Ideal digestible lysine level for early- and late-finishing swine J. D. Hahn, R. R. Biehl and D. H.

Baker J ANIM SCI 1995, 73:773-784.

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Ideal Digestible

Lysine Level for Early-

and Late-Finishing

Swine]

Joseph D. Hahn2, Robert

R. Biehl, and David H. Bakes

Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801

ABSTRACT Two hundredsixteen crossbred (PIC line 26 x Camborough 15) pigs were used in three trials to determine optimal digestible lysine levels during early ( E F = 50 to 95 kg) and late (LF= 90 t o 110 kg) finishing periods. Pigs were self-fed in sex groups of two in all trials. The assay diets for EF and LF periods were 11 and 10% CP corn-soybean meal diets, respectively, supplemented with threonine, methionine, tryptophan, valine, and isoleucine. Cornsoybean meal positive-control diets were included in each trial (14.5% CP for EF and 13.5% CP for LF). This dietary CP regimen was shown to give the same performance and carcassquality as a 17% CP cornsoybean meal diet fed during both EF andLF. Plateau portions of the lysine response curves resulted in

performance levels that were equal to or greater than those achieved with pigs fed the 14.5/13.5% CP positive-control diets.Early-finishing pigs responded ( P < .05) to graded doses of digestible lysine ( .4 1 to .71%) for daily weight gain, gain:feed, longissimus muscle area, 10th-rib fat depth, lean gain, and plasma urea N. Digestible lysine requirement estimates based on average plateau points were 5 8 % for E F barrows and .64% for EF gilts. Late-finishing pigs responded ( P < . 0 5 ) to digestible lysine doses (.35 to .65%) for daily weight gain, gain:feed, lean gain, andplasma urea N. Digestible lysine requirement estimates based on average plateau points were .49% for LF barrows and 52% for LF gilts. Blood Plasma

Key Words: Lysine, Pigs, Requirements, Urea,

J. h i m . Sci. 1995. 73:773-784

Introduction
A majority of the published lysine requirement estimates for finishing swine have been determinedin trials in which the lysine concentration was changed by altering the ratio of corn:soybean meal in the diet, resulting in increased total protein. Easter and Baker (1980) demonstrated that with adequate crystalline lysine supplementation, GP level could be reduced 2% in finishingdietswithout affecting performance or carcass composition. Yen et al. (1986a,b) determined the amino acid requirements in pigs by feeding graded levels of a n ideal protein. Optimum performance and carcass characteristics were obtained at significantly lower CP levels than would be required had an equivalent lysine level been produced by altering the ratio of corn:soybean meal. Previous work in our

'Appreciation is expressed to Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, IL and Moorman Mfg Co., Quincy, IL for partial support of this work. 'Present address: Farmland Industries, 3705 N. 139thStreet, Kansas City, MO 66109. 3T0 whom reprint requests should be addressed: 290 h i m . Sci. Lab., 1207 West Gregory Drive. Received May 23, 1994. Accepted November 1, 1994.

laboratory (Bakeret al.,1993) compared pigs fed either a casein-based diet (8.7% CP; .70% digestible lysine) balanced on a digestibleidealproteinbasis (Baker and Chung, 1992)or a corn-soybean meal diet (14.5% CP; .83% total lysine).The two diets produced similar gain:feed ratiosin 80-kg barrows and gilts, which suggests that total nonessential nitrogen is not a limiting factor in reduced CP diets for finishing pigs. Accurate lysine requirement estimates for pigs being fed diets with reduced CP and crystalline amino acid supplementationare not currentlyavailable. A good lysine requirement estimate and a minimum of excess nitrogen are prerequisites for accurate evaluation of different ideal amino acid patterns in finishing pigs. For these two reasons,thetrialsherein were conducted todeterminethe digestible lysine levels that optimize performance and carcass composition in barrows and gilts when reduced-CP diets, formulated to meetallessentialamino acid requirements on a digestible ideal basis, are fed during the EF and LF periods.

