This study is a comparison of the growth of albino rats fed on a diet containing beef protein with the growth of albino rats fed on a diet containing peanuts as the source of protein.

<p dir="ltr">Impact of indigestible protein on broiler chickens and pigs</p>

Thesis (MScAgric (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years, the aim of the production of broilers became more focused on the increase of the performance of the birds in order to increase profit. To obtain an increased performance with broiler chicks, it is necessary to look at the development of their gastrointestinal tract, the feed requirements and the ability to digest certain nutrients in the period post hatch. Research have shown clear evidence of increased performance of chicks by the inclusion of certain carbohydrate and protein sources in the prestarter diets, but in contrast to this there are also some research that found no significant effects on the performance of broilers when certain carbohydrate and protein sources were included in the pre-starter diet. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that a product containing specific carbohydrate and protein sources, included in the pre-starter diets of broiler chicks, would have on their performance. It was believed that the products to be tested would result in increased performance of the chicks in the following growth phases. Special emphasis was placed on the average daily gain (ADG), feed intake, cumulative feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), European production efficiency factor (EPEF) and the protein efficiency ratio. Different inclusion levels of the different raw materials were investigated in the first trial. Three raw materials and a control were compared using a summit dilution process at 100:0, 66:34, 50:50, 34:66 and 0:100. Specific production parameters such as ADG total live weight gain, feed intake per week, cumulative feed intake, FCR, EPEF and PER were measured and calculated in order to determine if there were any significant differences between the treatments with the different raw material inclusions on the performance of the chicks. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found between the 13 treatments for the ADG, total live weight gain, feed intake per week, cumulative feed intake, FCR, EPEF and PER. The results therefore indicated that there were no significant differences between the different inclusion levels of the different raw materials and no significant differences for the production parameters for animals receiving diets with various levels of the three raw materials. It is thus concluded that these raw materials can be successfully utilised in pre-starter diets of broiler chicks. The effect of the contribution of sugar to the metabolisable energy (ME) of the raw materials was tested in a commercial grower trial. The three raw materials had inclusion levels leading to supply of either 12% or 18% of the ME in the form of sugar. No significant differences were found between the seven treatments for ADG, total live weight gain, feed intake per week, cumulative feed intake, FCR, EPEF or the PER. It was concluded that the percentage in contribution of sugars between 12 and 18% to the ME of the prestarter diets had no significant effects on the production parameters tested. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die produksie van braaikuikens word daar deesdae al hoe meer klem gelê op die verhoging van die produksie van die kuikens om dan dus ‘n verhoging in die wins te bewerkstellig. Om hierdie verhoogde produksie by braaikuikens te kan bereik, is dit nodig om na eienskappe van die kuiken soos die ontwikkeling van die spysvertering stelsel, die nutrient- behoeftes van die kuiken en die vermoë om sekere nutriënte te kan verteer in die periode na uitbroei. Sommige navorsing het gewys dat die insluiting van sekere koolhidraat – en proteïen bronne in die voor-aanvangs diëete van braaikuikens, lei tot ‘n positiewe effek op die produksie van die kuikens, waar ander navorsing geen effek gevind het nie. Daarom was die doel van die huidige navorsing gewees om te toets wat die effek van die insluiting in die voor-aanvangs dieet van braaikuikens ‘n sekere produk met ‘n spesifieke koolhidraat –en proteïen bron samestelling op die produksie van die kuikens sal wees in die daaropvolgende fases. Dit was verwag dat die insluiting van hierdie produkte in