传统发酵豆酱发酵过程中养分动态及细菌多样性

以山东传统发酵豆酱作为研究对象, 测定了发酵不同阶段的总酸、可溶性糖、有机碳、粗蛋白、氨基酸态氮、主要挥发性产物等指标, 对样品中细菌进行PCR-DGGE分析, 探讨了传统发酵豆酱中养分动态及细菌多样性。结果表明发酵过程中总酸含量先上升后下降而后又上升, 最后成品酱中为6.26%; 有机碳和可溶性糖含量都逐渐减少; 粗蛋白相对含量先略有平稳上升后下降; 氨基酸态氮含量一直在增加, 成品酱中为101.2 g/kg; 乳酸和甘油含量随发酵进程而增加, 成品酱中分别为5.65 g/kg和14.72 g/kg。DGGE分析表明发酵15 d时细菌种类最多, 随后一部分逐渐消失, 种类趋于稳定, 最后成品酱中出现有几种明显的优势种, 主要包括：未培养细菌(Uncultured bacterium)、乳酸乳球菌(Lactococcus lactis)、地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)的近缘种。     

东北传统豆酱发酵过程中微生物的多样性

以东北传统发酵豆酱为研究对象,分析豆酱发酵过程中微生物群落的动态变化。分别选择发酵豆酱0、35、65、75和105 d(成品豆酱)作为研究材料,通过PCR-DGGE分析微生物多样性,检测了豆酱发酵过程中蛋白质和氨基酸态氮的变化。结果表明,豆酱发酵过程中主要优势细菌为芽孢杆菌和乳酸菌,芽孢杆菌包括枯草芽孢杆菌、短小芽孢杆菌、淀粉液化芽孢杆菌、地衣芽孢杆菌的近缘种等;主要乳酸菌为乳球菌、明串珠菌、魏斯氏菌等种属细菌的近缘种;东北豆酱发酵过程中优势真菌为米曲霉、散囊菌和谢瓦氏曲霉的近缘种,随发酵时间延长数量逐渐减少;粗蛋白相对含量先略有平稳上升后下降,最后成品酱粗蛋白含量下降为24.76%;氨基态氮含量一直在增加,成品酱中为101.2 g/kg。     

传统豆酱发酵过程中细菌多样性动态

细菌在豆酱发酵过程中起到非常重要的作用,并与豆酱的风味和质量密切相关,因此研究豆酱中细菌的多样性具有重要意义。以自然发酵的豆酱样品为研究对象,采用细菌16S rDNA的部分可变区的PCR-DGGE技术对自然发酵豆酱样品的细菌群落组成和优势菌群进行研究。结果表明,传统豆酱发酵过程细菌群体中既有原始种群的减少和增长,也有次级种群的增多和演变。在整个发酵过程中,初期和末期以不可培养细菌为主,初期细菌群体快速演替,细菌种群多样性指数在发酵42 d和56 d达到两次高峰。     

中国传统酸肉发酵过程中微生物的消长变化*

对我国传统发酵酸肉中的微生物种群进行了研究,从中分离到大量的米酒乳杆菌、戊糖片球菌、乳酸片球菌、明串珠菌等多种乳酸细菌和德巴利氏酵母、球拟酵母等微生物,这些微生物在发酵过程中有一个动态的变化。发酵全过程中优势微生物种群是乳酸细菌、微球菌、德巴利氏酵母和球拟酵母,为高效天然肉品发酵剂的研究与开发提供了生物资源。     

产D-乳酸重组大肠杆菌ptsG基因的敲除及其混合糖同步发酵

为构建能够同时高效利用五碳糖和六碳糖发酵产D-乳酸的重组大肠杆菌工程菌,以能高效利用五碳糖发酵产D-乳酸的大肠杆菌工程菌E.coli JH13为出发菌株,通过Red同源重组技术敲除葡萄糖跨膜转运基因pts G。实验结果表明,pts G缺陷菌株E.coli JH15在10%混合糖(5%葡萄糖和5%木糖)培养基中发酵,可同时利用五碳糖和六碳糖以完成发酵;而对照菌葡萄糖消耗完才利用木糖,发酵结束还有18 g/L木糖残留;JH15乳酸产量为83.04 g/L,相比于对照菌株提高了25.86%;在稻草秸秆水解液中发酵,JH15同时利用葡萄糖、木糖和L-阿拉伯糖,乳酸产量为25.15 g/L,转化率为86.42%。JH15作为能利用混合糖同步发酵产D-乳酸的大肠杆菌工程菌,它的成功构建为利用廉价的木质纤维素水解物为原料发酵生产D-乳酸提供参考依据。     

