Some observations on the arginine requirement of the growing New Zealand white rabbit

Abstract

Young meat rabbits of the New Zealand White breed, aged between 5 and 8 weeks, were fed semi-purified diets containing casein as the main protein source, and increasing levels of supplementary arginine to assess their requirements for dietary arginine. On all experimental diets the rabbits achieved good mean growth rates which were not significantly different from the growth rate of 42 g day-1 on a welltried control diet. The results are discussed with reference to studies by other workers and the conclusion reached that the requirement for arginine is not greater than 5.6 g kg-1 diet as fed.

Protein and Amino Acid Nutrition

“…Estimates of the arginine requirement for growth by various investigators are provided in Table 4.2. In the study of Spreadbury and Davidson (1978), a growth rate of 42 g/day was achieved with an arginine level of 0.56%, suggesting that this level is adequate for a high growth rate.…”

“…Lysine and methionine are of interest because these are usually the limiting amino acids in nonruminant nutrition. Arginine has been studied by several investigators (Adamson and Fisher, 1976;Cheeke, 1971;Colin, 1975b;Gamen and Fisher, 1970;Spreadbury and Davidson, 1978), prob ably because the first report on amino acid requirements of rabbits involved arginine (McWard et al, 1967). Estimates of the arginine requirement for growth by various investigators are provided in Table 4.2.…”

“…Colin (1978b) demon strated that cystine can supply 35-65% of the total sulfur amino acid require ment. Using an alfalfa-wheat mill run diet, with no other source of protein, (1971) 0.88 Adamson and Fisher (1973) 1.0 Spreadbury and Davidson (1978) 0.56 Sanchez et al (1984) observed no response to supplemental methionine. Raharjo et al (1986), using similar diets, observed no response of does to methionine supplementation, indicating that simple forage-cereal by-product diets may con tain adequate sulfur amino acid levels.…”