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Effects of rumen-protected methionine on plasma amino acid concentrations during a period of weight loss for late gestating beef heifers

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Abstract

This study determined changes in plasma amino acid concentration in late-gestating (beginning 58 ± 1.02 days prior to calving), primiparous, winter-grazing range heifers receiving wheat middling-based supplement without (CON) or with rumen-protected methionine (MET) to provide 15 g dl-MET each day. Plasma was collected on days −2 and 0 (start of MET supplementation just prior to individually receiving supplement at 0700 hours). Plasma was sampled again on days 40, 42 and 44 prior to supplementation at 0700 and 1100 hours (4 h after receiving daily supplement). Data were analyzed with cow as the experimental unit. Continuous variables were analyzed by the main effects of treatment, date, or time and their interaction when appropriate. Comparable BW (P = 0.32) and BCS (P = 0.83) over the 44-day metabolism trial were found between both CON- and MET-fed heifers. MET-supplemented heifers had greater (P < 0.01) plasma concentrations of methionine indicating that the rumen-protection technology successfully delivered methionine to the small intestine. Supplementation with rumen-protected dl-MET caused a significant supplement × date interaction for glutamine (P = 0.03), glycine (P = 0.02), methionine (P < 0.01), and serine (P = 0.05). In addition, trends for supplement × date interactions were detected for leucine (P = 0.07), threonine (P = 0.09), valine (P = 0.08), total amino acids (TAA; P = 0.08), non essential amino acids (NEAA; P = 0.08), branched chain amino acids (BCAA; P = 0.08), and glucogenic amino acids (GLUCO; P = 0.08). These results suggest that the BCAA (leucine and valine) were utilized more efficiently with MET supplemented heifers compared to CON supplemented heifers. Plasma AA concentrations for glutamic acid (P < 0.01), histidine (P = 0.01), tyrosine (P < 0.01), and EAA (P < 0.01), all decreased throughout the study. These results further confirm methionine is a limiting amino acid in forage fed late-gestating heifers and further suggests the limitation when grazing dormant range forages as shown by improved utilization of other plasma amino acids when supplemental methionine was provided.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Amino acids

BCAA:

Branch-chain amino acids

BCS:

Body condition score

BW:

Body weight

CP:

Crude protein

DM:

Dry matter

dl-MET:

dl-Methionine

EAA:

Essential amino acids

GLUCO:

Glucogenic amino acids

ISNDFD:

In situ neutral detergent fiber disappearance

KETO:

Ketogenic amino acids

LARRL:

Livestock and range research laboratory

M85:

Mepron® M85

NDF:

Neutral detergent fiber

NEAA:

Non essential amino acids

OM:

Organic matter

TAA:

Total amino acids

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Acknowledgments

United Sates Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Area, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All agency services are available without discrimination. This research was conducted under a cooperative agreement between United Sates Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by United Sates Department of Agriculture, Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, or the authors and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that also may be suitable. Research was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (Project # 5434-21630-001-00D). Authors declare that we received product (Mepron® M85) and laboratory analysis of plasma amino acids from Evonik-Degussa Corp., Kennesaw, GA, USA 30144 to conduct this study. The authors gratefully acknowledge Mrs. Whisper Kelly, Mr. Mike Woods, Mrs. Lindsey Voigt, Mrs. Susan Reil, Mr. Doug Armstrong, Mr. Alan Mason, and Mr. Tyler Johnson for their technical assistance. The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. Robert L. Payne with Evonik-Degussa Corp., Kennesaw, GA, USA 30144, for support of this project.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest and that no additional funding was provided. Dr. Robert L. Payne with Evonik-Degussa Corp., Kennesaw, GA, USA 30144 was our contact for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 243 Fort Keogh Road, Miles City, MT, 59301, USA

    Richard C. Waterman & Mark K. Petersen

  2. School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Valerie L. Ujazdowski

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  1. Richard C. Waterman
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  2. Valerie L. Ujazdowski
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Correspondence to Richard C. Waterman.

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Waterman, R.C., Ujazdowski, V.L. & Petersen, M.K. Effects of rumen-protected methionine on plasma amino acid concentrations during a period of weight loss for late gestating beef heifers. Amino Acids 43, 2165–2177 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-012-1301-3

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