Relationship Between Amino Acid Intake and Accretion in a Marsupial, Macropus Eugenii

The study analyzed 57 milk samples from Macropus eugenii, focusing on amino acid composition during different developmental stages. It found that amino acid concentrations generally increased with milk protein levels. Notably, sulfur-containing amino acids like cystine and methionine sharply increased around 140-160 days, coinciding with hair follicle development. Other amino acids peaked by 220 days, aligning with the development of homeothermy, and remained high until 260 days, when milk protein concentration was highest. These changes in amino acid levels correlated with key developmental milestones in the pouch young's growth and maturation.