Methionine microencapsulated with a carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) wax matrix for protection from degradation in the rumen

Methionine microencapsulated in a lipid matrix of carnauba wax by the melt-emulsification method was investigated to protect the amino acid from ruminal degradation, making the methionine available for use directly in the intestine. Pure methionine was compared with two formulations obtained from ratios of 2:1 and 4:1, camauba wax: methionine (MEM 2:1 and MEM 4:1), respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of both formulations after in situ testing showed no attack by ruminal microorganisms. There was a higher in situ degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) in pure methionine compared with the formulations confirming the microencapsulation efficiency from the carnauba wax protection. The potential degradation (PD) of the CP was higher to pure methionine at all times, and a significant difference (P < 0.001) was observed too between the two formulations, highlighting the MEM 4:1, which presented a more efficient methionine protection and less CP loss with values of 9.03 and 4.2% to MEM 2:1 and MEM 4:1, respectively, at 72 h of degradation. Camauba wax was an efficient encapsulant, with high methionine protection capacity on the action of ruminal microorganisms, with the MEM 4:1 formulation being more favorable to the availability of the bypass protein.