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Why protein requirements differ for diseased livestock

The proper functioning of the immune system is absolutely critical to livestock survival and well-being. Provision of the correct nutrients, especially amino acids, for the immune system can enhance its function during times of stress while simultaneously minimizing detrimental effects on tissue growth.

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Intensively farmed livestock are continuously exposed to pathogenic organisms, resulting in the constant activation of their immune system. At best, this stimulates their immune system, but the opposite is also possible. In the latter case, this activation induces either a clinical or sub-clinical form of disease status that reduces the biological and economic efficiency of protein accretion and daily weight gain. At the same time, this inefficiency in protein accretion rate increases nutrient excretion, especially that of nitrogen, which is now considered an environmental pollutant.

Proper functioning of the immune system is absolutely critical to livestock survival and well-being.

The proper functioning of the immune system is absolutely critical to livestock survival and well-being. At the same time, the activation of the immune system is also responsible for the reduction in carcass protein deposition, as clearly observed in sick livestock. Provision of the correct nutrients, especially amino acids, for the immune system can enhance its function during times of stress while simultaneously minimizing detrimental effects on tissue growth.