Intestinal protein supply alters amino acid, but not glucose, metabolism by the sheep gastrointestinal tract.

This study was intended to establish the extent which amino acids (AAs) and glucose are net metabolized by the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of ruminant sheep when intestinal protein supply is varied. Wether sheep (n = 4, 33 +/- 2.0 kg) were fitted with catheters for measurement of net absorption by the mesenteric (MDV) and portal-drained (PDV) viscera and a catheter inserted into the duodenum for casein infusions.