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Studies on reproduction in prolific ewes:8. The concentrations and rates of accretion of amino acids in the foetuses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

C. Fraser
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen

Summary

Data are presented for the amino acid contents of 64 litters of Suffolk × (Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn) foetuses varying in gestational age from 90 to 145 days and in litter size from one to five. The concentrations of glycine, cystine, arginine, proline and hydroxyproline in foetal dry matter increased with age, those for threonine, serine, glutamic acid, valine and methionine remained fairly constant while those for aspartic acid, phenylalanine, histidine and lysine tended to decrease. The most pronounced of these age effects were for cystine and hydroxyproline which increased in concentrations by 60 and 100% respectively over the final 2 months of foetal life. The rates of accretion of the individual amino acids are discussed in relation to estimates of the amounts that may be supplied by microbial protein.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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