响应面试验优化红枣乳酸发酵饮料工艺

为获得红枣乳酸发酵饮料的最佳工艺条件,以乳酸发酵饮料中的总酸含量为考察指标,在单因素试验的基础上,应用Box Behnken试验设计和响应面分析法对红枣乳酸发酵工艺进行优化,并对乳酸发酵前后的活性物质含量进行了比较。结果表明：各因素对红枣乳酸发酵饮料中总酸含量的影响大小依次为接种量、发酵温度、发酵时间,最佳工艺条件为发酵温度43℃、发酵时间24h、接种量10%,在此条件下,活性成分得到了很好地保留,制备得到的红枣乳酸发酵饮料中的总酸含量可达0.897g/100g,得到的回归模型对试验拟合较好。     

乳杆菌Lactobacillus sp.lxp发酵高产L-乳酸研究

筛选得到一株乳杆菌Laetobaeillus sp．,进行发酵生产高浓度L-乳酸的研究。考察了种龄、接种量、温度和不同pH调节剂对乳酸发酵的影响。结果表明：最佳种子培养时间为15h;最佳接种量为15％;最适培养温度为42℃;与氨水和氢氧化钠相比,碳酸钙更适于作为发酵过程的pH调节刺;以葡萄糖为碳源,添加豆粕水解液和玉米浆作为辅料,2L罐培养120h,L-乳酸质量浓度可达202 g/L,糖转化率91．3％,L-乳酸占发酵液中总酸含量98％以上。     

玉米芯稀酸水解及L-乳酸发酵研究

对玉米芯稀硫酸水解条件及糖化液发酵L-乳酸进行了初步研究。结果表明,玉米芯木聚糖最适水解条件为2%H2SO_4、120℃、30 min、固液比1:10,糖化液还原糖含量可达40.8 g/L,主要成分为木塘。细菌A-19可以利用水解液中的葡萄糖和木糖产酸,最适发酵条件为45℃、pH 6.5,从45℃～51℃、pH 5.5～pH 6.5产量均较高。用未浓缩的水解液发酵24 h,L-乳酸产量为30.6g/L,残糖为1.6 g/L,糖酸转化率为82.6%;用浓缩1倍的水解液发酵48 h,L-乳酸产量为41.4 g/L,残糖4.1g/L,糖酸转化率为68.2%,在发酵48 h后继续补料发酵至72 h(补料液为浓缩3倍的水解液),L-乳酸产量为50.9 g/L,残糖6.3 g/L,糖酸转化率为71.8%。该研究为利用木质纤维素生产L-乳酸奠定了一定基础。     

L-乳酸细菌培养条件的优化

实验通过对L-乳酸细菌(Lactobacillus casei FH-2)菌体生长、产酸速率、耐酸水平、高糖发酵性能的优化,实现了优化该菌生长和条件的目的。并对培养基中不同辅料的添加进行了研究。结果证明：共同加入麦根一麸皮浸泡液时,可以提高乳酸的产量,其最佳方案为50℃、4h、1％麸皮浸泡液和2％麦根。乳酸产量为40．5g/L。结论：实验通过优化L-乳酸细菌的发酵条件提高了乳酸的产量。     

高糖和氮源对鼠李糖乳杆菌(Lactobacillus rhamnosus)L-乳酸发酵的影响

鼠李糖乳杆菌经实验室耐高糖高酸选育,能够在高糖浓度下高效高产L-乳酸。以酵母粉为氮源和生长因子,葡萄糖初始浓度分别为120 g/L和146 g/L,摇瓶培养120h,L-乳酸产量分别为104g/L和117.5g/L,L-乳酸得率分别为86.7%和80.5%。高葡萄糖浓度对菌的生长和乳酸发酵有一定的抑制。增加接种量,在高糖浓度发酵条件下,可以缩短发酵时间,但对增加乳酸产量效果不明显。乳酸浓度对鼠李糖乳杆菌生长和产酸有显著的影响。初始乳酸浓度到达70g/L以上时,鼠李糖乳杆菌基本不生长和产酸,葡萄糖消耗也被抑制。酵母粉是鼠李糖乳杆菌的优良氮源,使用其它被测试的氮源菌体生长和产酸都有一定程度的下降。用廉价的黄豆粉并补充微量维生素液,替代培养基中的酵母粉,可以使产酸浓度和碳源得率得以基本维持。     

