EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLY OF ARGININE ON URINARY OROTIC-ACID EXCRETION, GROWTH-PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN GROWING MINK (MUSTELA-VISON) KITS FED LOW-PROTEIN DIETS

Effects of dietary arginine levels of 1.2%, 1.7% and 2.2% of dry matte r (DM) (4.8 g/16 g N, 6.4 g/16 g Nand 8.0 g/16 g N, respectively) and excess dietary lysine (6.5% in DM, 22 g:16 g N) were investigated in m ale mink kits fed low-protein diets supplemented with a mixture of ami no acids in the growing period during 4 weeks in July-August. Urinary excretion of erotic acid, growth performance, feed consumption, plasma concentrations of ammonia (NH3), erotic acid, urea and glucose were s tudied. The results showed that arginine is an essential nutrient for mink kits in the growing period and that excess dietary lysine antagon izes arginine. An arginine supply of 2.2% of DM (8.0 g /16 g N) result ed in minimum urinary excretion of erotic acid and a supply of 1.7% of DM (6.4 g/16 g N) prevented increased plasma concentrations of NH3. G rowth performance was negatively affected by the low protein level in all diets. The plasma concentrations of erotic acid, urea and glucose were not affected by the dietary levels of arginine.