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Sulfur-Containing Amino Acid Requirements of Growing Dogs

Animal Studies Centre, Freeby Lane, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, England

Three experiments were undertaken to establish the total sulfur-containing amino acid requirement of growing dogs. In experiment 1, six Labradors failed to grow normally when fed a soy isolate diet of 0.28% methionine with 0.18% cystine but grew well when the food was supplemented to either 0.57% or 0.74% methionine. In the next experiment, 12 Labradors and 21 beagles were fed the soy isolate diet containing either 0.39%, 0.57% or 0.74% methionine in the presence of 0.15% cystine for 12 weeks. Dogs fed 0.39% methionine had significantly lower body weights, nitrogen retentions, food intakes and feed efficiencies than their littermates fed the two higher levels. This diet provided 468 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) per 100 g, therefore a level of 116 mg total sulfur-containing amino acids (TSAA)/100 kcal ME was not adequate for growth. The lowest level found to be adequate was 0.57% methionine, or 154 mg TSAA/100 kcal ME, which is similar to the requirement of other young omnivores. A final experiment with a free amino acid diet indicated that a level of 117 mg TSAA/100 kcal ME while inadequate for Laboradors, may be sufficient for some beagles, highlighting differences between intact protein and free amino acid diets and suggesting possible breed differences.

KEY WORDS: • sulfur-containing amino acids • methionine • cystine • growing dogs

Manuscript received 1 March 1982.