PROTEIN REQUIREMENT OF HAMSTERS FED A NATURAL DIET

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (4) , 469-471
Abstract
The dietary protein requirement for growing hamsters was studied in two 5 wk feeding trials using 52 weanling hamsters in the 1st trial and 37 in the 2nd. Diets prepared primarily from natural ingredients supplied protein from 4 sources and contained 13.7, 16.7 and 19.7% protein in the 1st trial and 10.6, 13.7 and 16.7% protein in the 2nd. Mean daily body weight gains of 2.04, 2.04 and 1.99 g/day, respectively, in the 1st experiment were not significantly different. In the 2nd trial, daily gains of 1.55, 1.79 and 1.93 g/day were significantly improved when the dietary protein was increased from 10.6-13.7 and 16.7%. The maintenance requirement for protein by the adult hamster was evaluated in 2 N balance studies using 4 adult males fed a diet with 7.8% proteins and 7 fed 5.6%. The mature males remained in positive N balance and gained a slight amount of weight with both levels of protein.

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