Practical use of synthetic amino acids in poultry diets
Reducing nitrogen excretion
The excretion of nitrogen originating from dietary protein is largely responsible for environmental issues arisen from intensive livestock production (Morse 1995). One of the dietary means to reduce the nitrogen excretion is partial replacement of intact protein with crystalline, free amino acids. Kerr and Easter (1995) calculated that for each percentage point decrease in the dietary crude protein content, with use of synthetic amino acids, the amount of excreted nitrogen was reduced by 8 percent in pigs.
Using synthetic amino acids allows nutritionists to formulate diets with minimal amino acid excesses (Han et al., 1992) and there by to reduce unnecessary stress to birds.
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Therapeutic Function
Amino acids are also used in livestock health care. Methionine is used as a urine acidifier because excretion of its sulfate anion lowers urine PH. Methionine is also used to assist in the treatment and/or prevention of hepatic lipidosis because of its need for body fat mobilization and transport.
Other amino acids may be used for therapeutic purposes as well. This includes a number of non-essential protein amino acids, as well as non-protein amino acids. For example, glutamine is used in the management of enteritis because it is protective and promotes repair of injured intestines (Tremel et al., 1994).
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Immune function
Exogenous source of arginine imparts beneficial responses in terms of increased monocyte and lymphocyte proliferation and T-helper cell formation Activation of macrophage cytotoxicity and increased cytokine production were also notices. (Suchner, 2002).
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