The effect of high and low dietary crude protein and inulin supplementation on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, intestinal microflora and manure ammonia emissions from finisher pigs

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was performed to investigate the interaction between a high- and low-crude-protein (CP) diet (200 v. 140 g/kg) and inulin supplementation (0 v. 12.5 g/kg) on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) excretion, intestinal microflora, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and manure ammonia emissions from 24 boars (n = 6, 74.0 kg live weight). The diets were formulated to contain similar concentrations of digestible energy and lysine. Pigs offered the high-CP diets had a higher excretion of urinary N (P < 0.001), faecal N (P < 0.01) and total N (P < 0.001) than the pigs offered the low-CP diets. Inulin supplementation increased faecal N excretion (P < 0.05) and decreased the urine N : faeces N ratio (P < 0.05) compared with the inulin-free diets. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of dietary treatment on N retention. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between dietary CP concentration and inulin supplementation on caecal Enterobacteria spp. Pigs offered the diet containing 200 g/kg of CP plus inulin decreased the population of Enterobacteria spp. compared to those with the inulin-supplemented 140 g/kg CP diet. However, CP level had no significant effect on the population of Enterobacteria spp. in the unsupplemented diets. Inulin supplementation increased caecal Bifidobacteria (P < 0.01) compared with the inulin-free diets. There was no effect of inulin supplementation on VFA concentration or intestinal pH (P > 0.05). Pigs offered the 200 g/kg CP diets had higher (P < 0.05) manure ammonia emissions from 0 to 240 h of storage than pigs offered the 140 g/kg CP. In conclusion, inulin supplementation resulted in an increase in Bifidobacteria concentration and a reduction in Enterobacteria spp. at the high CP level indicating that inulin has the ability to beneficially manipulate gut microflora in a proteolytic environment.     

Effect of low-protein amino acid-supplemented diets on the growth performance, gut morphology, organ weights and digesta characteristics of weaned pigs

A 21-day study was conducted to determine whether isoleucine might limit the performance of piglets fed low-crude protein (CP), amino acid (AA)-supplemented diets and to investigate the potential benefits of low-CP diets on gastrointestinal health in weaned pigs. Ninety-six piglets (initial BW = 6.44 ± 0.14 kg), housed four per pen, were randomly assigned to one of four diets, resulting in six replicate pens per diet. Dietary treatments were as follows: (1) 210 g/kg CP diet, (2) 190 g/kg CP diet deficient in isoleucine, (3) 190 g/kg CP diet supplemented with crystalline isoleucine up to the level in the 210 g/kg CP diet and (4) 170 g/kg CP diet supplemented with isoleucine and valine on the ideal protein ratio basis (60% and 70% relative to lysine, respectively). Pigs were allowed to adapt to the new environment for 4 days before the experiment commenced. Overall, pigs fed the 210 g/kg CP diet had higher (P < 0.05) average daily gain and lower (P < 0.05) feed : gain ratio compared with those fed the other diets. The faecal consistency score of pigs fed the 210 g/kg CP diet was higher (P < 0.05) than those fed the other diets. Pigs fed the 170 g/kg diet had lower (P=0.02) small intestine weight than those fed the 210 g/kg CP diet. Pigs fed the 210 g/kg CP diet had deeper (P < 0.05) crypt in the duodenum and ileum and higher (P < 0.05) ammonia N concentration in caecal digesta than those fed the other diets. There were no effects of diet on microbial population and volatile fatty acid concentration in the caecal digesta except for propionic acid whose concentration was higher (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the 170 g/kg diet than those fed the 190+isoleucine and the 210 g/kg CP diets. The results indicate that the low-CP, AA-supplemented diet reduced crypt hypertrophy, ammonia N concentration in the caecal digesta, small intestine weight and the performance of piglets. Also, the results of the current study were inconclusive with respect to whether isoleucine may limit the performance of pigs fed a low-CP, AA-supplemented diet.     

