Effects of dietary supplement of essential amino acids on mortality rate,liver traits and blood parameters in mink (Mustela vison) fed low-proteindiets

摘要

A low-protein diet supplemented with essential amino acids to meet the estimated requirements for essential amino acids in growing mink, and with a total amino acid nitrogen content of 65-75% of the requirement, was fed to male mink kits during the growing period from weaning to pelting. The effects on mortality rate, liver fat content, liver weights, growth performance, plasma activities of alanine-aminotransferase (ALAT), plasma concentrations of total protein, urea, creatinine and bile acids and haematocrit values were studied. The results showed that the mink has a high requirement of dietary protein besides essential amino acids, especially glucogenic amino acids. Feeding a low-protein diet caused increased mortality rate, liver lipidosis, increased plasma activity of ALAT and reduced growth performance compared with control feeding. A dietary supplement of essential amino acids to the tow-protein diet did not improve the health status, but had a positive effect on growth performance compared with the unsupplemented low-protein diet.