Source: NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
AMINO ACID NUTRITION IN RUMINANTS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0199002
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2003
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2008
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
1620 STANDLEY DR ACADEMIC RESH A RM 110
LAS CRUCES,NM 88003-1239
Performing Department
ANIMAL & RANGE SCIENCES
Non Technical Summary
Concentrated feeding operations currently feed diets containing high concentrations of protein to overcome low efficiencies with which animals use protein. This research may suggest alternative strategies that could improve performance by improving the efficiency of converting dietary amino acids into product, but not at the expense of economic or environmental concerns.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3023310101070%
3023610101030%
Knowledge Area
302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3610 - Sheep, live animal; 3310 - Beef cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
The objective of this research proposal is to evaluate amino acid nutrition and nutritional factors that affect limiting amino acid use by cattle and sheep. Specific projects will include: 1.) Developing a metabolism research model; 2.) Determining the limiting amino acids; 3.) Evaluating nutritional effects on efficiency of amino acid utilization.
Project Methods
The research projects will utilize either intact or ruminally cannulated growing cattle and sheep. Animals will be maintained under conditions (metabolism crates or tie-stalls) where collection of gastrointestinal digesta, feces, urine, and biosamples (blood) is possible. Depending on the results from the metabolism experiments, performance characteristics (average daily gains, feed efficiencies, carcass characteristics) will be used to evaluate the effects of treatments under production settings (feedlot, dairy).

Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The findings of these projects demonstrated that nitrogen retention of lambs fed restricted amounts of a diet based on soybean hulls was limited by inadequate supplies of absorbable methionine, threonine, arginine, tryptophan, and valine. The research also demonstrated that energy supply alters protein accretion, even when methionine was limiting. This research indicates that several essential amino acids may limit performance, and that energy supply affects post-absorptive amino acid utilization in growing lambs. These findings imply that supplementation of essential amino acids in a rumen-protected form could be beneficial to growing lambs, and that energy supply may need to be considered when determining amino acid requirements for sheep. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
This research provides insight towards optimizing the utilizing of amino acids by growing sheep and cattle by identifying those essential amino acids that limit protein deposition and determining factors that affect amino acid utilization, thereby providing the opportunity to improve the efficiency of protein (amino acid) utilization through supplementation strategies.

Publications

  • Nolte, J. van E., C. A. Loest, A. V. Ferreira, J. W. Waggoner, and C. P. Mathis. 2008. Limiting amino acids for growing lambs fed a diet low in ruminally undegradable protein. J. Anim. Sci. 86:2627-2641.
  • Kuykendall, S. A., C. A. Loest, G. G. Gilliam, D. M. Griego, and D. M. Hallford. 2008. Effect of supplemental energy on post-ruminal utilization of methionine by growing lambs. Proc. Wes. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 59:3-6.
  • Kuykendall, S. A., C. A. Loest, G. G. Gilliam, D. M. Griego, and D. M. Hallford. 2008. Effect of supplemental energy on post-ruminal utilization of methionine by growing lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 86(E-Suppl. 3):128.


Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
The findings of these projects demonstrate that methionine, and at least one of the branched-chain amino acids, may limit the growth of lambs. Further research has demonstrated that the branched-chain amino acid, valine, limits growth of lambs when fed a diet containing protein that is predominantly degraded in the rumen. Increasing methionine supply in the diet of sheep through a rumen-protected source increases hepatic and splanchnic tissue uptake of methionine, leucine, threonine, and phenylalanine indicating the importance of methionine in the metabolism of essential amino acids. Acute infection may increase the threonine and histidine requirement for nulliparous ewe lambs. Energy supply decreases urinary nitrogen excretion even when valine was a limiting amino acid in growing lambs, which suggests that energy supply affects the efficiency of amino acid utilization in growing lambs. Research with growing beef steers demonstrated that supplemental dietary methionine does not alleviate the negative effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on nitrogen utilization, and that metabolic demands for other amino acids may increase following exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Endotoxin-challenged steers utilized nitrogen more efficiently when fed diets that contain 16% crude protein versus 14.5% crude protein, regardless of the dietary protein source.

Impacts
This research provides insight towards optimizing the utilizing of amino acids by growing sheep and cattle by identifying those essential amino acids that limit protein deposition and determining factors that affect amino acid utilization, thereby providing the opportunity to improve the efficiency of protein (amino acid) utilization through supplementation strategies.

Publications

  • Thelen, T. M., C. A. Loest, J. B. Taylor, S. Wang, and G. S. Lewis. 2007. Intrauterine bacterial inoculation and level of dietary methionine alter amino acid metabolism in nulliparous yearling ewes. J. Anim. Sci. 85:3371-3382.
  • Waggoner, J. W., C. A. Loest, J. L. Turner, C. P. Mathis, K. K. Kane, L. Chen, D. M. Hallford, and M. K. Petersen. 2007. Effects of bacterial endotoxin and dietary protein on serum hormones and plasma amino acids in growing steers. Proc. Wes. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 58:348-351.
  • Waggoner, J. W., C. A. Loest, J. L. Turner, C. P. Mathis, K. K. Kane, D. M. Hallford, and M. K. Petersen. 2007. Increasing dietary protein improves nitrogen retention in steers following an endotoxin challenge. Proc. Plains Nutrition Council Spring Conference. p. 110.
  • Waggoner, J. W., C. A. Loest, J. L. Turner, C. P. Mathis, K. K. Kane, D. M. Hallford, and M. K. Petersen. 2007. Effects of endotoxin and dietary protein on N metabolism, and serum cortisol and haptoglobin in growing beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):235.


Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
The findings of these projects demonstrate that methionine, and at least one of the branched-chain amino acids, may limit the growth of lambs. Further research has demonstrated that the branched-chain amino acid, valine, limits growth of lambs when fed a diet containing protein that is predominantly degraded in the rumen. Increasing methionine supply in the diet of sheep through a rumen-protected source increases hepatic and splanchnic tissue uptake of methionine, leucine, threonine, and phenylalanine indicating the importance of methionine in the metabolism of essential amino acids. Acute infection may increase the threonine and histidine requirement for nulliparous ewe lambs. Energy supply decreases urinary nitrogen excretion even when valine was a limiting amino acid in growing lambs, which suggests that energy supply affects the efficiency of amino acid utilization in growing lambs. Research with growing beef steers demonstrated that supplemental dietary methionine does not alleviate the negative effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on nitrogen utilization, and that metabolic demands for other amino acids may increase following exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Impacts
This research provides insight towards optimizing the utilizing of amino acids by growing sheep and cattle by identifying those essential amino acids that limit protein deposition and determining factors that affect amino acid utilization, thereby providing the opportunity to improve the efficiency of protein (amino acid) utilization through supplementation strategies.

Publications

  • Nolte, J. van E., C. A. Loest, A. V. Ferreira, N. K. Nolte, M. K. Petersen, and D. M. Hallford. 2004. Methionine, and at least one branched-chain amino acid, are limiting in lambs. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:421-423.
  • Kuykendall, S., and C. A. Loest. 2006. Effects of energy level on post-ruminal valine utilization by sheep. Proc. Wes. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:346-349.
  • Waggoner, J. W., C. A. Loest, T. M. Thelen, M. K. Petersen, D. M. Hallford, M. D. Remmenga, and C. P. Mathis. 2006. Growing beef steers do not require supplemental dietary methionine during an endotoxin challenge. Proc. Wes. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:25-28.
  • Waggoner, J. W., C. A. Loest, T. M. Thelen, M. K. Petersen, D. M. Hallford, M. D. Remmenga, and C. P. Mathis. 2006. Effects of bacterial endotoxin and supplemental dietary methionine in growing Angus-cross steers. Proc. Plains Nutrition Council Spring Conference. p. 131.
  • Waggoner, J. W., C. A. Loest, T. M. Thelen, C. P. Mathis, D. M. Hallford, and M. K. Petersen. 2006. Effects of methionine supplementation on selected serum constituents in steers following an endotoxin challenge. J. Anim. Sci. 84(Suppl. 1):457.


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
The current findings of these projects demonstrate that methionine, and at least one of the branched-chain amino acids, may limit the growth of lambs. Further research has demonstrated that the branched-chain amino acid, valine, may limit growth of lambs when fed a diet containing protein that is predominantly degraded in the rumen. Increasing methionine supply in the diet of sheep through a rumen-protected source increases hepatic and splanchnic tissue uptake of methionine, leucine, threonine, and phenylalanine indicating the importance of methionine in the metabolism of essential amino acids. Acute infection may increase the threonine and histidine requirement for nulliparous ewe lambs.

Impacts
This research project provides insight towards optimizing the utilizing of amino acids by growing sheep by identifying those essential amino acids that limit protein deposition, thereby providing the opportunity to improve the efficiency of protein (amino acid) utilization through supplementation strategies.

Publications

  • Waggoner, J. W., C. A. Loest, A. V. Ferreira, J. van E. Nolte, M. K. Petersen, and D. M. Hallford. 2005. Valine limits nitrogen retention of growing lambs. Proc. Wes. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 56:376-377.
  • Thelen, T. M., C. A. Loest, S. Wang, G. S. Lewis, and J. B. Taylor. 2005. Supplemental methionine and uterine infection alters essential amino acid metabolism in nulliparous ewes. Proc. Wes. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 56:52-55.
  • Munn, V. A., C. A. Loest, C. P. Mathis, M. K. Petersen, P. J. Defoor, J. E. Sawyer, and C. A. Rogers. 2003. Undegradable true protein, and not ruminally-protected methionine, increases nutrient utilization by growing beef heifers. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 54:57-59.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
The current findings of this project demonstrates that methionine, and at least one of the branched-chain amino acids, may limit the growth of lambs when fed a diet containing protein that is mostly degraded in the rumen. The finding that methionine was limiting is in agreement with other reports for lambs and steers, but the findings that branched-chain amino acids were limiting for growing lambs have only recently been reported to also be limiting for growing steers. Further research will be conducted to determine which of the branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, or valine) were limiting in lambs.

Impacts
This research project provides insight towards optimizing the utilizing of amino acids by growing sheep by identifying those essential amino acids that limit protein deposition, thereby providing the opportunity to improve the efficiency of protein (amino acid) utilization through supplementation strategies.

Publications

  • Nolte, J. van E., C. A. Loest, A. V. Ferreira, N. K. Nolte, M. K. Petersen, and D. M. Hallford. 2004. Methionine, and at least one branched-chain amino acid, are limiting in lambs. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:421-423.