Dyfed Lewis

Efficiency of Protein Utilization

It is hardly possible to consider all aspects of the efficiency of protein utilization in all species of meat-producing animals under all individual physiological circumstances: instead a few specific concepts will be discussed. A simple concept of the efficiency of protein utilization is that it is determined by how closely the dietary supply of amino acids corresponds to the need of the animal. Surpluses above a perfect balance can be regarded as contributing to catabolic processes and loss of nitrogen. It is also necessary to assess the supply of amino acids in relation to other nutrients: an inadequacy of energy-yielding constituents could for example contribute to the catabolism of gluconeogenic amino acids with consequent inefficiency in terms of nitrogen utilization.