Protein requirement of hamsters fed a natural diet

The dietary protein requirement for growing hamsters was studied in two 5-week feeding trials using 52 weanling hamsters in the first trial and 37 in the second. Diets prepared primarily from natural ingredients supplied protein from four sources and contained 13.7, 16.7 and 19.7% protein in the first trial and 10.6, 13.7 and 16.7% protein in the second. Mean daily body weight gains of 2.04, 2.04 and 1.99 g/day, respectively, in the first experiment were not significantly different. In the second trial, daily gains of 1.55, 1.79 and 1.93 g/day were significantly improved when the dietary protein was increased from 10.6 to 13.7 and 16.7%. The maintenance requirement for protein by the adult hamster was evaluated in two nitrogen balance studies using four adult males fed a diet with 7.8% protein and seven fed 5.6%. The mature males remained in positive nitrogen balance and gained a slight amount of weight with both levels of protein.