Raccoon Dog Feed and Nutrition (Part Two): A Detailed Explanation of Protein

Protein is a complex organic compound. It is mainly composed of 4 elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, and some also contain a small amount of sulfur. Certain proteins also contain trace amounts of iron, copper, iodine, calcium, phosphorus and other elements. The basic structural unit of protein is the amino acid requirement.

For the raccoon dog, there are 8 essential amino acids, namely methionine, tryptophan, threonine, valine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine and cystine. There are 3 sulfur-containing amino acids directly related to fur growth: methionine, cystine and cysteine.

Protein has particularly important significance in the nutrition of the raccoon dog. It is the main component making up the various tissues of the raccoon dog's body, and its role cannot be replaced by fat or carbohydrates. In life activities, the various tissues need protein for repair and renewal; the production of sperm, eggs and offspring requires protein; the enzymes, hormones, pigments and antibodies needed in the metabolic process are also mainly composed of protein. Secondly, when the diet lacks carbohydrates and fat and calories are insufficient, protein in the body can also be broken down and oxidized to produce heat; when there is excess protein in the diet, it can also be stored in the liver, blood and muscles, or converted into fat for storage, so that it can be used when nutrition is insufficient.

The nutritional value of protein depends mainly on the quantity and proportion of its amino acids, especially the essential amino acids. A protein containing all the essential amino acids has high nutritional value and is called a complete protein; a protein containing only some of the essential amino acids is called an incomplete protein. The essential amino acids of protein in the vast majority of feeds are incomplete, so when the diet has only a single type of feed, the utilization of protein is not high. When 2 or more feeds are mixed and matched, the different amino acids they contain will supplement each other, making the essential amino acids in the diet approach completeness, thereby improving the utilization and nutritional value of feed protein. This effect is called the complementary action of amino acids.