not affected by underfeeding. Summation of portal energy fluxes indicated that 51 % of the metabolizable energy intake was recovered in the portal blood with the three levels of intake. In conclusion, no quantitative adaptation to spare energy, in terms of percentage of intake, occurred in PDV of short-term underfed ruminants, but the pattern of absorption of energetic nutrients was modified.

Effect of Total Mixed Ration Composition on Amino Acid Profiles of Different Fractions of Ruminal Microbes In Vitro

The objective was to study the variation in the amino acid profile of microbial fractions obtained after feeding 16 total mixed rations for dairy cows in a Rusitec. Each ration was incubated for 15 d in 3-fold replicate. The rations showed high variation in the inclusion level of different ingredients and the content of proximal nutrients, fiber fractions, and energy. Three microbial fractions were isolated by centrifugation. The reference microbes (RM) were isolated from the liquid effluent of vessels between d 7 and 15 of incubation. Solid-associated microbes (SAM) were detached with methylcellulose from feed residues after incubation, and liquid-associated microbes (LAM) were obtained from the liquid content of the vessel. Both SAM and LAM were obtained only once for each vessel at the end of the incubation period. Across all rations, significant differences were found between RM, LAM, and SAM in amino acid concentration for some, but not all, amino acids. Within each microbial fraction, significant differences in the content of amino acids were found between rations. Multiple linear regression analysis did not show that the content of a certain nutrient or the inclusion rate of single feedstuffs could be used to predict the amino acid profile of microbial protein with an adequate level of accuracy. Further studies are necessary before the supply of individual microbial amino acids to the cows' duodenum can be modeled and predicted in dependence of diet data.

[Protein and amino acid metabolism in the intestinal tract of growing young bulls. 7. Protein estimation and evaluation of protein supply in growing ruminants by the apparently digestible total protein in the duodenum based on rations]

The following values were derived from experimental studies of the crude protein (CP) and amino acid (AA) metabolism of growing fattening bulls, the detailed results of which were described in installments 1-6, for the ascertainment of the content of apparently digestible total protein at the duodenum (ADTPD): a) partial method: Degradation quotaCP = NPN + 0.69 X g pure protein/CP; g AD feed PD = g CP (1 -decomposition quotaCP) X 0.72 or g AD feed PD = 0.31 X g pure protein X 0.72; g ADBPDE = 0.149 X g AD org. matter X 0.80 X 0.72 (ADBPDE = apparently digestible pure bacteria protein at the duodenum, dependent on energy release in the reticulo-rumen; g ADBPDN = g CP X (degradation quotaCP) X 0.80 X 0.72 (ADBPDN = apparently digestible pure bacteria protein at the duodenum, dependent on CP supply of rumen microbes); g AD total PD = g AD feed PD + ADBPDE g AD total PD = g AD feed PD + ADBPDN; b) summarizing method: AD total PD = 0.429 + 10.9 X 0.80/CP in % AD org. matter X (CP intake) X 0.72; AD total PD = 0.196 + 16.6 X 0.80/pure protein % AD org. m. X pure pr. intake X 0.72. The requirement of AD total PD was calculated under consideration of the endogenous urine N, skin N and hair N losses as well as protein retention per kg live weight assuming a utilization of 0.70 for this partial performance. The practical application of this balance method is demonstrated in comparison to the digestible CP-system.

[Protein and amino acid metabolism in the digestive tract of growing bulls. 6. Apparent digestibility of the amino acids entering the duodenum and of amino acid from feed]

After studies with young bulls provided with duodenal cannulas the apparent digestibility (AD) of the individual amino acids getting into the duodenum (AAD) was ascertained on the basis of 28 different rations. The AD of the AAD is defined as follows: AAD--AAfaeces/AAD X 100. The results thus obtained show a relative constancy, only insignificantly impaired by the consideration of the dependence of the AD of the AAD on the AA concentration in the ration. The average value for the AD of the sigma AAD was 72.5 +/- 4.9%. The dependence of the AD of the sigma AAD on the sigma AA concentration in the ration is: y = 67.8 + 0.51x +/- 4.6; r = 0.355x. In addition, the relation between AD AAD and AD AAfeed protein' each in % of AA intake and AA concentration in the ration, was studied and reported on.