More than 110 participants attended the 10 th Advancia International Methionine Seminar organised by Adisseo which was held in Beijing, China, on September 5, prior to the WPSA World's Poultry Congress 2016.

There is no greater place than China, the home of the Great Wall, to introduce a new horizon for methionine, beyond its use as building block.

"After ten years of intensive scientific research, it is time to review what has been done, what were its progress and any unanswered questions. Our Advancia 2016 addresses the additional benefits on immune system as well as the contribution of sulfur amino acids on the antioxidant metabolism and its impact on meat quality beyond its well-known ability to create proteins," said Dr Pierre-André Geraert, Director Innovation Marketing of Adisseo.

Methionine and sulfur amino-acids

The seminar kicked off with Prof. Mike Kidd from University of Arkansas, US, reviewing the significant progress on synthetic amino acid supplementation to improve animal protein production efficiency and how sulfur amino acids contributed to this development. Kate Meloche from Prof. Bill Dozier's team from Auburn University, US, extensively addressed the requirement in sulfur amino acids for growing broilers.

Representing INRA, France, Dr. Sophie Tesseraud shared on the interactions between metabolism of sulfur amino acids, methionine and cysteine, and energy, lipid and methyl metabolism.

Rejuvenate the sulfur amino acid knowledge through new research opportunities

Prof. Alain Lescure from CNRS France, touched on the area of thiol groups as key components of the antioxidant metabolism and redox balance, demonstrating the biochemistry path from sulfur to selenium. He showed the important role of methionine in activating and cascading of cellular signals Dr Mario Estevez from University of Extremadura, Spain, presented on how sulfur amino acids, with its antioxidant potential, can improve meat quality.

Prof Sammy Aggrey, University of Georgia, US, uncovered new areas of sulfur amino acids and immunity through recent research, concluding that methionine balance significantly affects immune capacity linked to the redox involvement of methionine and cysteine.

Future for sulfur amino acids

All participants took the opportunity to raise the burning questions as well as the new areas to investigate on the potential of sulfur amino acids in poultry nutrition.

The chairpersons of the roundtable discussion, Prof. Mike Kidd and Prof. Guo Yuming, stimulated lots of exchanges between the participants around the concept of requirements linked with better animal health and product quality.