Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X

Effects of coated methionine and guanidinoacetic acid on antioxidant status and nutrient digestibility in Holstein calves

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Seyed Mohammad Javidhosseini 1
Alireza Noshary 2
Nima Eila 3
Ali Assadi-Alamouti 4
Abdolreza Daneshvar Amoli 5

1 Department of Animal Science, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran. E-mail: s.javidohsseini@iau.ir

2 Corresponding Author, Department of Animal Science, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran. E-mail: alireza.noshary@iau.ir

3 Department of Animal Science, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran. E-mail: nima.eila@iau.ir

4 Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agricultural Technology (Aburaihan), University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: a.alamouti@ut.ac.ir

5 Human and Animal Cell Bank, Iranian Biological Resource Center (IBRC), ACECR, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: daneshvar@acecr.ac.ir

https://doi.org/10.22059/jap.2026.407009.623883
Abstract
Objective: Growth and health indices in calves are critical factors for longevity, performance, health and economic efficiency of dairy herds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of coated methionine and guanidine acetic acid on liver enzyme levels, antioxidant enzymes, and nutrient digestibility in milk-fed Holstein calves.
Method: A completely randomized design was used with 48 Holstein calves (40.39±0.67 kg) and 4 experimental treatments: 1) basal diet without additives, 2) basal diet with 0.73% coated methionine (MET, based on dry matter intake), 3) basal diet with 1000 mg/d guanidine acetic acid (GAA), and 4) basal diet containing 0.73% MET and 1000 mg/d GAA, with 12 replicates per treatment. The experiment carried out from 5 to 84 days of age. Blood samples were taken at the start of the experiment, and on day 56, 70 (weaning), and 84 (trial end) for liver enzyme and antioxidant activity evaluation. The apparent nutrient digestibility was determined in 84 days of age using internal digestibility marker.
Results: The results of the study showed that coated methionine, GAA, and their combination had no significant effect on aspartate amino transferase concentrations on day 5, 56, and 70; however, on day 84, a significant increase in the level of this enzyme was observed in calves receiving MET, either alone or in combination with GAA. Alanine aminotransferase levels decreased on 5 days of age in calves fed GAA, MET and MET+ GAA (P<0.05), however, on day 84, a significant increase in level of this enzyme was observed in calves receiving GAA or GAA+MET compared to the control group. At weaning, total antioxidant capacity level was lower with MET and GAA than control group nonsignificantly but malondialdehyde level in calves fed this supplements decreased significantly at weaning age (P<0.05). No effect of the experimental treatments was found on digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and protein.
Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated a decrease in the level of malondialdehyde enzyme and an increase in the level of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase indicating the effect of these compounds in reducing the oxidative stress during weaning time and increasing liver metabolic activity. Overall, the results of this study showed that GAA and its combination with MET can benefit some blood parameters such as aspartate aminotransferase and malondialdehyde in milk-fed calves, respectively, while not affecting the digestibility of nutrients. These results were consistent with the findings that the combined administration of MET and GAA may improve liver health indices and has positive effects on final body weight and daily weight gain in milk-fed calves.

