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Methionine and Methyldonors for Mink (Mustela vison) in the Furring

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Article · January 2003

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Methionine and Methyldonors for Mink (Mustela vison) in
the Furring Period
Peter Sandbøl, Tove N. Clausen & Carsten Hejlesen
Danish Fur Breeders Research Center, DK-7500 Holstebro, Denmark
Introduction
Glem-Hansen (1976) showed, that methionine
and cystine were the first limiting amino
acids in typical Scandinavian mink feed. In
following trials, to establish the requirement
for sulphur containing amino acids in the
growing period, dl-methionine was used
(Glem-Hansen and Hansen, 1980).
Investigations with other species have shown
a varying degree of utilisation of dl-
methionine. Teeter et al. (1978) concluded,
that d-methionine was well utilised by cats. A
calculation from their data indicates abt. 80 %
of growth as compared to l-methionine. Due
to the trial design, they could not quantify
the degree of utilisation.
An alternative to methionine is the
Methionine Hydroxy Analog (MHA). Teeter et
al. (1978) tested MHA to growing cats. On a
semipurified diet, the MHA group achieved a
growth of about 78 % of that achieved by the
group receiving l-methionine.
Besides being an essential amino acid in
itself, methionine is converted to cystine and
may cover the requirement for this amino
acid. This process liberates methyl groups,
which in themselves have metabolic
functions.
Methyl groups may also be supplied by the
vitamin choline chloride or betaine.
Børsting og Riis (2002) tested a partial
substitution of methionine with betaine to
mink in the growing and furring period. The
results indicated a certain methionine
sparing effect of betaine in the furring period.
The following preliminary trial was carried
out in order to clarify whether MHA or
betaine may possibly substitute a part of the
present methionine requirement (norm) to
mink in the furring period.
Materials and Methods
The trial was carried out in the period from
September 6th and until pelting.
Animals
Three groups of 120 male mink of the wild
colourtype were used.
Feed
A standard feed kitchen diet was fed until the
initiation of the experiment. The basal feed
was composed to have a 20 % deficiency of
methionine as compared to the norm for
mink in the furring period.
In the 1st group, 0.14 % of dl-methionine was
added (only l-methionine calculated as
utilisable). The 2nd group received 0.079 %
MHA as Alimet©, corresponding to the
lacking methionine and the 3rd group
received 0.022 % betaine as betaine
monochloride, corresponding to the amount
of methyl donors lacking.
The diets were composed to have a ME
distribution of respectively 28:53:19 from
protein, fat and carbohydrates.
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The group receiving Betaine had significantly
Results better quality (p=0.0007) and the most
Feed reddish furs (p<0.0001) when compared to
The energy distribution and the content of the two other groups (figure 2). The group
essential amino acids in the feeds are shown receiving MHA had the least reddish furs (
in figure 1. p<0.0001) when compared to the two other
groups.
Figure 1. Energy distribution and g digestible
essential amino acids/MJ. Figure 2. Pelt quality and clarity.
Pelt Quality and Clarity
Digestible EAA, g/MJ
Quality, 1-12 Clarity, 1-5
dl-Methionine 27:53:20 MHA 27:52:21 Betaine 28:52:20 Norm
6,8 A
1,40 6,0 B 5,8 B
7,0
1,20 6,0
5,0 3,3 A
1,00
4,0
3,0 B 2,7 C
0,80
3,0
0,60 2,0
1,0
0,40
0,0
0,20 dl-Met MHA Betaine
There were many furs with flat wool in the
0,00
Arg Cys His Ile Leu Lys Met Phe Thr Tyr Val Trp group receiving methionine and this group
had significantly lower wool quality
(p=0.0006) as compared to the two other
The amino acid content was generally above groups (figure 3).
the requirement for mink in the furring
period. Methionine had successfully been Figure 3. Wool quality.
lowered about 20 % in the basal feed as Wool - Flat, Normal and Heavy
compared to norm (the analysis results from
the groups MHA and Betaine). The group with 0,8 2,5 5,1
100%
added dl-methionine ended up with about 5 90%
80%
% excess as compared to the plan. This is 70%
within the normal variance in the analysis 60% 78,0 88,3 88,0 % Heavy
50% % Normal
results (only l-methionine given nutritional 40% % Flat
value). However, if one considers the content 30%
20%
of d-methionine as a possible nutritional 10%
21,2 9,2 6,9
source of methionine, the excess might be as 0%
dl-Met MHA Betaine
much as 20 %.
Weights and gain Conclusion
There was no significant difference in weight Substituting 20 % of the methionine with
gains from September to pelting. This either MHA or Betaine had no negative effect
indicates that the methionine requirement per on the weight gain from September to pelting
se for gain in the furring period is covered by nor for the pelt length. There was an
a content of 0.31 g of digestible improved quality when substituting the dl-
methionine/MJ, as this was the amount
available in the Betaine group. As the total
methionine with Betaine. The group receiving
Betaine had longer pelts (NS) and a better
quality (p=0.0007) than the group receiving
sum of sulphur amino acids was only just
dl-methionine. This indicates that the
below norm level in the MHA group and the
Betaine group there is - at present - no requirement for methionine per se in the
furring period, is fulfilled at 0.31 g of
reason to believe that the recommendations
for total sulphur amino acids should be lower digestible methionine/MJ. The results further
than the norm. However it seems that the indicate that a balance of 60:40 between
present balance between methionine and methionine and cystine should be sufficient.
cystine of 73:37 may at least be changed to at
balance of 60:40. References
Due to the above we are not able to conclude Børsting, C.F & B. Riis, (2002). Methionine metabolism in
mink. Effect of season, and the supply of methionine and
whether the mink is able to utilise either d- betaine. Annual Report 2001, 125-131. Danish Fur Breeders
methionine or MHA during the furring period. Research Center, Holstebro, Denmark. In Danish; English
In case d-methionine has nutritional value, abstract.
one has to consider the possible negative Fau, D., Smalley, K.A., Morris, J.G. & Q.R. Rogers, (1987).
Effect of excess dietary methionine on weight gain and
effect that excess methionine may have. plasma amino acids in kittens. J. Nutr., 117, 1838-1843.
Negative influences have been reported in Glem-Hansen, N., (1976). The requirement for sulphur
performance and health parameters in cats containing amino acids of mink in the growth period. 1st Int.
Sci. Cong. Fur Anim. Prod., Helsinki, Finland. 17 pp.
(Schaeffer et al., 1982; Maede et al., 1987 and
Glem-Hansen, N. & N. Enggaard Hansen, (1980). The
Fau et al., 1987). requirement for sulphur containing amino acids of mink
during the growth period. Acta Agric. Scand., 30, 349-356.
Maede, Y., Hoshino, T., Inaba, M. & S. Namioka, (1987).
Methionine toxicosis in cats. Am. J. Vet. Res., 48, 289-292.
Pelt length and fur quality
Schaeffer, M.C., Rogers, Q.R. & J.G. Morris, (1982).
The group receiving MHA had the longest
Methionine requirement of the growing kitten, in the absence
pelts and the group receiving dl-methionine of dietary cystine. J. Nutr., 112, 962-971.
the shortest; but there was no statistically Teeter, R.G., Baker, D.H. & J.E. Corbin, (1978). Methionine
significant difference between the groups. essentiality for the cat. J. Anim. Sci., 46, 1287-1292.