Materials and Methods

AnimaZs.Crossbred pigs from the University of Illinois swine research center resulting from the cross of PigImprovement Company (PIC, Franklin, KY)
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Table 1. Percentage composition (as-fed basis) of basal diets for Trials 1 and 2 and of the corn-soybean meal diets used in Trials 1 to 3
Corn-soybean meal diets, Trials 1, 2, basal diet 3a Var Var 3.00 -

and

Inaedient

diet

Trial 1 basal

Trial 2 to 100.00 85.21 9.00 2.25 .20 .l0 .05 .03 .03 1.50 .75 .35 .l0 .03 10.0 .44

Cornstarch Corn Dehulledsoybeanmeal Soybean oil L-Threonine, feed grade DL-Methionine, feed grade L-Tryptophan, feed grade L-Isoleucine L-Valine Dicalcium phosphate Limestone Trace mineral mixb Vitamin mixc BMD~ Analyzed composition Crudeprotein, % Total lysine, %

1.50 .75 .35 .l0 .03 Var Var

to 100.00 82.40 11.58 2.50 .20 .l0 .05 .03 .03 1.50 .75 .35 .l0 .03
11.3 .51

and soybean meal were varied to obtain 14.5 and 13.5% CP diets that were used as positive control diets for EF and LF, respectively, for the lysine requirement trials (Trials 1 and 2). In Trial 3, these positive control diets (14.5% CPto 90 kg, 13.5% CP from 90 t o 107 kg) were compared to a 17% CP diet fed during both EF and LF. Lysine levels in these diets were .89, .74, and .67% for the 17, 14.5, and 13.5% CP diets, respectively. bTrace mineral mix provided the following ( p e r kilogram of diet): Se,.30 mg; I, .35 mg; Cu, 8 mg; Mn, 20 mg; Fe, 90 mg; Zn, 100 mg; NaCl, 2.73 g. Witamin mix provided the following ( p e r kilogram of diet): vitamin A, 3,300 units; vitamin D3, 330 units; vitamin E, 44 units; vitamin K, 2.2 mg; vitamin B12, .02 mg; riboflavin, 4.4 mg; d-pantothenic acid, 12.1 mg; niacin,16.5 mg; choline chloride, 165 mg. dBMD antibiotic provided 33 mg bacitracinkg of diet.

L26 males and Camborough 15 females were used for all experiments. Animal Housing. Pigs were housed two pigslpen in a mechanically ventilated finisher building. Pens measured 1.8 m x 2.7 m and provided a usable floor area of 2.2 m2/pig. Flooring was a combination of solid concrete and slats (approximately 50:50). Water was by nipplewaterers. provided for adlibitumintake Temperature in the finishing building ranged from 18 to 26C during the three trials. Experimental Diets. Diet composition is presented in Table 1. Cornand soybean meal were stored in bulk to ensure consistency within and among trials. Both ingredients were analyzed (Table 2 ) for CP (AOAC, 1990) and amino acid content (Spackman et al., 1958) following 22-h acid hydrolysis. Analysis for cystine and methionine was done onsamples preoxidized with performic acid (Moore, 1963). Tryptophan was assayed following LiOH hydrolysis (Degussa, Allendale, NJ). Amino acid hydrolysates were analyzed using a Beckman model 126 amino acid autoanalyzer using Beckman System Gold chromatography software (Beckman Instruments, Palo Alto, CA). The 11 and 10% CP basal diets were formulated to meet or exceed all NRC (1988) nutrient requirements, excluding lysine, for pigs between 50 and 110 kg. They containedallessentialamino acids at or

above their ideal ratio to lysine for the finishing pig (Baker and Chung, 1992; Baker, 1993). Lysine additions to the EF and LF basal diets were made at the expense of cornstarch. The digestible lysine level obtained by the treatment diet containing the highest level of crystalline lysine-HC1 inclusion (. 71% lysine for E F trial; .65% lysine for LF trial) was set as the base level (100). Digestible levels of all other essentialamino acids were based on their ratio to lysine (e.g., threonine was added to the EF basal diet to attain a digestible threonine level that was 70% of .71% lysine,or .50%). Thismethod of amino acid supplementationensured that both the EF and LF basal diets would be singly deficient in lysine. Thus, both EF and LF basal diets were supplemented with threonine, methionine, tryptophan, isoleucine, and valine. Apparent amino acid digestibility values were 1 and 10% CP basal diets determined by feeding the 1 (Table 1) to seven finishing pigs fitted with a simple T cannula at the terminal ileum (Easter and Tanksley, 1973). Collection and processing of digesta were as described by Sauer et al. (1991). Apparent to digestibility of crystalline amino acids was assumed be 100%. Although the ideal pattern usedhereinis based on true digestibilityvalues,use of apparent digestibility is adequate for diets based on corn and

