Open AccessThe effect of dietary protein on reproduction in the mare. I. The composition and evaluation of the digestibility of dietary protein from different sources
Author(s) -
F.E. Van Niekerk,
C.H. van Niekerk
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of the south african veterinary association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2224-9435
pISSN - 1019-9128
DOI - 10.4102/jsava.v68i3.880
Subject(s) - hay , methionine , amino acid , fish meal , lysine , food science , leucine , essential amino acid , biology , protein digestibility , composition (language) , fodder , zoology , chemistry , agronomy , biochemistry , fish <actinopterygii> , linguistics , philosophy , fishery
Four rations that differed in their crude protein and essential amino-acid content were compiled. Digestibility of the crude protein and essential amino-acid contents were determined biologically in a feeding trial using 4 Anglo-Arab stallions. Their respective daily diets were: Diet 1:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay (Eragrostis tef); Diet 2:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay (Medicago sativa); Diet 3:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay, 200 g fishmeal; Diet 4:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay, 200 g fishmeal. The concentrations of the amino-acids threonine, iso-leucine, leucine and arginine were increased in the total ration when lucerne hay replaced the tef hay while fishmeal supplementation increased the methionine and lysine contents, which provided a wide-range of concentrations of digestible amino-acids in each of the 4 rations.