die voor-aanvangs diëte van braaikuikens ‘n positiewe effek sou hê op die produksie van die kuikens. Spesiale klem was gelê op die parameters soos gemiddelde daaglikse toename (GDT) voer inname, kumulatiewe voer inname, voeromset verhoudings (VOV) Europese produksie doeltreffendheids- faktor (EPEF) en die proteïen doeltreffendheids faktor (PER). Verskillende insluitings vlakke van die verskillende produkte wat getoets is, is in die eerste proef ondersoek. Die drie produkte is deur middel van ‘n piek verdunnings proses by verhoudings van 100:0, 66:34, 50:50, 34:66 en 0:100 met mekaar vergelyk. Spesifieke produksie- parameters soos die GDT, lewende massa, weeklikse voer- inname, kumulatiewe voer- inname, VOV, EPEF en die PER is gemeet. Geen betekenisvolle verskille (P>0.05) was vir die 13 behandelings verkry nie. Die resultate het derhalwe getoon dat daar geen betekenisvolle verskille tussen die verskillende insluitings vlakke van die onderskeie produkte was nie en dat daar geen betekenisvolle tussen die produksieparameters van die kuikens wat die diëte met die verskillende insluitingspeile van die drie roumateriale ontvand het, was nie. Daarom is tot die slotsom gekom dat hierdie roumateriale suksesvol in die vooraanvangsdieet van braaikuikens aangewend kan word. Die effek van die bydrae van die suiker tot die metaboliseerbare energie (ME) van die produkte was in ‘n kommersiële groei proef getoets. Die drie rou materiale was by beide 12- en 18% ingesluit. Geen betekenisvolle verskille (P>0.05) was vir die sewe behandelings vir GDT, lewende massa, weeklikse voer- inname, kumulatiewe voer- inname, VOV, EPEF en PEF verkry nie.

Two identical experiments were conducted to evaluate the combined effects of arginine (AR), vitamin E (VE) and vitamin C (VC) on cardiopulmonary performance and ascites parameters of broilers reared under cold environmental temperature. One d old male broilers were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet (CTL, 1.2 % AR and 40 IU VE), the basal diet supplemented with 1% AR and either 200 IU VE (AE group), or 500 mg of VC (AC group), or a combination of VE and VC (AEC group) at the same level per kg of feed. Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded in clinically healthy anesthetized birds (28-42 d old) before and after an epinephrine challenge (EPI, 0.5 mg/kg BW i.v.), Amino-guanidine Hemisulphate (AG, 100 mg/kg BW i.v.) and N-Nitro L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME 50 mg/kg BW, i.v.) at 20 min intervals. The PAP increased 30 s after EPI in all birds, but the peak PAP was lower in the AEC group than in all the other birds. After 120 s of challenge the PAP was lower in AEC birds compared to the other birds. The PAP returned to pre-EPI levels within 300 s in all groups. The PAP was increased ( P&lt; 0.05) within 60 s after the AG and L-NAME challenge in all groups, but no differences were found among groups. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) was higher in the AEC birds than in all the other groups before and after challenge. Our results showed that birds fed AEC maintained a lower PAP than the CTL birds after EPI elicited an increase in cardiac output and this can be explained by a higher production of NO. A combination of AR, VE, and VC may have complementary effects against oxidative stress, protecting the endothelium and preserving NO function.

Excessive dietary protein may affect MP use because of energetic costs of excreting excess N. Amino acids also may influence post-ruminal digestion. Therefore, two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of MP intake and post-ruminal flow of AA on growth performance and pancreatic digestive enzymes. In experiment 1, treatments supplied different amounts of MP intake to cattle and the effects on growth performance and feeding behavior were evaluated. In experiment 2, duodenal infusion of glutamate or casein was examined and the effects on pancreatic enzymes were measured. Experiment 1 suggests that feeding steers 906 g MP/d in finishing diets supplied enough MP for the greatest growth performance and carcass characteristics. Interestingly, MP intake caused different responses on feeding behavior with greater effects on steers fed 626 and 1444 g MP/d. In experiment 2, casein infusion increased α-amylase activity but not trypsin activity. Glutamate did not influence pancreatic digestive enzymes.

No description available.