Keywords

Antioxidant activity
Coated methionine
Guanidinoacetic acid
Milk-fed calf
Apparent digestibility
Reference
Abdolahi, Y., Dehghan banadaki, M., Amanloo, H., & Mirzaei Alamouti, H. (2012). The Effect of two rumen-protected methionine sources on production performance and blood parameters of Holstein cows in mid-lactation. Iranian Journal of Animal Science Research, 4(3), 233-239.
Araste, R., Pirmohammadi, R., & Khalilvandi-Behroozyar, H. (2023).The effect of using protected methionine at different levels of metabolisable protein in pre-partum diet on the performance of transition Ghezel ewes and new born lambs. Journal of Ruminant Research, 11(2),), 111-130.
Fielder, S.E. (2024). Serum biochemical analysis reference ranges. MSD Veterinary Manual. URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com
Ghoorchi, T., Hossein Abadi, M., & Toghdory, A. H. (2023). Effect of unprotected methionine and choline on feed intake, growth, digestibility, fecal score, blood metabolites, and feeding behavior of suckling calves. Animal Production Research, 12(2),), 31-41. doi: 10.22124/ar.2023.23543.1742
Guedes, R. L. M., Prosdocimi, F., Fernandes, G. R., Moura, L. K., Ribeiro, H. A. L., & Ortega, J. M. (2011). Amino acids biosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation pathways: a great genomic deletion during eukaryotes evolution. BMC Genomics, 12 (Suppl 4), S2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-12-S4-S2
Hazlewood, K. J., Zumbaugh, C. A., Jones, C. K., Atkinson, E. M., Tingler, H. L. R., Inhuber, V. K., Brouk, M. J., Antony, R. M., & Titgemeyer, E. C. (2024). Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on the Performance of Calves Fed Milk Replacer. Animals, 14(19), 2757. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192757
Jacometo, C. B., Zhou, Z., Luchini, D., Trevisi, E., Corrêa, M. N., & Loor, J. J. (2016). Maternal rumen-protected methionine supplementation and its effect on blood and liver biomarkers of energy metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress in neonatal Holstein calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 99(9), 6753-6763. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11018.
Li, S. Y., Wang, C., Wu, Z. Z., Liu, Q., Guo, G., Huo, W. J., Zhang, J., Chen, L., Zhang, Y. L., Pei, C. X., & Zhang, S.L. ( 2020). Effects of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestion, Rumen Fermentation, and Blood Metabolites in Angus Bulls. Animal, 14(12), 2535-2542. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731120001603
Liu, Y. J., Chen, J. Z., Wang, D. H., Wu, M. J., Zheng, C., Wu, Z. Z., Wang, C., Zhang, J., Guo, G., & Huo, W.J. (2020) Effects of GAA and Coated Folic Acid Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestion, and Hepatic Gene Expression in Angus Bulls. British Journal of Nutrition 126(4), 510-517. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520004341.
Majdeddin, M., Braun, U., Lemme, A., Golian, A., Kermanshahi, H., De Smet, S., & Michiels, J. (2023). Effects of feeding guanidinoacetic acid on oxidative status and creatine metabolism in broilers subjected to chronic cyclic heat stress in the finisher phase. Poultry Science, 102(6), 102653.
Mazinani, M., Naserian, A. A., Rude, B. J., Tahmasbi, A. M., & Valizadeh, R. (2020). Effects of feeding rumen-protected amino acids on the performance of feedlot calves. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research 7(2), 229-233. doi: 10.5455/javar. 2020.g414. eCollection 2020 Jun.
McFadden, J. W., Girard, C. L., Tao, S., Zhou, Z., Bernard, J. K., Duplessis, M., & White, H. M. (2020). Symposium review: One-carbon metabolism and methyl donor nutrition in the dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(Supplement 1), 5668-5683.
Molano, R. A., Saito, L., Luchini, D. N., Michael, E., & Amburgh, V. (2020). Effects of rumen-protected methionine or methionine analogs in starter on plasma metabolites, growth, and efficiency of Holstein calves from 14 to 91 days of age. Journal of Dairy Science 103, 10136-10151. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18630
Montaño, M.F., Chirino, J.O., Latack, B.C., Salinas-Chavira, J., & Zinn, R.A. (2019). Influence of supplementation of growing diets enriched with rumen-protected methionine and lysine on feedlot performance and characteristics of digestion in Holstein steer calves. Applied Animal Science 35(3), 318-324.
NASEM. (2021). Nutrient requirement of dairy cattle. 8 edition.
Navik, U., Sheth, V. G., Kabeer, S. W., & Tikoo, K. (2019). Dietary Supplementation of Methyl Donor L-Methionine Alters Epigenetic Modification in Type 2 Diabetes. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 1801401. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201801401
Ostojica, S., Marko, M., Stojanovica, D., & Guillermo, O. (2015). Oxidant–Antioxidant capacity of dietary guanidinoacetic acid. Annals Nutrition Metabolism, 67(4), 243-6
Rodríguez-Guerrero, V., Lizarazo, A. C., Ferraro, S., Suárez, N., Miranda, L. A., & Mendoza, G. D. (2018). Effect of herbal choline and rumen-protected methionine on lamb performance and blood metabolites. South African Journal of Animal Science, 48(3), 427-434. doi: 10.4314/sajas.v48i3.3
Shu, J., Tan, A., Li, Y., Huang, H., & Yang, J. (2022). The correlation between serum total alkaline phosphatase and bone mineral density in young adults. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 23, 467.
Speer H, Grant, M.S., Miesner, M.D., & Titgemeyer, E.C. (2022). Effect of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on nitrogen retention and methionine methyl group flux in growing steers fed corn-based diets. Journal of Animal Science, 100 (10), Article skac283, 10.1093/jas/skac283
Torrentera, N., Carrasco, R., Salinas-Chavira, J., Plascencia, A., & Zinn, R.A. (2017). Influence of methionine supplementation of growing diets enriched with lysine on feedlot performance and characteristics of digestion in Holstein steer calves. Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences 30(1), 42.
Wang, L.S., Shi, B.M., Shan, A.S., & Zhang, Y.Y. (2012). Effects of guanidinoacetic acid on growth performance, meat quality and antioxidation in growingfinishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Advanced, 11(5), 631-636.
Wu, G. (2013). Functional amino acids in nutrition and health. Amino Acids, 45(3), 407-411. doi: 10.1007/s00726-013-1500-6
Wu, G. (2014). Dietary requirements of synthesizable amino acids by animals: A paradigm shift in protein nutrition. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 5(1), 34.
Wyss, M., & Kaddurah-Daouk, R. (2000). Creatine and creatinine metabolism. Physiol Rev, 80, 1107-213.
Yi, S., Hu, S., Wang, J., Abudukelimu, A., Wang, Y., Li, X., Wu, H., Meng, Q., & Zhou, Z. (2024). Effect of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on growth performance, rumen fermentation, blood indices, nutrient digestion, and nitrogen metabolism in Angus steers. Animals 14(3), 401. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030401.
Yi, S., Wang, J., Ye, B., Yi, X., Abudukelimu, A., Wu, H., Meng, Q., & Zhou, Z. (2025). Guanidinoacetic Acid and Methionine Supplementation Improve the Growth Performance of Beef Cattle via Regulating the Antioxidant Levels and Protein and Lipid Metabolisms in Serum and Liver. Antioxidants (Basel), 14(5), 559. doi: 10.3390/antiox14050559.
Zhang, S., Zang, C., Pan, J., Ma, C., Wang, C., & Li, X. (2022). Effects of Dietary GAA on Growth Performance, GAA Absorption and Creatine Metabolism of Lambs. PLoS ONE, 17, e0264864. 
Zhu, W., Liu, J., Wang, Y., Mo, X., Zeng, W., Ye, Z., & Liu, M. (2025). Effects of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in Xinjiang Hu sheep. Frontiers in Animal Science, 6, 1639519.
Zugno, A.I., Stefanello, F.M., Scherer, E.B., Mattos, C., Pederzolli, C.D., Andrade, V.M., Wannmacher, C.M., Wajner, M., Dutra-Filho, C.S., & Wyse, A.T. (2008). Guanidinoacetate decreases antioxidant defenses and total protein sulfhydryl content in striatum of rats. Neurochemical Research, 33(9), 1804-1810.
 
Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X
Volume 28, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 335-347

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us