Effects of dietary crude protein and tannic acid on rumen fermentation,rumen microbiota and nutrient digestion in beef cattle

The objectives of the trial were to study the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) and tannic acid (TA) on rumen fermentation, microbiota and nutrient digestion in beef cattle. Eight growing beef cattle (live weight 350 ± 25 kg) were allocated in a 2 × 2 crossover design using two levels of dietary CP [111 g/kg dry matter (DM) and 136 g/kg DM] and two levels of TA (0 and 16.9 g/kg DM) as experimental treatments. Each experimental period lasted 19 d, consisting of 14-d adaptation and 5-d sampling. The impacts of dietary CP and TA on ruminal microbiota were analysed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Results indicated that no interactions between dietary CP and TA were found on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility. Increasing dietary CP level from 111 to 136 g/kg DM increased the ruminal concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) (p < 0.01) and improved the CP digestibility (p < 0.001). Adding TA at 16.9 g/kg DM inhibited rumen fermentation and decreased the digestibility of dietary CP (p < 0.001), DM (p < 0.05) and organic matter (p < 0.01). Increasing the dietary CP level or adding TA did not affect the relative abundances of the major bacteria Firmicutes and Proteobacteria at the phylum level and Prevotella_1 and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group at the genus level, even though adding TA increased the Shannon index of the ruminal bacterial community. TA was partly hydrolysed to pyrogallol, gallic acid and resorcinol in rumen fluid and the inhibitory effects of TA on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility could have been resulted from the TA metabolites including pyrogallol, gallic acid and resorcinol as well as the protein-binding effect.     

Increasing dispensable amino acids in diets of kittens fed essential amino acids at or below their requirement increases the requirement for arginine

Summary Kittens fed diets containing 0.75 × the NRC (1986) essential amino acid requirement (EAArq) and 210 to 560g crude protein(CP)/kg diet exhibited, with increasing CP: 1) decreasing weight gain, 2) decreasing plasma arginine concentrations, 3) increasing urinary orotic acid excretion, 4) increasing plasma glutamic acid concentrations, and 5) plasma isoleucine concentrations at levels that suggest a marginal isoleucine deficiency. Kittens fed a control diet (CD) containing 1.5 × EAArq and 350 g CP/kg diet had maximal weight gains and no orotic aciduria. It was concluded that the decreased weight gain and adverse metabolic effects were caused by arginine deficiency and possibly glutamic acid toxicity induced by high dietary dispensable amino acids. Kittens fed the diets containing 1.0 × EAArq and 350 and 560 g CP/kg diet had depressed plasma arginine and elevated glutamic acid concentrations and orotic aciduria. These results indicate that 10 g arg/kg diet is not adequate at CP concentrations above 280 g/kg and the calculated requirement of arginine is (0.02 g arginine/g CP) × (Y g CP/kg diet) + (4.0 g arginine/kg diet) where Y is the dietary CP level.Abbreviations CD control diet - CP crude protein (g CP/kg diet = g nitrogen/kg diet × 6.25) - DAA dispensable amino acids - EAA essential amino acids - EAArq essential amino acid requirement     

The influence of mannan oligosaccharides, acidifiers and their combination on caecal microflora of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the dietary supplementation of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) extracted from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, acidifiers -calcium formate (CF), calcium propionate (CP)- and their combination on the caecal microflora of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Four hundred and fifty 1-day old quail where divided in six groups with three replicates each. One group that served as control received the basal diet. The five experimental diets consisted of the basal diet to which either 1 g MOS/kg, or 6 g CF/kg, or 6 g CP/kg, or 1 g MOS plus 6 g CF/kg or 1 g MOS plus 6 g CP/kg were added. The body weight was examined at weekly intervals and mortality was recorded daily. At days 21 and 42 of age, the total count of aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteriaceae and coliforms in the caecal content of one bird of each replicate was determined. Also, at day 42 of age, two birds of each replicate were slaughtered and their carcass weight was determined. The results showed that MOS significantly (P ≤ 0.050) increased the total aerobic plate and lactic acid bacteria counts on day 21. Furthermore, CP significantly (P ≤ 0.050) decreased the total aerobic plate and lactic acid bacteria counts compared to controls on day 21. Significant interaction between MOS and acidifiers was noticed on total aerobic plate count on day 21. No significant (P > 0.050) difference was found in the caecal microflora on day 42. Finally, no significant (P > 0.050) difference was noticed on mortality, body and carcass weight.     

