Abstract:
To explore the effect of supplementing methionine (Met) and taurine (Tau) in the all-plant-protein diet of juvenile
Megalobrama amblycephala, six experimental diets were formulated with three Met supplementary levels (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 g/kg) and two Tau supplementary levels (1.0 and 2.0 g/kg), yielding measured concentrations of: M
1T
1 (Met 7.5 g/kg and Tau 1.7 g/kg), M
1T
2 (Met 7.2 g/kg and Tau 2.7 g/kg), M
2T
1 (Met 7.9 g/kg and Tau 1.7 g/kg), M
2T
2 (Met 8.6 g/kg and Tau 2.7 g/kg), M
3T
1 (Met 11.8 g/kg and Tau 1.6 g/kg) and M
3T
2 (Met 12.5 g/kg and Tau 2.8 g/kg). After a 10-week feeding trial, growth performance, plasma indices, and hepatic and intestinal antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were affected by dietary Met and by Met × Tau interaction; the M
2T
2 group exhibited the highest WGR and SGR and the lowest FCR. Plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was influenced by Met and the Met × Tau interaction, whereas plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was affected by Tau. At Tau level T
1, ALP and ALT declined as Met increased. Hepatic and intestinal catalase (CAT) activity was highest in M
2T
2 and was influenced by the Met × Tau interaction. Intestinal glutathione (GSH) responded to Met and Tau, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content was affected by the interaction. At Tau level T
2, GSH and MDA decreased with increasing Met. Intestinal amylase (AMS) and trypsin (TPS) activities were affected by the Met × Tau interaction; at Tau level T
1, TPS peaked in the M
2T
1 group. Dietary inclusion of Met 8.6 g/kg and Tau 2.7 g/kg in an all-plant-protein diet significantly improved growth, feed utilization and antioxidant status, indicating a synergistic benefit of optimal Met and Tau supplementation.