Invitro synthesis and degradation capabilities and the cathepsin D activity of the skeletal muscles of experimentally induced Selenium-Vitamin E deficient lambs were investigated. Twenty-one Dorset x Coopworth x Suffolk lambs were blocked by weight and assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) a basal diet of 85% whole shelled corn and 15% mixed grass hay plus a mineral supplement that was low in Se and E (-Se-E), 2) the basal diet and deficient mineral mixture as fed in treatment 1 with the addition of a casein encapsulated fat supplement (-Se-E+fat), 3) the basal diet plus a mineral mixture which contained supplemental Se and E (+Se+E). Upon completion of the feeding trial, lambs which had been receiving the -Se-E treatment had the greatest body and individual muscle weights. The -Se-E+fat treatment had the lowest degradation rates and the highest synthesis rates. Cathepsin D activity was found to be lowest in the -Se-E+fat treatment. The -Se-E treatment was observed to have the highest degradation rate and the next highest synthesis rate indicating an increased rate of muscle turn-over. In all cases, the degradation rates were positively correlated with cathepsin D activity. / Master of Science

Two experiments were conducted for this thesis, to determine whether an animal should be fed to its genetic potential in spite of this not being achievable due to an on-farm constraint. The first experiment was designed to compare the response of pigs housed either individually or in groups to a range of feeds limiting in lysine between 40 and 85 kg live weight. Two hundred and eighty-eight entire male Large White x Landrace pigs were used. The experiment was divided into two growth periods, i.e. from 40 to 60 kg and from 60 to 85 kg. In each period, pigs were subjected to feed containing one of four dietary lysine concentrations. In Period 1, the lysine concentrations were 11.03 (L1); 9.54 (L2); 8.00 (L3) and 6.51 (L4) g/kg, while in Period 2 these were 7.82 (T1); 6.71 (T2); 5.55 (T3) and 4.40 (T4) g/kg. Pigs fed an L1, L2, L3 or L4 diet in Period 1 were fed a T1, T2, T3 and T4 diet in Period 2, respectively. Three buildings provided the following group sizes and floor-space allowances: House 1 contained eight pigs per pen at 1.94 m2/pig; House 2 contained four or eight pigs per pen at 1.72 or 0.86 m2/pig; and House 3 contained one pig per pen at 1.72 m2/pig. The individually-housed pigs were divided into three feeding levels, i.e. ad libitum, or pair-fed so that feed intakes would match those of ad libitum-fed pigs housed in groups of either 4 (restricted-4) or 8 (restricted-8) pigs per pen in House 2. For all group sizes, feed intake increased linearly as the dietary lysine content increased. However, this increase was significantly lower for 8, when compared with 1 and 4 pigs per pen. The linear increase in feed conversion efficiency with dietary lysine content was similar for all group sizes. However, at any dietary lysine concentration, pigs housed in groups of 8 had significantly higher efficiencies than the pigs housed individually or in groups of 4. Average daily gain increased linearly as lysine intake increased, this increase being the same for all group sizes. However, pigs in smaller groups grew significantly faster than those in larger group sizes for any lysine intake. Protein and lysine retention were unaffected by group size, increasing linearly as lysine intake increased. The efficiency of lysine utilisation (0.45) was not impaired by group size. The pair-fed pigs housed individually (restricted-4 and -8) consumed significantly less feed than the individually-housed pigs fed ad libitum, and this was reflected in their average daily gains, which increased linearly as lysine intake increased, but with the restricted-8 growing significantly slower than the ad libitum or restricted-4 pigs. In all three treatments feed conversion efficiency increased linearly with dietary lysine content, although the restricted-4 and -8 had significantly higher efficiencies than the ad libitum-fed pigs at any dietary lysine content. Protein and lysine