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Table 2. Amino acid composition (as-fed basis) of corn, soybean meal, and basal diets used in Trials 1 and 2a
Ingredientb Trial Amino acid Corn 1 Trial basal diet Total Digestible'
%

2 basal diet

SBM
2.82 .26 .69 .43 1.43 .50 . l 1 ,423 .37 2.20 .44 2.32

T o t a l
.44

DigestibleC

Lysine Methionine Met + Cysd Threonine 1.93 Tryptophan Isoleucine Valine Crude 11.3 Drotein 46.21

.22 .33 .l8 .37 .30 .07 .29 .40 6.86

.51 .31 .54 .63 .l5 .47 .58 .57 .67 .l6 .52 .63

.41 .28 .45 .53 .l2 .41 .47 -

.35

10.0

aAmino acid levels represent mean values of four amino acid hydrolysates. Duplicate hydrolysates were performed on two separate samplings of the corn and soybean meal. Analysis for methionine and cystine was performed on samples pre-oxidized with performic acid. bSBM = dehulled soybean meal, solvent. to seven finishing CApparent amino acid digestibility estimates were obtained by feeding the basal diets pigs fitted with a simple T cannula at the terminal ileum. dMet + Cys represents sum of methionine and cystine levels.

soybean meal,becausesimilar results are expected. Differences that do result would lead to an underestimation of digestibility by the apparent digestibility method, and a consequent overfortification of the basal diet. In Trial 3 the 14.5% CP positive-control EF diet was changed at a body weight of 90 kg to 13.5% CP for LF, andthis was compared to a 17% CP corn-soybean 1 ) . Crude meal diet fed during both EF and LF (Table protein levels in these diets were achieved by varying the corn:soybean mealratio.Basedonamino acid analysis of the corn and soybean meal, the 17, 14.5, and 13.5% CP diets contained total lysine concentrations of .89, .74, and .67%, respectively.

Experimental Protocols

TriaZ 1. A randomized complete-block design with a split-plot arrangement (sex was themain plot and diet the subplot) was used. Ninety six pigs (48 barrows, 48 gilts) with an average initial weight of 52.0 kg were allotted to blocks based on sex, ancestry, and weight. Individual pigs within blocks were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments. The heaviest two blocks within a sex were placed in the pens corresponding to replicate one of that sex. The next two heaviest blocks were assigned to replicate two of the appropriate sex. This process was continued until all replicates had been assigned. Location within the finisher building was randomized for treatment within the six pens associated within a barrow or gilt replicate. Pigs were fasted 12 h before initial and final weights were taken at the termination of the growth portion of the trial. The weight gain and feed efficiency data were summarized at the time when the pen with the heaviest average weight reached the targeted slaughter weight of 90 k 2 ' kg.

