Nitrogen (N) Content in Animal Feed

So, as with lysine, alanine and proline, the percentages of N content will vary depending on the amino acid. Since proteins will consist of a combination of several of the twenty total amino acids, the N content could vary from about 13% to 19%.

  1. There are 20 amino acids with different total nitrogen percentages.
  2. Based on the amino acid composition in animal feed protein, an average of 16% N is used.
  3. Remember that percentages are equivalent to decimals.
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Animated illustration showing that the percentage of nitrogen content will vary among the 20 amino acids.
Animated illustration showing a list of 20 amino acids and their varying percentages: Proline 12%, Alanine 16%, Lysine 19%, Glutamine 19%, Arginine 32%, Cysteine 12%, Aspartic Acid 11%, Asparagine 21%, Isoleucine 11%, Histidine 27%, Glycine 19%, Glutamic Acid 10%, Serine 13%, Phenylalanine 8%, Methionine 9%, Leucine 11%, Valine 12%, Tyrosine 8%, Tryptophan 14%, Threonine 12%.
Animated illustration showing that the average is 16% N for animal feed protein.
Animated illustration: Average based on amino acid composition of animal feed protein = 16%
Animated illustration showing that 16% and 16/100 and 0.16 are all equivalent.
Animated illustration showing that 16% and 16/100 and 0.16 are all equivalent.

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