retentions were unaffected by feeding level and increased significantly with lysine intake. However, at any lysine intake the restricted-8 pigs had a significantly lower efficiency of lysine utilisation than the ad libitum or restricted-4 pigs. The pigs with floor-space allowances of 0.86 and 1.94 m2/pig consumed significantly less and grew slower than the pigs with floor-space allowances of 1.72 m2/pig at any dietary lysine content. Feed conversion efficiency was unaffected by floor-space allowance and increased significantly with dietary lysine content. Similarly, protein and lysine retentions were unaffected by floor-space allowance and increased linearly as lysine intake increased. The efficiency of lysine utilisation (0.45) remained unaffected by floorspace allowance. It was concluded that when animals are socially stressed, feeding according to the requirement for maximum protein growth produces the best biological performance and carcass composition, with the corollary that, if profitability and biological efficiency is to be maximised, pigs housed in stressful conditions, or those whose future performance is predicted to be below potential because of external stressors, should not be given feed of an inferior quality. The second experiment was designed to determine the extent to which grouping or floorspace allowance would alter the nutrient content of feed chosen by pigs given a choice of two feeds differing in protein: energy ratio between 40 to 85 kg live weight. Three hundred and eighteen entire male Large White x Landrace pigs were used. Two buildings provided the following group sizes and floor-space allowances: House 1 contained nine and eighteen pigs per pen at 1.72 or 0.86 m2/pig; House 2 contained four, nine and fourteen pigs per pen at 1.72; 0.86 or 0.49 m2/pig. Animals were given simultaneous ad libitum access to a high (236 g protein/kg as fed) and a low crude protein feed (115 g protein/kg as fed) in two hardened plastic self-feeder bins placed side-by-side. A training period of six days was used prior to the start of the trial, during which the two feeds were alternated daily. The reduction in the proportion of high protein feed chosen over time was significantly higher for the groups of four and eight, in comparison to the groups of nine and eighteen, contrasting with the steady increase for the groups of fourteen pigs. Similarly, the significant increase for pigs with floor-space allowances of 0.49 m2/pig differed from the significant decrease for pigs with floor-space allowances of 0.86 and 1.72m2/pig. Pigs housed in larger group sizes and smaller floor-space allowances consumed significantly less and grew slower than pigs housed in smaller group sizes and larger floorspace allowances. However, the feed conversion efficiency remained unaffected by group size and floor-space allowance. The non-significant effect on protein retention with increasing group size contrasted with the significant increase associated with increasing floor-space allowance. The results of the two studies were compared to determine whether pigs chose differently depending on the degree of stress and the implication of this choice. Average daily gain was significantly reduced as the group size increased for pigs fed a fixed lysine content and choice-fed. However, this reduction was less severe with choice-feeding than when feeding a fixed lysine content. Increasing the group size significantly reduced the feed intake in pigs fed a fixed lysine content only. The efficiency of protein utilisation remained unaffected as the group size increased for the pigs fed a fixed lysine content. However, at any group size pigs fed lower lysine contents had higher efficiencies than pigs fed higher lysine contents. On the contrary, increasing the group size significantly increased the efficiency of protein utilisation in choice-fed pigs. The average daily gain and feed intake was significantly improved as the floor-space allowance increased but was similar for pigs fed a fixed lysine content and choice-fed. Although the efficiency of protein utilisation remained unaffected