Effects of DL-methionine supplement on growth performance and amino acid digestion and plasma concentrations in sika deer calves (Cervus nippon)

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Huang ◽  
Wei-Li Sun ◽  
Chun-Yi Li ◽  
Han-Lu Liu ◽  
Tie-Tao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Sika Deer ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Cervus Nippon ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Acid Digestion ◽  
Feed Utilisation

This experiment was set to investigate the effects of DL-methionine (DL-met) supplement on growth performance and amino acid digestion and plasma concentrations in sika deer calves. Twelve healthy 5-month-old sika deer (29.44 ± 2.86 kg initial bodyweight) were randomly divided into three groups (4/group) and one sika deer per replicate. Levels of Met supplement in three treatments were 0, 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg, respectively. The results showed that the average daily gain for the early 35-day study period tended (P = 0.07) to increase linearly as the Met supplement increased, the feed to gain ratio (F : G) for the early period decreased (linearly and quadratically, P < 0.05), and, in the late 35-day study period, tended (linearly, P = 0.08) to decrease as dietary Met increased. The apparent digestibility of Met increased (linearly and quadratically, P < 0.01) with graded amounts of supplemental Met, and the apparent digestibilities of valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, glycine, aspartic and cystine showed a linear increase (P < 0.05). Plasma glycine, proline and isoleucine concentrations increased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.01) with Met supplementation, plasma serine and leucine increased linearly (P < 0.05), and plasma histidine, lysine, arginine and NH3 increased quadratically (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), with graded amounts of supplemental Met. Met supplementation in the diet improved feed utilisation and amino acid (AA) nutrient digestion, and affected plasma AA concentrations in sika deer calves.

scholarly journals Dietary lysine affects amino acid metabolism and growth performance, which may not involve the GH/IGF-1 axis, in young growing pigs1

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Shamimul Hasan ◽  
Mark A Crenshaw ◽  
Shengfa F Liao
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Feed Ratio ◽  
Plasma Protein Concentration ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Total Plasma Protein

Abstract Lysine is the first limiting amino acid (AA) in typical swine diets. Our previous research showed that dietary lysine restriction compromised the growth performance of late-stage finishing pigs, which was associated with the changes in plasma concentrations of nutrient metabolites and hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). This study was conducted to investigate how dietary lysine restriction affects the plasma concentrations of selected metabolites and three anabolic hormones in growing pigs. Twelve individually penned young barrows (Yorkshire × Landrace; 22.6 ± 2.04 kg) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (n = 6). Two corn and soybean meal based diets were formulated to contain 0.65% and 0.98% standardized ileal digestible lysine as a lysine-deficient (LDD) and a lysine-adequate (LAD) diets, respectively. During the 8-week feeding trial, pigs had ad libitum access to water and their respective diets, and the growth performance parameters including average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) were determined. At the end of the trial, jugular vein blood was collected for plasma preparation. The plasma concentrations of free AA and six metabolites were analyzed with the established chemical methods, and the hormone concentrations were analyzed with the commercial ELISA kits. Data were analyzed with Student’s t-test. The ADG of LDD pigs was lower (P &lt; 0.01) than that of LAD pigs, and so was the G:F (P &lt; 0.05) since there was no difference in the ADFI between the two groups of pigs. In terms of free AA, the plasma concentrations of lysine, methionine, leucine, and tyrosine were lower (P &lt; 0.05), while that of β-alanine was higher (P &lt; 0.01), in the LDD pigs. The total plasma protein concentration was lower (P &lt; 0.02) in the LDD pigs, whereas no differences were observed for the other metabolites between the two groups. No differences were observed in the plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GF), insulin, and IGF-1 between the two groups as well. These results indicate that the lack of lysine as a protein building block must be the primary reason for a reduced body protein synthesis and, consequently, the compromised G:F ratio and ADG. The changes in the plasma concentrations of total protein and four AA suggest that the compromised growth performance might be associated with some cell signaling and metabolic pathways that may not involve the GH/IGF-1 axis.

