<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Soybean meal (SBM) is fed to various livestock species worldwide. It is also present in dog food as a plant protein source, combined with animal-derived ingredients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of dietary supplementation with fishmeal (FM, an animal protein source) and high amounts of SBM (a plant protein source) on nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal function and enzyme activity in mink, a model carnivore. The experiment was performed on 14 female American mink of a standard strain. Diet FM was supplemented with 12% FM and 8% ground wheat grain with sugar beet pulp, and diet SBM contained 20% SBM. It was found that the dietary addition of 20% SBM to mink diets negatively affected the digestibility of protein, carbohydrates and energy. Enhanced colonic fermentation processes as a source of additional energy, observed in SBM group mink, were not sufficient to compensate for the loss of nutrients and energy in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Therefore, SBM should be applied with caution in diets for carnivorous species.</p>
</abstract>

Soybean meal (SBM) is fed to various livestock species worldwide. It is also present in dog food as a plant protein source, combined with animal-derived ingredients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of dietary supplementation with fishmeal (FM, an animal protein source) and high amounts of SBM (a plant protein source) on nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal function and enzyme activity in mink, a model carnivore. The experiment was performed on 14 female American mink of a standard strain. Diet FM was supplemented with 12% FM and 8% ground wheat grain with sugar beet pulp, and diet SBM contained 20% SBM. It was found that the dietary addition of 20% SBM to mink diets negatively affected the digestibility of protein, carbohydrates and energy. Enhanced colonic fermentation processes as a source of additional energy, observed in SBM group mink, were not sufficient to compensate for the loss of nutrients and energy in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Therefore, SBM should be applied with caution in diets for carnivorous species.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Fish Meal and Soybean Meal on Gastrointestinal Function in Carnivorous Companion Animals – Using Mink (<italic>Neovision vision</italic>) as a Model

Department of Fur-bearing Animal Breeding and Game Management, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering

Department of Biological Functions of Food

Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Fish Meal and Soybean Meal on Gastrointestinal Function in Carnivorous Companion Animals – Using Mink () as a Model

Soybean meal (SBM) is fed to various livestock species worldwide. It is also present in dog food as a plant protein source, combined with animal-derived...

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Fish Meal and Soybean Meal on Gastrointestinal Function in Carnivorous Companion Animals – Using Mink (Neovision vision) as a Model

Published Online: Jan 23, 2024

Page range: 129 - 137

Received: Jan 05, 2023

Accepted: Apr 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0052

Keywords
pet food, mink as an animal model, soybean meal, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal activity

© 2024 Andrzej Gugołek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Fish Meal and Soybean Meal on Gastrointestinal Function in Carnivorous Companion Animals – Using Mink (Neovision vision) as a Model

Published Online: Jan 23, 2024

Page range: 129 - 137

Received: Jan 05, 2023

Accepted: Apr 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0052

Keywordspet food, mink as an animal model, soybean meal, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal activity

© 2024 Andrzej Gugołek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
pet food, mink as an animal model, soybean meal, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal activity