Apportioning protein requirements for maintenance v. growth for blue-breasted quail (Excalfactoria chinensis) from 7 to 21 days of age

The aim of this study was to investigate protein requirements for the maintenance and growth of blue-breasted quail (Excalfactoria chinensis) from 7 to 21 days of age. A total of 180 quails, 7 days old, were randomly assigned to 36 cages and for 2 weeks were fed diets with a metabolisable energy concentration of 12.13 MJ/kg and a dietary CP concentration of 125, 150, 175, 200, 225 or 250 g/kg. The average BW per cage and the feed intake per cage were recorded daily. The results showed that quails fed 125 g/kg CP could not maintain their BW and had negative feed efficiency. There were linear and quadratic relationships between CP level and response criteria, including BW, weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, final body nitrogen mass and body nitrogen accretion (P<0.05). The dietary CP requirements, as calculated using a one-slope quadratic broken-line model, were 211 and 202 g/kg according to weight gain and feed efficiency, respectively. The regression equations, on the basis of metabolic BW, of daily weight gain on daily protein intake according to the model were Y=0.137-2.128(0.113-X) if X<0.113 and Y=0.137 if X>or=0.113 (R2=0.96, P<0.001), which meant that the protein requirement for maintenance was 0.049 times the metabolic BW and that to gain 1 g weight quails needed to ingest an extra 0.47 g protein after the maintenance requirement was satisfied. The regression equations, on the basis of metabolic BW, of daily body nitrogen accretion on daily protein intake according to the model were Y=5.667-76.700(0.119-X) if X<0.119 and Y=5.667 if X>or=0.119 (R2=0.95, P<0.001), which meant that quails had to receive an amount of protein equal to their metabolic BW multiplied by 0.045 to satisfy the requirement for maintenance and then ingest an extra 13 g protein to accrete 1 g body nitrogen. In conclusion, growth or protein accretion rates should be regulated according to dietary CP for specific experimental purposes via apportioning protein requirements for maintenance v. growth.     

Maximal growth occurs at a broad range of essential amino acids to total nitrogen ratios in kittens

Summary Kittens fed diets containing 2.0 and 3.0 times (X) the NRC (1986) essential amino acid (EAA) requirement (EAArq) and 210 to 560g crude protein (CP)/kg diet had growth rates and plasma amino acid patterns that were not significantly different than kittens fed a control diet (CD) containing 1.5 X EAArq and 350 g CP/kg diet. Growth rates of kittens fed diets containing only EAA (with nontoxic levels of arginine and methionine) and 280 to 460 g CP/kg diet were equivalent to those of kittens fed CD. Kittens fed only EAA and 140 and 210 g CP/kg diet had growth rates that were significantly lower than kittens fed CD. Since the growth rate of kittens fed 1.5X EAArq and 210 g CP/kg diet in a previous experiment was equivalent to kittens fed CD (Taylor et al., 1997), it is suggested that the requirement for CP is higher (up to 280 g CP/kg diet) when only EAA are fed. The higher crude protein requirement appears to be primarily a consequence of the high obligatory nitrogen loss as urea (especially from arginine) incurred in the conversion of nitrogen from EAA to dispensable amino acids in the liver and secondarily because of a slow rate of catabolism of the EAA. A 3-dimensional plot of weight gains vs. CP levels and EAA to total nitrogen (E: T) ratios of kittens shows a broad range of CP levels and E: T ratios that support optimal growth in the kitten. It is suggested that similar patterns would occur in the chick, rat and other species if adverse effects caused by excesses of specific amino acids are avoided.Presented in part at the Biology '96 Meeting in Washington, DC [Taylor TP, Deberry J, Morris JG, Rogers QR (1996) Effects of dietary nitrogen level and essential amino acid: total nitrogen (E: T) ratio on kitten weight gain. FASEB J 10: A737 (abs. 4259)] and in part at the Proceedings of the Waltham International Symposium, Pet Nutrition and Health in the 21st Century, Orlando, Florida, USA [Rogers QR, Taylor TP, Morris JG (1997) Optimizing dietary amino acid patterns at various levels of crude protein for the cat. J Nutr (abs.) (in press).     

