
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Stephenson, RGA 
A1  - Suter, GR 
A1  - Pritchard, DA 
A1  - Martin, MDJ 
T1  - Studies of wool growth responses to 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid, Alimet, an analogue of methionine
JF  - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
JO  - Aust. J. Exp. Agric.
Y1  - 1990
VL  - 30
IS  - 4
SP  - 477
EP  - 482
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9900477 
N2  - An analogue of DL-methionine, Alimet, was evaluated for its commercial potential for increasing wool growth in Merino sheep in pen and grazing experiments. This was done by administering Alimet as a drench, in drinking water, or via rumen or abomasal fistula, and measuring wool growth rate and plasma methionine concentrations. In vivo data indicated that significant wool growth responses (23-35%) to Alimet as a drench or in drinking water occurred at low rates (estimated 5-6 g/sheep.day) of basal wool production when sheep were fed a lucerne diet to maintain liveweight. At higher rates of clean wool growth (10-12 g/sheep.day) when sheep were eating above-maintenance diets (lucerne ration or pasture), Alimet treatment was associated with variable and reduced response. A significant (P<0.05) negative correlation (r2 = 0.699, n = 11) between wool growth responses (x ¦ s.d. = 0.11 ¦ 0.067) to the 3 mL dose rate of Alimet and wool growth in control treatments (y ¦: s.d. = 0.70 ¦ 0.202) confirmed the above trend. Four hours after administration of Alimet via either rumen or abomasal fistula, comparative plasma concentrations of methionine, 28 and 168 ¦mol/L respectively, suggest that Alimet is susceptible to degradation in the rumen. The corresponding values for DL-methionine, via either rumen or abomasal fistula, were 64 and 350 ¦mol/L, respectively. The small rises (40%) in plasma methionine values associated with significant increases in wool production indicate that a dose of 3 mL is as effective as 4 mL of Alimet when the basal nutritional regime is limiting. While administration of Alimet in drinking water during dry seasons is possible, the profitability of supplementation would need to be tested further. 
ER  -

