The benefits of using a methionine supplement in animal nutrition

Methionine is an essential amino acid that the animals are unable to produce, so, the only way to provide it is through alimentation. Unfortunately conventional diets for poultry, livestock and other kinds of animals are poor in methionine, so it’s not that simple to provide the minimum daily methionine requirement. That’s why the use of methionine supplements is strongly recommended.

Methionine is one of the most efficient weapons we can rely on against oxidative stress, a common issue to face. The decreasing of oxidative stress is a focal point to improve bone formation and reduce healthy diseases and mortality. But how can we integrate it in the most efficient way?

Choose wisely from the three sources of methionine

It is good to know that there are three known methionine sources: L-Methionine, D-Methionine and MHA (methionine hydroxy analogue). While methionine chemical properties are similar for L-Methionine and D-Methionine; in MHA there is a big, fundamental, difference: an hydroxyl group in place of an amine group.

This important difference is what makes methionine hydroxy analogue an organic amino acid. The organic nature helps MHA to be more tolerated and to have big advantages in terms of bioavailability.