Impact of combined α-galactosidase and xylanase enzymes on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, chyme viscosity, and enzymes activity of broilers fed corn-soybean diets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingbo Liu ◽  
Kun Xing ◽  
Ran Ning ◽  
Sergi Carné ◽  
Xingqiang Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Enzymes Activity ◽  
Enzyme Supplementation ◽  
Digesta Viscosity ◽  
Nutrients Digestibility ◽  
Endogenous Enzymes

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of a combined α-galactosidase and xylanase preparation on nutrients digestibility and growth performance in broiler chickens. Experiment 1 had 240 broilers allocated to 3 treatments with the dietary supplementation of 0, 300 and 500 g/t of the enzyme combination. Diet and amino acid (AA) digestibility were assessed. Experiment 2 was a 2 × 3 (enzyme × diet) factorial arrangement with 10 replicates of 12 male broilers per replicate. Diets were based on corn-Soybean meal (SBM) diet and had 3 nutritional levels (normal, 2% apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and crude protein (CP) reduction, and 4% AME and CP reduction). Each of these diets was fed with or without enzyme supplementation. Growth performance, chyme viscosity, nutrients digestibility, and endogenous enzymes activity were assessed. In experiment 1, enzyme supplementation improved the digestibility of Ca (P = 0.025) and ileal digestibility of total AA, Pro, Alu, Ile, Lys, His, Thr, Glu, Val, Leu, Tyr and Phe (P &lt; 0.05), and also tended to increase the AME of diets (P &lt; 0.10). In experiment 2, broilers fed the corn-SBM diet with 4% nutrient reduction had better growth performance (P &lt; 0.05), jejunal digesta viscosity at 42 days (P &lt; 0.01), and lower digestibility of gross energy (GE) (P &lt; 0.05) when compared to those fed the normal nutrient diet. Enzyme inclusion increased digestibility of CP (P = 0.044), GE (P = 0.009), raffinose (P &lt; 0.001) and stachyose (P &lt; 0.001), improved average daily gain (P = 0.031), and reduced jejunal digesta viscosity at 42 days (P = 0.011). Besides, similar improvements trend in amylase, trypsin, sucrase, and maltase activity with enzyme inclusion were observed as with energy. These data support that the enzyme supplementation increased nutrients and ileal amino acid digestibility, improved performance and endogenous enzymes activity.

A time-series effect of phytase supplementation on phosphorus utilization in growing and finishing pigs fed a low-phosphorus diet

2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olufemi Oluwaseun Babatunde ◽  
Olayiwola Adeola
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Feed Ratio ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Two experiments were carried out to determine a time-series effect of phytase on phosphorus (P) utilization in growing and finishing pigs using growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, P excretion, and plasma concentrations of minerals as the response criteria for evaluation. In both experiments, treatments were arranged as a 3 × 4 factorial in a randomized complete block design with 3 corn–soybean meal-based diets including a P-adequate positive control (PC), a low-P negative control (NC; no inorganic P), and NC supplemented with phytase at 1,000 FYT/kg (NC + 1,000); and 4 sampling time points at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 in experiment 1, and days 14, 26, 42, and 55 in experiment 2. In both trials, 96 growing pigs with average body weight (BW) of 19.8 ± 1.16 and 49.8 ± 3.21 kg, respectively, were allocated to the 3 diets with 8 replicates pens (4 barrows and 4 gilts) and 4 pigs per pen. In experiment 1, pigs fed the PC had higher (P &lt; 0.01) BW, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) when compared with pigs fed the NC. There was an interaction (P &lt; 0.01) between time and diet on the BW and ADG of pigs while a linear and quadratic increase (P &lt; 0.01) was observed with the ADFI and G:F, respectively, over time. Phytase supplementation improved (P &lt; 0.01) all growth performance responses. Pigs fed the PC had greater (P &lt; 0.01) ATTD of P and Ca than pigs fed the NC. There was no interaction effect on the ATTD of nutrients. Phytase addition improved the ATTD of P and Ca over pigs fed the NC. There was an interaction (P &lt; 0.01) between diet and time on the total and water-soluble P (WSP) excreted. There was a quadratic decrease (P &lt; 0.01) in plasma concentration of Ca in pigs over time. In experiment 2, there was a quadratic increase (P &lt; 0.01) in BW, ADG, and G:F of pigs over time. Similarly, the inclusion of phytase improved (P &lt; 0.05) all growth performance parameters except ADFI. A linear increase (P &lt; 0.05) in the ATTD of DM, P, and Ca occurred over time. Phytase inclusion improved (P &lt; 0.01) the ATTD of P and Ca. Plasma concentrations of P were improved by phytase addition. Phytase supplementation of the NC reduced WSP excretion by 45%, 32%, and 35% over the growing, finishing, and entire grow-finish period, respectively. In conclusion, phytase improves the utilization of P in growing and finishing pigs; however, the magnitude of effect on responses may vary over time.