by increasing the floor-space allowance for the pigs fed a fixed lysine content and pair-fed, at any floor-space allowance pigs fed higher lysine contents had higher efficiencies than pigs fed lower lysine contents. The results indicate that providing socially stressed pigs a choice between an appropriate pair of feeds differing in protein: energy ratio, does not overcome the reduction in potential growth, but does result in performance similar to that of pigs fed a fixed lysine content. It was concluded that the social stress of grouping or floor-space allowance has no influence on the ability of the animal to select an appropriate dietary combination allowing the expression of potential growth within the constraint(s) of the production system. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:55:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 778375 bytes, checksum: 97156e3e6f5b7ceee5985d54b84d365c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-23 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / To evaluate the effect of chromium yeast (CY) and ractopamine (RAC) on performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and blood, an experiment was conducted with 96 commercial castrated crossbred pigs with an average initial body weight of 75.07 ± 3.9 kg. Animals were distributed in a randomized-block experimental design with six treatments, eight blocks and two animals per stall. The treatments consisted of feeding plans (FP) in two phases: from 0 to 14 days; and from 14 to 42 days of age, respectively, composed of diets: Control/Control (CD/CD); Chromium yeast/Amino acids (CY/AA); Chromium yeast/Amino acids + Ractopamine (CY/AA+RAC); Control /Chromium yeast (CD/CY); Control/Amino acids + Chromium Yeast (CD/AA+CY); and Chromium Yeast/Amino Acids + Ractopamine + Chromium Yeast (CY/AA+RAC/CY). The greatest final weight and daily weight gain (P<0.0001) were observed in the animals subjected to CY/AA+RAC+CY. Feeding plan CY/AA+RAC provided an intermediate final weight and daily weight gain, similar to those obtained with the use of CY/AA+RAC+CY, CD/CD, CY/AA and CD/CY, but greater than CD/AA+CY. The pigs fed CY/AA+RAC+CY showed a greater fasted body weight (FW) (P<0.0001) as compared with CD/CD, CY/AA, CD/CY and CD/AA+CY. Feeding plan CY/AA+RAC provided an intermediate FW, similar to that obtained with the use of CY/AA+RAC+CY, CD/CD, CY/AA, but greater than CD/AA+CY. The evaluated FP did not influence (P>0.05) daily feed intake. The best feed-conversion results (P<0.0001) were obtained with CY/AA+RAC+CY and CY/AA+RAC. A larger loin-eye area was found in pigs subjected to CY/AA+RAC as compared with the use of CD/CY. The greatest muscle fiber diameter (P<0.011) was found in the pigs subjected to CY/AA+RAC+CY and CD/CY, which were higher than the group fed CD/CD. The liquid loss due to thawing determined in the meat of the pigs subjected to CD/CD was lower (P<0.009) than that observed with the use of CY/AA+RAC. A higher value of Cie a* was determined in the meat of the animals subjected to CY/AA+RAC as compared with CY/AA+ RAC+ CY. The pigs fed CY/AA+ RAC+ CY had a brighter meat than the other animals. The lowest TBARS concentration (P<.001) was observed in the meat of pigs subjected to CY/AA+RAC in relation to the group that consumed CY/AA. A greater concentration of myristic fatty acid (FA) (14:0) was found in the groups that received CY/AA+RAC as compared with the group fed CY/AA+RAC+CY. The pigs that received the FP with CY/AA+RAC+CY and CD/CY displayed greater levels of linoleic FA (18:2n6) in the longissimus dorsi muscle, as compared with the pigs fed CY/AA. The feeding plans did not affect the evaluated blood parameters (P>0.05). The use of chromium yeast and ractopamine or alone promoted positive alterations in the development of muscle cells in the pigs and in the meat quality, which should be considered when this mineral is used. The association of chromium yeast with ractopamine revealed improvements in the animal performance. / Para avaliar o efeito do cromo levedura (CrL) e ractopamina (RAC) em rações sobre o desempenho, características da carcaça, qualidade de carne e variáveis sanguíneas, foi realizado um experimento com 96 suínos machos castrados híbridos comerciais com peso corporal médio inicial de 75,07 ± 3,9 kg, distribuídos em delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com seis tratamentos, oito blocos e dois animais por baia. