Amino Acids and Proteins

Proteins are a key component of all animals' bodies. They are like chains with each link in the chain being an amino acid. Without amino acids, proteins don’t exist. Some amino acids can be manufactured by the body and therefore don’t need to be supplied in feed. Others, however, are called "essential amino acids" because animals cannot make them themselves. They have to be supplied in the feed. Animal feed contains vegetable and animal sources of amino acids; soya is the best-known of the vegetable sources and fishmeal is an animal source. Amino acids in these feedingstuffs are found mainly in complete protein chains.

When feed enters an animal's digestive tract, proteins are broken down to release individual amino acids (or short chains of them). These are then absorbed into the blood stream and used to make new proteins that will be useful to the animal. The amino acid pattern of a protein is dictated by an animal's DNA. This sends signals that control the way in which individual amino acids are incorporated into protein chains. Like a master chain-maker who has to follow a set pattern that dictates the sequence of links, the stocks of each link (amino acid) are slowly used up as the chain is built. At some point the stocks of one of the amino acids can run out. At that point, the building of the chain (protein) has to cease.

The key link is missing and although there are other links available in the chain-maker's stores, they cannot be used because the pattern is calling for the one that is missing. If the body cannot make it, the chain growth stops. The animal stops growing.

In European animal production, the link that most often runs out first in growing animals is lysine. If the lysine stocks are replenished, the next amino acids that are likely to run out are first threonine, then tryptophan and then valine.

Our Amino Acids

Forum has partnered with Ajinomoto Eurolysine (AEL) to bring their amino acids to the British and Irish markets. AEL is a subsidiary of Ajinomoto who is the pioneer of feed-use amino acids. Since its creation in 1974, AEL has been the leading European producer. Their products (L-Lysine, L-Threonine, L-Tryptophan and L-Valine) are produced by natural fermentation processes in northern France.

Through partnering with AEL, Forum brings the highest quality amino acids to our customers. We were the first to bring feed grade L-Threonine to our markets in 1987, L-Tryptophan in 2000 and, in May 2009, the latest feed amino acid innovation was launched, L-Valine.

But our mission is wider than just the supply of products. We support our customers with in-depth technical information on amino acid nutrition.

This information is provided through our partnership with AEL and our sponsored research in Irish and British universities and research institutes. Analytical facilities are also available; AEL’s customer laboratory in France is fully accredited under COFRAC and offers single or full amino acid analyses of feed ingredients or complete feed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AMINO ACIDS, FOLLOW THE LINKS