The effect of dietary water soluble carbohydrate to nitrogen ratio on nitrogen partitioning and isotopic fractionation of lactating goats offered a high-nitrogen diet

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between nitrogen (N) partitioning and isotopic fractionation in lactating goats consuming diets with a constant high concentration of N and increasing levels of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC). Eight lactating goats were offered four different ratios of WSC : N in the diet. A two-period incomplete cross-over design was used, with two goats assigned to each treatment in each period. N balance measurements were conducted, with measurement of feed N intake and total output of N in milk, faeces and urine. Treatment, period and infusion effects were tested using general ANOVA; the relationships between variables were analysed by linear regression. Dietary treatment and period had significant effects on dry matter (DM) intake (g/day). DM digestibility (g/kg DM) and N digestibility (g/kg N) increased as the ratio of WSC : N increased in the diet. No treatment effect was observed on milk urea N concentration (g/l) or urinary excretion of purine derivatives (mM/day). Although dietary treatment and period had significant effects on N intake, the change of N intake was small; no effect was observed for N partitioning among faeces, milk and urine. Milk, plasma and faeces were enriched in ¹⁵N compared with feed, whilst urine was depleted in ¹⁵N relative to feed. No significant relationship was established between N partitioning and isotopic fractionation. This study failed to confirm the potential to use N isotopic fractionation as an indicator of N partitioning in dairy goats when diets provided N in excess to requirements, most likely because the range of milk N output/N intake and urinary N output/N intake were narrow.     

Effects of increasing crude protein concentrations on performance and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing steers and heifers

A 2 × 3 factorial design was utilized to ascertain the effects of three dietary crude protein (CP) concentrations on performance, carcass characteristics, and serum urea nitrogen (SUN) concentration in steers and heifers. Animals were blocked by gender (n = 9) and body weight (BW; n = 3/gender), randomly assigned to a diet containing 110, 125 or 140 g/kg dietary CP (n = 6), subjected to a growing period of 56, 84 or 112 d, depending on start BW, and a finishing period of 84 d. Animals were weighed and bled at 28 d intervals and daily dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and gain to feed (G:F) were calculated and SUN was analyzed as a repeated measure throughout the study. Following slaughter, carcass data was collected for hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percent (DP), kidney, pelvic and heart fat (KPH), 12th rib backfat (BF), loin muscle (LM) area, marbling score (MS), and yield grade (YG). Growing steers and heifers were programmed to gain 1.02 and 0.91 kg/d, respectively. Therefore, heifers consumed less than steers and steers gained more than heifers (P<0.01) with no differences in feed efficiency. Dietary CP treatment did not effect DMI, but did result in a quadratic (P=0.04) increase in ADG; thereby quadratically (P=0.06) and linearly (P=0.08) increasing final BW, and G:F, respectively. Finishing heifers consumed and gained less than steers (P<0.01), had lighter HCW (P<0.01) and greater DP (P=0.01) and LM area (P=0.01) than steers. DMI (P=0.02), ADG (P=0.05), HCW (P=0.08), and DP (P=0.06) reacted quadratically with increasing dietary CP. HCW (P=0.02) increased linearly with increasing dietary CP. G:F, KPH, BF, LM area, MS and YG was not affected by dietary CP concentration and G:F, KPH, BF, MS, and YG did not differ between genders. However, there was a gender × dietary CP interaction (P=0.01) for G:F. Steers were the most efficient at 125 g/kg dietary CP, while heifers were most efficient at 140 g/kg dietary CP. Gender had no effect on SUN concentrations, but SUN increased linearly (P<0.01) with increasing dietary CP concentrations. In conclusion, quadratic responses in DMI and ADG indicate that a 125 g/kg dietary CP concentration is optimal for either steers or heifers during the finishing period.