Comparative apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in a mixed meal diet measured with the growing rat and pig

Abstract
The apparent ileal digestibilities of several amino acids in a mixed diet containing barley meal, fish meal, meat and bone meal, and pollard as the protein sources, were determined using the growing laboratory rat and pig. The apparent digestibilities of the essential amino acids were not significantly different for the two species, but those of the non-essential amino acids glutamic acid and proline were relatively higher in the rat. In view of their significant role in the endogenous excretion, however, this species difference may be reduced if comparisons for glutamic acid and proline are related to true ileal amino acid digestibility.