Amino acid requirements of the growing meat rabbit 1. The amino acid composition of rabbit whole-body tissue — a theoretical estimate of ideal amino acid balance

Abstract

ABSTRACTWhole-body amino acid composition was determined in six male and six female 53-day-old New Zealand White rabbits. There were no significant sex differences in whole-body amino acid compositition except for arginine and glycine where whole-body concentrations (g/16 g N) were significantly lower in the females (P< 0·05). Overall mean whole-body essential amino acid levels (relative to lysine = 100 units) were methionine = 20; cystine = 41; histidine = 50; phenylalanine = 65; tyrosine = 50; threonine = 64; leucine = 112; isoleucine = 51; valine = 62; arginine = 109. The lysine concentration of rabbit whole-body tissue was 6·12 g/16 g N. There was close agreement between rabbit whole-body amino acid composition and corresponding published values for the rat and pig, although the rabbit whole-body cystine was high and methionine concentration low compared with the rat or pig. The rabbit whole-body amino acid pattern can be regarded as approximating an ideal balance of dietary amino acids and as such indicates discrepancies in current recommendations on the essential amino acid requirements for growth in the meat rabbit.