Effects of nucleotide supplementation to corn–soybean meal-based diet on growth performance, fecal microflora, and blood profiles of sows and performance of suckling piglets

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 754-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Jiao ◽  
S.D. Upadhaya ◽  
I.H. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Fecal Microflora ◽  
Suckling Piglets ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
Piglet Survival ◽  
Blood Profiles

A total of 45 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their litters were used in this study to evaluate the efficacy of nucleotide supplementation on reproductive performance, growth performance, fecal microflora, and blood profiles in sows and piglets. Sows were allocated to one of three treatments (15 pigs per treatment and the average parity was 4.13). Dietary treatments consisted of (1) CON: basal diet, (2) T1: CON + 0.5% nucleotides, and (3) T2: CON + 1.0% nucleotides. In this study, the average daily feed intake during lactation and back fat at weaning day was increased linearly (P < 0.05) in sows with the increase in nucleotide supplementation levels. Sows receiving increasing levels of nucleotides had linearly increased fecal Lactobacillus counts and decreased Escherichia coli counts at weaning day (P < 0.05). Linear reduction of the epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol in sows was observed at weaning day, whereas superoxide dismutase was increased linearly (P < 0.05). Body weight and average daily gain in piglets were linearly (P < 0.05) increased with the increasing levels of nucleotides. Linear increase (P < 0.05) was also observed on total piglets born, live piglets, and piglet survival. The current study demonstrated the importance of nucleotides in the diets of sows to improve sow and piglet performance.

scholarly journals Feeding Agroindustrial Byproducts to Light Lambs: Influence on Growth Performance, Diet Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance, Ruminal Fermentation, and Plasma Metabolites

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trinidad de Evan ◽  
Almudena Cabezas ◽  
Jesús de la Fuente ◽  
María Dolores Carro
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Plasma Metabolites ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Homogeneous Groups

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing cereals and protein concentrates in a high-cereal concentrate (control) for light lambs with corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS; 18%), dried citrus pulp (DCP; 18%), and exhausted olive cake (EOC; 8%) in a byproduct (BYP) concentrate on growth performance, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and plasma metabolites. Two homogeneous groups of Lacaune lambs (13.8 kg ± 0.25 kg) were fed one of each concentrates and barley straw ad libitum until reaching about 26 kg body weight. There were no differences between groups on feed intake, average daily gain, or feed conversion ratio, but the control diet had greater (p < 0.001) dry matter digestibility. Diet had no effect on post-mortem ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations and profile, but NH3-N concentrations were lower (p = 0.003) for the BYP-fed group compared with the control one. However, plasma concentrations of amino acids, total proteins, urea, and hepatic enzymes were not affected by the diet. In conclusion, 44% of feed ingredients in the concentrate for light lambs can be replaced with a mixture of corn DDGS, DCP, and EOC without negatively affecting growing performance and animal health.

scholarly journals Short communication: Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters of fattening lambs fed diet replacing corn with orange pulp

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e06SC01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Lashkari ◽  
Akbar Taghizadeh ◽  
Hamid Paya ◽  
Søren K. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quadratic Effect ◽  
Orange Pulp

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with orange pulp (OP) on growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters of fattening lambs. Twenty male lambs were placed in individual pens and fed with four levels of replacement of corn by OP (0, 33, 66, 100%) during 60 days. Average daily gain (ADG) showed a quadratic effect (p<0.007) with the increasing levels of replacement. Inclusion of 33 and 66% of OP in the diet significantly increased dry matter intake (DMI) compared to control group (p<0.01). Ruminal ammonia-N concentration showed a linear decrease (p<0.002). Ruminal fluid pH increased linearly with the increasing replacement of corn by OP (p<0.001). Acetate concentration showed a linear increase (p<0.001). Plasma total protein showed a linear increase (p<0.002). Organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber showed a quadratic effect with the level of replacement. The results of the present study showed that replacement of corn by OP improves DMI of fattening lambs, leading to an enhancement in ADG at the replacement level of 40.3%. Also, total replacement of corn by OP did not have any adverse effect on growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters.

scholarly journals PSIII-23 Characterization of oxidized oil-elicited disruption of amino acid metabolism in nursery pigs through metabolomic analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 177-177
Author(s):  
Yue Guo ◽  
Andrea Hanson ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Brian Kerr ◽  
Pedro Urriola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Amino Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Corn Oil ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Metabolomics Data ◽  
Nursery Pigs ◽  
Metabolomics Analysis