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de planos nutricionais (PN) em dois períodos consecutivos: período 1 de 0 a 14 dias e o período 2 de 14 a 42 dias, respectivamente, compostos pelas rações: Controle/Ração Controle (RC/RC); Cromo levedura/Aminoácidos (CrL/AA); Cromo Levedura/Aminoácidos + Ractopamina (CrL/AA+RAC); Controle/Cromo Levedura (RC/CrL); Ração Controle/Aminoácidos + Cromo Levedura (RC/AA+CrL) e Cromo Levedura/Aminoácidos+Ractopamina+Cromo Levedura (CrL/AA+RAC+CrL). Maior peso final (PF) e ganho de peso diário (GPD) (P<0,001) foi observado para os suínos submetidos ao PN CrL/AA+RAC+CrL. O PN CrL/AA+RAC proporcionou PF e GPD intermediário, semelhante aos obtidos com o uso de CrL/AA+RAC+CrL, RC/RC, CrL/AA e RC/CrL e superior ao PN RC/AA+CrL. Os suínos alimentados com o PN CrL/AA+RAC+CrL apresentaram maior peso de jejum (PJ) (P<0,0001) quando comparados aos PN RC/RC, CrL/AA, RC/CrL e RC/AA+CrL. O PN CrL/AA+RAC promoveu PJ intermediário, semelhante ao obtido com o uso de CrL/AA+RAC+CrL, RC/RC, CrL/AA e superior ao RC/AA+CrL. Os PN avaliados não influenciaram (P > 0,05) o consumo diário de ração. Os melhores resultados de conversão alimentar (P<0,001) foram obtidos com os PN CrL/AA+RAC+CrL e CrL/AA+RAC. Maior área de olho de lombo foi determinada nos suínos submetidos ao PN CrL/AA+RAC quando comparado a utilização de RC/CrL. Maior diâmetro da fibra muscular (P<0,011) foi verificado nos suínos submetidos aos PN CrL/AA+RAC+CrL e RC/CrL sendo estes superiores ao grupo consumindo RC/RC. A perda líquida por descongelamento determinada na carne dos suínos submetidos ao PN RC/RC foi inferior (P<0,009) a obtida com o uso do PN CrL/AA+RAC. Maior valor Cie a* foi determinado na carne dos animais submetidos ao PN CrL/AA+RAC quando comparado ao PN CrL/AA+ RAC+ CrL. Os suínos submetidos ao PN CrL/AA+ RAC+ CrL apresentaram maior tonalidade na carne frente aos demais animais. Menor concentração de TBARS (P<0,001) foi verificada na carne dos suínos submetidos ao PN CrL/AA+RAC frente ao grupo consumindo ração CrL/AA. Maior teor de ácido graxo (AG) mirístico (14:0) foi verificado para os suínos submetidos ao PN CrL/AA+RAC quando comparado ao grupo CrL/AA+RAC+CrL. Os suínos que receberam os PN com CrL/AA+RAC+CrL e RC/CrL apresentaram maior concentração de AG linolêico (18:2n6) no músculo Longissimus dorsi, frente aos suínos do PN CrL/AA. Os PN não influenciaram as variáveis sanguíneas avaliadas (P>0,05). O uso de cromo levedura e ractopamina promoveram alterações positivas sobre o desenvolvimento de células musculares nos suínos e na qualidade da carne que devem ser consideradas quando da utilização do mineral e o uso em associação a ractopamina revelou melhorias sobre o desempenho dos animais.

Thesis (MScAgric) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Low quality roughage is often used in the Western Cape as the only source of roughage for the young growing ruminant. Production levels of these animals is unsatisfactory and therefore supplementation is required. It is necessary when small grains are fed to also include protein sources in the diets. For high production, these protein sources must also be protected against rumen degradation. Good results are reported with the treatment of sunflower oilcakemeal (SFOCM) with formaldehyde (0.86 g formaldehyde per 100 g protein). Protecting methionine with 2-methyl maleic anhydride results in an increase in wool production. This study looked at the effect on dry matter intake (DM-intake), wool production and live weight change with supplementing a low quality diet with urea, SFOCM and formaldehyde protected SFOCM (FSFOCM). These diets where also supplemented with no methionine, methionine and 2-methyl maleyl methionine (MMM). The DM-intake of total diet are increased (P<0.05) with the supplementing of oats straw and barley (1.1% of live weight) diet with SFOCM and FSFOCM (949 & 935 vs 848 gis/d). Supplementing MMM decreased (P<0.05) the DM-intake with 9 %. Supplementing FSFOCM increased (P<0.05) live weight change from 19 to 44 gis/d. Wool production are increased (P<0.05) with 38 % with supplementation of MMM. The apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) of the urea diet are increased (P<0.05) by supplementing methionine when compared with no methionine supplementation (67.28 vs. 71.23 %). The apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) of the SFOCM diet (63.71 and 64.96 vs. 70.15 %) and FSFOCM diet (66.39 and 66.26 vs. 70.89 %) are increased (P<0.05) by supplementing MMM when compared with no methionine and methionine supplementation. The apparent digestibility of fat of the SFOCM diet (61.01 and 65.65 vs. 48.33 %) and FSFOCM diet (60.93 and 63.83 vs. 38.14 %) are decreased (P<0.05) by supplementing MMM when compared with no methionine and methionine supplementation. The apparent nitrogen balance of the SFOCM diet (-0.15 and 5.41 vs. 4.62 gis/d) and FSFOCM diet (2.93 and 5.60 vs. 6.02 gis/d) are increased (P<0.05) by supplementing MMM when compared with no methionine and methionine supplementation. The DM- and CP-degradability of barley and DM-degradability of oats straw did not differ (P<0.05) between different protein treatments. The higher production with the supplementation of amino acids and proteins can be associated with more amino acids available in the lower digestibility tract and not as a result of better rumen function. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die benutting van strooi as 'n laegraadse ruvoer deur die jong groeiende herkouer is 'n algemene praktyk wat in die Weskaap toegepas word. Produksie is egter laag en aanvulling van beperkende voedingstowwe is dus noodsaaklik. Saam met kleingrane word proteïenbronne meestal as aanvulling gebruik. Vir hoë produksie is dit dikwels nodig om proteïen aan te vul wat teen ruminale afbraak beskerm word. Die formaldehiedbehandeling (0.86 g formaldehied per 100 g proteïen) van sonneblomoliekoekmeel (SBOKM) is alreeds baie suksesvol toegepas vir die beskerming van proteïen teen ruminale afbraak. Deur metionien met dimetielmaleïelsuuranhidried te beskerm, is wolproduksie verhoog. Die studie het die effek van aanvulling van ureum, SBOKM en formaldehiedbehandelde SBOKM (FSBOKM) saam met geen metionien, metionien en 2,3 - dimetielmaleïelmetionien (MMM) op droëmateriaal (DM) -inname, wolproduksie en liggaamsmassaverandering ondersoek. Die DM-inname van jong Merinohamels op 'n hawerstrooi en gars (1.1% van liggaamsmassa) dieet is verhoog (P<0.05) deur die aanvulling van SBOKM en FSBOKM (949 & 935 vs 848 g/s/d). Die DM-inname is egter met 9 % verlaag (P<0.05) deur aanvulling van MMM. Die aanvulling van FSBOKM het die liggaamsmassatoename verhoog (P<0.05) van 19 na 44 gIs/d. Wolproduksie is met 38% (P<0.05) deur MMM-aanvulling verhoog. Die skynbare verteerbaarheid van ruproteïen (RP) by die ureumbehandeling is verhoog (P<0.05) met metionienaanvulling teenoor geen metionienaanvulling (67.28 vs. 71.23%). By SBOKM (63.71 en 64.96 vs. 70.15%) en FSBOKM-behandelings (66.39 en 66.26 vs. 70.89%) is skynbare verteerbaarheid van RP verhoog (P<0.05) met MMM-aanvulling teenoor metionien- of geen-metionienaanvulling. By SBOKM (61.01 en 65.65 vs. 48.33%) en FSBOKM-behandelings (60.93 en 63.83 vs. 38.14%) is skynbare verteerbaarheid van vet verlaag (P<0.05) met MMM-aanvulling teenoor metionien- of geen metionienaanvulling. By SBOKM (-0.15 en 5.41 vs. 4.62 gIs/d) en FSBOKM-bahandelings (2.93 en 5.60 vs. 6.02 gIs/d) is skynbare N-balans verlaag (P<0.05) met MMM-aanvulling teenoor metionien- of geen-metionienaanvulling. Die effektiewe verteerbaarheid van DM en RP van gars en effektiewe verteerbaarheid van DM van strooi is nie beïnvloed (P>0.05) deur die aanvulling van proteïen nie. Die verhoogde produksie kan dus geassosieer word met 'n verhoogde voorsienning van aminosure in die SVK deur aanvulling en nie weens verbetering in die rumenfunksie nie.