Effects of Dietary Protein and Energy Levels on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Growing Male Mink (Neovison vison)

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to determine the optimum dietary metabolic energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) levels of growing male mink. One hundred forty-four healthy male minks at 75 days were randomly allocated into the six groups with 24 replicates, which was one mink for each replicate. The mink were fed six experimental diets with two CP levels (31.59 and 35.63%) and three ME levels (14.17, 15.96, and 17.73 MJ/kg) for a 7-day preliminary period and then for an 88-day experimental period. The final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), fat digestibility, energy intake, the concentration of glucose (GLU), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of the mink were significantly increased by the CP or ME levels (P < 0.05). In addition, CP levels significantly (P < 0.01) increased the N intake and N retention. Dietary ME levels increased the utilization of gross energy. Obviously, there were significant CP × ME interactions for the final BW, ADG, fat digestibility, energy utilization, GLU, LDL (P < 0.01), and triglyceride contents (P < 0.05). Therefore, the optimum CP and ME levels were 35.97% and 18.18 MJ/kg, which can improve growth, enhance nutrient digestion, and promote blood lipid metabolism in growing mink.

Serum protein electrophoresis in European mink ( Mustela lutreola ): reference intervals and comparison of agarose gel electrophoresis and capillary zone electrophoresis

“…The TP concentrations in this study were similar to those reported by Farid and Rupasinghe ( 2022 ) and Han et al. ( 2022 ) in a nutritional study of male minks. These authors did not find differences between sex and other variables, such as time and degree of tolerance (Farid and Rupasinghe 2022 ), or the level of protein or metabolic energy in the diet (Han et al.…”

“…These authors did not find differences between sex and other variables, such as time and degree of tolerance (Farid and Rupasinghe 2022 ), or the level of protein or metabolic energy in the diet (Han et al. 2022 ). In other similar species such as pet ferrets, slightly higher values of 61 g/L (Ravich et al.…”

Influence of Protein-Energy Balance on Growth, Production, and Reproduction in Pesisir Heifers

“…The recent study explains that a ration consisting of 10% protein and 60-65% TDN demonstrated the optimal protein and energy ratio that can increase EED. This is in line with Han et al (2022), who reported that the balance of protein and energy influences the increase in ether extract digestibility. The protein and energy ratio can optimize microbe protein synthesis.…”

“…The recent study explained that a ration with a 10% CP and a 60-65% TDN demonstrates an optimal balance of protein and energy for increasing fat digestibility. In line with Han et al (2022), who reported that the balance of protein and energy impacts crude fat digestibility. A balance of protein and energy capable of optimizing the protein formation process in rumen microbial bodies will enhance the productivity of rumen microbes in digesting feed (Putri et al, 2019(Putri et al, , 2021Sari et al, 2022;Zain et al, 2020).…”