Abstract Feeding oxidized lipids compromises growth performance of pigs, but the metabolic events contributing to this adverse effect are not well defined. In this study, oxidized corn oil (OCO) was prepared by heating control corn oil (CCO) at 185 oC for 12 h. Weanling pigs (initial BW = 6.3 ± 1.4 kg) were fed 4 isocaloric diets containing 9% CCO, 6% CCO + 3% OCO, 3% CCO + 6% OCO, and 9% OCO, respectively. Pigs were provided ad libitum access to experimental diets in 3 phases (phase 1 = 4 d, phase 2 = 10 d and phase 3 = 21 d) for 35 d. Pig body weight (BW) and feed disappearance were determined at the d 0, 4, 14 and 35 to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain to feed (G:F) ratio. Serum and liver samples collected on d 35 of feeding were analyzed by the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics analysis. Growth performance data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS and metabolomics data were analyzed by two-tailed student’s t test for comparison between different doses of OCO and CCO treatments. The result showed that dietary OCO decreased G:F ratio (P < 0.05) dose-dependently, but did not ADFI. Metabolomics analysis showed that OCO fed pigs decreased the levels of serum alanine (P < 0.01), tryptophan (P < 0.05), carnosine (P < 0.01), and glutamic acid (P < 0.05), while the levels of threonine (P < 0.05) was increased compared to CCO. Moreover, consuming OCO decreased the hepatic metabolites from threonine catabolism pathways, including α-ketobutyrate (P < 0.01), α-amino-butyrate (P < 0.05), and propionic acid (P < 0.05), compared to CCO treatment. In addition, OCO increased hepatic NAD level by activating tryptophan-NAD+ metabolic pathway. Overall, OCO selectively modulated amino acid metabolism in nursery pigs, which may further affect growth performance.

scholarly journals Interrelationships between sex and dietary lysine on growth performance and carcass composition of finishing boars and gilts1

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Aymerich ◽  
Carme Soldevila ◽  
Jordi Bonet ◽  
Mercè Farré ◽  
Josep Gasa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Deposition Potential ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Large White

Abstract The main goals of this study were to determine whether boars and gilts respond differently to the standardized ileal digestible lysine to net energy ratio (SID Lys:NE) and model the response to optimize growth performance. A total of 780 finishing pigs, 390 boars and 390 gilts [Pietrain NN × (Landrace × Large White)], with an initial individual body weight of 70.4 ± 9.2 for boars and 68.7 ± 8.0 kg for gilts, were used in a 41-d dose–response experiment. Pens (13 pigs per pen) were randomly allocated to a dietary treatment (2.64, 3.05, 3.46, 3.86, 4.27 g SID Lys/Mcal NE) by block and sex, with six replicates per treatment and sex. Two isoenergetic diets (2,460 kcal NE/kg), representing the extreme SID Lys:NE, were formulated and then mixed. Pigs were individually weighed at days 0, 22, and 41, when the experiment finished. The differential effect of SID Lys:NE on growth performance and carcass composition between sexes was analyzed with orthogonal polynomial contrasts to compare the linear and quadratic trends in each sex. In addition, broken-line linear (BLL) models to optimize average daily gain (ADG), including average daily feed intake (ADFI) as a covariate, were fitted when possible. As expected, boars had a greater ADG and feed efficiency (G:F; P &lt; 0.001) than gilts, but there was no evidence of differences in ADFI (P = 0.470). Increasing SID Lys:NE had a greater linear impact on boars ADG (P = 0.087), G:F (P = 0.003), and carcass leanness (P = 0.032). In contrast, gilts showed a greater linear increase in SID Lys intake per kg gain (P &lt; 0.001) and feed cost per kg gain (P = 0.005). The best fitting BLL models showed that boars maximized ADG at 3.63 g SID Lys/Mcal NE [95% confidence interval (CI): (3.32 to 3.94)], although another model with a similar fit, compared with the Bayesian information criterion, reported the optimum at 4.01 g SID Lys/Mcal NE [95% CI: (3.60, 4.42)]. The optimum to maximize ADG for gilts was estimated at 3.10 g SID Lys/Mcal NE [95% CI: (2.74, 3.47)]. Thus, the present study confirmed that boars and gilts have a different linear response to SID Lys:NE, explained by the greater protein deposition potential of boars. Likewise, BLL models indicated that boars require a higher SID Lys:NE to maximize ADG from 70 to 89 kg. These results suggest that split feeding of finishing boars and gilts could be beneficial in terms of both performance and cost return.

