Effects of Methionine on Milk Performance and Milk Constituents of Lactating Donkeys
Fei Huang,
Xinyi Du,
Zongjie Ma,
Guiqin Liu,
Changfa Wang,
Miaomiao Zhou
Affiliations
Fei Huang
College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
Xinyi Du
College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
Zongjie Ma
College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
Guiqin Liu
College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
Changfa Wang
College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
Miaomiao Zhou
College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
This study investigated the effects of adding methionine (Met) in milk production and the milk and blood metabolites of lactating donkeys. Eighteen healthy multiparous donkeys in early-stage lactation were selected for this study. The donkeys were randomly divided into three groups and fed diets with different levels of Met: control group (C, Met 0 g/d), Met group I (M1, Met 5 g/d), and Met group II (M2, Met 15 g/d). The total duration of the experiment was 5 weeks. Donkey milk and blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment. The milk yield and composition, milk, and serum metabolites were analyzed. The results showed that the addition of 5 g of Met significantly increased milk yield as well as the milk composition contents of protein, fat, lactoferrin, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PFA), solids, and solids-not-fat (SNF) (p p p < 0.05). The above results indicated that Met increased donkey milk production and milk composition yield and improved milk metabolites by regulating serum metabolites. These results provide a foundation for improving the nutritional needs of lactating donkeys and the nutritional regulation of donkey milk synthesis.
