20/09/2020
WHAT EVERY FARMER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS.
The discussion about ‘essential amino acids’ must begin from the general understanding of amino acids. It is common knowledge that amino acids are the building blocks for protein, and this, understandably, is why every farmer is keen to include amino acids in their livestock’s diets. It is also common knowledge that amino acids are essential in building muscular tissue, development of organs and optimal functioning of the immune systems of our livestock.
What is not very commonly known though, is that in total, we have 20 amino acids that form the building blocks for protein. Of the twenty amino acids, nine cannot be synthesized by the animals and must therefore be supplemented in their diets. These nine amino acids are referred to as essential amino acids.
The requirements for these essential amino acids in animals vary depending on species and age of the animals. If the supply of any of these essential amino acids doesn’t meet the animal’s requirements for the essential amino acids, it is said to be limiting, that is, limiting the potential growth of the animal. Hence the need to supplement.
But what’s so special about these essential amino acids, that we must provide supplements whenever they are limiting?
In general, the essential amino acids are significant in improving the efficiency of protein utilization, reduction of Nitrogen pollution associated by natural animal feeding, and for optimal animal performances. For these reasons they are usually used in the production of complete feeds, feed additives and premixes.
At Kitale Best Animal Feeds (KBAF) we stock and sell these essential amino acids from highly reputable science-based industries. Below is a summary on some of the essential amino acids on our shelves. The summarized information contains everything that a farmer needs to know about the essential amino acids.
DL- Lysine:
This is the most significant essential amino acid. So significant is it that the addition of other essential amino acids to animal feeds is always in the ratio of lysine to these other essential amino acids.
In Cattle, pigs and poultry, it enhances the optimal growth of lean meat, and is usually preferred as an economic alternative for soybeans. DL- Lysine is also essential in the reduction of nitrogen pollution by lowering the ammonia content in the animals’ excreta.
DL- Methionine.
DL-Methionine is an important ingredient in monogastric diets especially of poultry. This is because it is actively involved in the synthesis of tissue proteins, a number of vitamins, hormones and enzymes. Methionine also affects hemoglobin synthesis directly, is required for the synthesis of adrenaline, and like lysine, is useful in the reduction of Nitrogen pollution.
Along with cysteine and vitamin A, it is actively involved in the formation of bird feathers. It also (in complex with cysteine and Vitamin E) prevents fatty liver in livestock.
L-Valine.
The most outstanding benefit of L-Valine is that it reduces feed and production costs as it lowers dietary protein levels and boosts feed conversion. It also increases body weight gain and improves breast meat yield in broilers. Like the other essential amino acids, it improves animal performance especially for broilers, layers, shrimp, pigs and fish.
L-tryptophan.
L-tryptophan is usually limiting in pig and poultry diets. This is because pig and poultry diets based on cereal and vegetable proteins do not contain enough natural L-Tryptophan. Its role extends beyond protein synthesis to include: Appetite regulation, control of sleep (through its metabolite serotonin), and boosting the animals’ immune systems.
In pigs, L-tryptophan is essential in improving the digestive capacity of young pigs particularly in the post-weaning period, which promotes gut health and reduces bacterial proliferation in these animals.
L-THREONINE.
L- Threonine helps in achieving maximum animal performance and shorter grow-out periods. It also optimizes feed formulations, enhances the utilization of available amino acids for optimum body protein deposition and reduces the variation of threonine in feeds. L-threonine is also essential in improving gut health, reducing the cost of animal production as well as minimizing nitrogen excretion.
Now consider this: With feed accounting for up to three thirds of total livestock production costs, feed quality and production efficiency have a great impact on overall profitability. That is why you cannot do without these essential amino acids, that is, if you take your livestock production seriously.
We hope this article was useful to you. Though, you still need to know how to identify deficiency of any of these amino acids in your livestock. If that’s the kind of information that would interest you, DON’T MISS our next article.
Greetings from Kitale Best Animal Feeds (KBAF). See you soon.
Our Contact number is 0718810639.
