title: Effect of ruminally protected methionine on body weight gain and growth of antlers in red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the humid tropics.
abstract: Sixteen male red deer (Cervus elaphus), with an initial weight of 93.83 ± 4.38 kg were used to study the effect of the dietary level of ruminally protected methionine (RPM) on growth, antler morphometry and serum metabolites. The deer were allowed to graze and were individually supplemented with concentrate to provide 0, 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 g/day of RPM for 65 days. There was a quadratic effect on daily weight gain (0.163, 0.098, 0.147 and 0.172 kg/day; P < 0.005) and antler beam length (59.7, 63.6, 63.0 and 57.2 cm; P < 0.02) for RPM levels of 0 to 4.5 g/day, respectively. The brow tine length and the number of points were similar across all treatments. Serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) was reduced (quadratic effect; P < 0.02; 22.0, 29.6, 18.0 and 17.8 IU/l) to RPM levels of 0 to 4.5 g/day, respectively, whereas other metabolites (glucose, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total protein and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) were unchanged. Increasing the RPM dose did not affect weight gain or antler growth. Methionine supplementation reduced the activity of SGPT.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Carretera Ejido Emiliano Zapata, Km. 8, Tuxtla Gutiérrez C.P. 29000, Chiapas, Mexico.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Nazar
authors.forename: Germán David
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Martínez
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrera-Haro
authors.forename: Benigno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Sesma
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bárcena-Gama
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarango-Arámbula
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D003670:Deer / Q000254:growth & development*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D008800:Mexico; D014329:Tropical Climate; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D008715:Methionine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase