Protein

Question 1

What is an essential amino acid?

Answer 1

Amino acids that an organism cannot synthesise in sufficient quantities on its own and must be obtained from the diet.

Question 2

What are non-essential amino acids?

Answer 2

Amino acids that the body can synthesise on its own from other compounds.

Question 3

Define crude protein and give the formula.

Answer 3

A measure of the total protein content in a feed, calculated based on the nitrogen content.
CrudeProtein=NitrogenContent×6.25.

Question 4

Describe protein digestion in mono gastric species.

Answer 4

• Protein digestion begins in the stomach, where enzymes like pepsin break down proteins into smaller peptides.
• Digestion continues in the small intestine, where pancreatic enzymes like trypsin and chymotrypsin further break peptides into amino acids, which are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Question 5

Describe protein digestion in ruminants.

Answer 5

• Microbes digest much of the dietary protein and can synthesize amino acids from non-protein nitrogen sources, like urea.
• Ruminants rely on microbial protein as a major protein source.

Question 6

What is RDP?

Answer 6

Rumen-Degradable Protein (RDP): The portion of dietary protein broken down in the rumen by microbes.

Question 7

What is RUP?

Answer 7

Rumen-Undegradable Protein (RUP): The portion that bypasses the rumen and is digested in the abomasum and small intestine.