Supplementation of protein diets with di- and tripeptides

Abstract

Improved animal diets for oral administration are provided which include a quantity of non-hydrolyzed, non-digested, naturally occurring protein supplemented with a minor amount of an additive selected from the group consisting of di- and tripeptides including an essential amino acid residue. The diets commonly include at least about 8% by weight of such intact protein, which may be derived from typical plant or animal sources. The preferred additive includes an essential amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine and valine. Use of the di-and tripeptide additives of the invention gives increased nitrogen use by the animal, as compared with feeding of the amino acid constituents of the additives.