Effects of dietary zinc supplementation on nutrient digestibility, haematological biochemical parameters and production performance in male sika deer (Cervus nippon)

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao Kun ◽  
Sun Weili ◽  
Li Chunyi ◽  
Wang Kaiying ◽  
Li Zhipeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Sika Deer ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Cervus Nippon ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dietary Zinc ◽  
Group A

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary zinc (Zn) supplementation on antler growth, haematological biochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility in farmed male sika deer. Twenty-five 2-year-old growing male sika deer were randomly divided into five Groups (A, B, C, D and E; 5/group). Animals in Groups A, B, C, Dand E received 0, 5, 15, 40, 100 mg Zn/kg, respectively. Group A, without supplementation acted as a control. The treatment diets were the same basal diet supplemented with 5, 15, 40 and 100 mg Zn/kg (provided as Zn methionine), respectively. The results showed that the digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein in Groups D and E were greater than that in Groups A, B and C (P < 0.05). Digestibility of neutral detergent fibre in Group E was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Plasma Zn concentrations were increased by Zn supplementation and were higher (P < 0.01) for the treatment groups supplemented with 15, 40 and 100 mg Zn/kg DM than for the control and 5 mg/kg Zn groups (P < 0.01). Faecal Zn content in Groups D and E was higher than that in Group A (P < 0.01). The content of albumin in plasma from Group E was greater than in the control and Groups B, C and D (P < 0.05). The concentrations of testosterone in plasma from Groups C, D and E were decreased (P < 0.05) compared with the control. The days between antler initiation and harvesting of deer in Groups D and E were decreased (P < 0.05). Average daily gain of fresh antler and dry antler of deer in Groups D and E was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a control diet containing 58.6 mg Zn/kg was inadequate for achieving optimal productivity for sika deer. The recommended Zn supplementation is from 76.7 to 99.0 mg/kg for 2-year-old male sika deer.

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary N-Carbamylglutamate on Growth Performance, Apparent Digestibility, Nitrogen Metabolism and Plasma Metabolites of Fattening Holstein Bulls

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Jinshan Yang ◽  
Jian Zheng ◽  
Xinpeng Fang ◽  
Xin Jiang ◽  
Yukun Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Nitrogen Metabolism ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Plasma Metabolites ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
N Utilization ◽  
Holstein Bulls ◽  
Daily Gain

N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), a structural analog of N-acetylglutamate, improves nitrogen utilization in dairy cows. However, the effects of NCG on bulls are unknown. The purpose of the current research was to investigate the effects of adding different amounts of NCG on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and plasma metabolites of fattening Holstein bulls. Twenty-four Holstein bulls with similar body weights (BW, 408 ± 21.9 kg) and ages (450 ± 6.1 d; all mean ± SD) were selected for the feeding trial. After 2 weeks of adaptation, bulls were blocked by BW and age and subsequently randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (1) CON group (control diet), (2) L group (supplementation with 20 mg/kg BW NCG), (3) M group (supplementation with 40 mg/kg BW NCG), or (4) H group (supplementation with 80 mg/kg BW NCG). The addition of NCG linearly and quadratically increased the average daily gain (CON vs. L vs. M vs. H = 1.03 vs. 1.19 vs. 1.40 vs. 1.26 kg/d) (p < 0.05), feed conversion ratio (CON vs. L vs. M vs. H = 11.92 vs. 9.22 vs. 7.76 vs. 8.62) (p < 0.05), crude protein digestibility (CON vs. L vs. M vs. H = 64.3 vs. 63.8 vs. 67.7 vs. 65.8%) (0.05 < p < 0.10), N retention (p < 0.05) and N utilization (p < 0.05) of bulls, whereas the contents of fecal N (0.05 < p < 0.10) and urinary N (0.05 < p < 0.10) in NCG-fed bulls linearly decreased compared with those in CON bulls. Bulls fed NCG showed a quadratic increased plasma nitric oxide (p < 0.05) concentration. Furthermore, Arg (p < 0.05), Ile (p < 0.05), Val (p < 0.05), Ala (p < 0.05), Glu (p < 0.05), Ser (p < 0.05), total essential amino acid (p < 0.05) and total nonessential amino acid (p < 0.05) concentrations linearly and quadratically increased with increasing doses of NCG. In contrast, plasma urea (p < 0.05) and ammonia (p < 0.05) concentration linearly and quadratically decreased with increasing doses of NCG. Overall, the addition of NCG increased plasma Arg, Ile, Val, TEAA and TNEAA concentration, which in turn resulted in a higher N utilization and, therefore, higher average daily gain in NCG-fed bulls, providing baseline data for the widespread application of NCG in beef cattle production.

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