Treatments included the basal diet or the basal supplemented with feed-grade lysine.HC1 to provide 0, .075, .150, .225, or .300% supplementallysine.The digestible lysine levels produced were .41, .48, 3 6 , .63, diet and .71%. A 14.5% CP corn-soybean meal containing .74% totallysine was fed as a positive control. Pigs were fed the experimental diets for a 39-d period, after which growth and feedefficiency data were summarized.The pigs then remained on their respective diets until they reached average pen slaughter weights of 90 k 2 kg. Blood samples from individual pigs were collectedfrom the cranial vena cava region intolithium heparinizedsyringes just before the 12-h fast on d 39 of the trial was begun. Blood samples were centrifuged (2,000 x g for 10 min).Equal volume aliquots of plasma from each sample were pooled by pen and analyzed for plasma urea nitrogen ( N ) concentration. When mean pen weights reached 90 k 2 kg, both pigs in that pen were slaughtered.Pigs were killed at a commercial meat processing facility and hot carcass weight was recorded. After chilling, the carcasses were split and then cut between the10thand11thrib to allow fat measurement of longissimus muscle area and depth. Lean gain was calculated using the same assumptions for percentage of muscling in the initial carcass and the same equation for calculation of percentage of muscling in the finalcarcass as reported by Cromwell etal.(1993). Themusclingequation used by Cromwell et al. (1993) was a modification of the NPPC ( 19 76)equation. Although a newer equation is available (NPPC, 19911, the old equation was used to allow direct comparisons between our data and those of Cromwell et al. (1993). Use of the newer equation resulted in an average lean gain increase of 7% for our pigs.

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Tria2 2. A randomized complete-block design with a split-plot arrangement (sex was the main plot and diet the subplot) was again used. Ninety-six pigs (48 barrows, 48 gilts) with an average initial weight of 90.6 kg were allotted to blocks based on sex, ancestry, and weight. Individual pigs within blocks were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments. Assignment to replicates and pens was the same as that described for Trial 1. Pigs were fasted 12 hbefore initial and final weighings. Pigs were fed the basal basal supplemented with feed-grade diet or the lysine.HC1 to provide 0, .075, . E O , .225, or .300% supplemental lysine. The digestible lysine levels produced were .35, .43, 50, .58, and .65% lysine.A as a 13.5% CP corn-soybean meal diet was used positive control. It contained .67% total lysine. Pigs were fed the experimental diets for a n 18-d period, after which performance data were summarized. The pigs then remained on their respective diets until mean pen weights reached 110 2 kg. Blood samples from individual pigs were collected and analyzed as described for Trial 1. Pigs were killed and carcasses measured as described for Trial 1, and lean gain was calculated using the same equation for percentage of muscling in the final carcass as that used for Trial 1, but percentage of muscling in the initial carcass was based on the mean valuesobtained for the control pigs of corresponding gender at the termination of Trial 1. Trial 3. A randomized complete-block design with a split-plot arrangement(sex was themain plot and diet the subplot) was also used for this trial. Twentyfour pigs (12 barrows, 12 gilts) with an average initial weight of 57.0 kg were assigned to blocks based on sex, litter, and weight. The littermate pairs that formed the blocks were randomly assigned to replicatesand placed in pens as described for the two previous trials. Pigs were fed a 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet prior to allotment. They were fasted 12 h before the initial and final weighings. Early-finishing diets were fed from 57 to 90 kg, and LF diets were fed from 90 to 107 kg. Diet changes (14.5 -+ 13.5% CP) were made when mean pen weights reached 90 k 2 kg; the 17% CP diet,however, was fed during both E F and LF. Pigs were fed the experimental diets until mean pen weights reached 107 k 3 kg.

Table 3. Analysis of variance for Trials 1, 2, and 3a

Degrees offreedom Source Total Replicate Sex Replicate in sexb Diet Error (replicate x diet) Sex x diet Replicate i n sex x diet Trials 1 and 2 47 7 1 6
5

Trial 3

11
5

1 4 1
5

35 5 30

1 4

randomized complete-block designs aAppropriate ANOVA for with a split-plot arrangement (Steel and Torrie, 1980). Sex is the main plot and diet is the subplot. bReplicate in sex was used as the errortermfor sex effects.

measuringsex effects. In Trials 1 and 2, single df orthogonal contrasts were used to testlinearand quadratic responses to lysine supplementation for appropriate, response treatments 1 to 5 . Where broken-line criteria were fitted to a rectilinear model, and this was used to estimate a lysine requirement. Separate regression analyses were conducted for barrows andgilts,and responsecriteria were regressed on digestible lysine concentration. The break-points for the different performance and carcass measurements were determined using a model involving one linear spline and a plateau (Robbins, 1986).

Results
Trial 1. A sex difference ( P < .05) was observed for dailygain,daily feed, gain:feed ratio,10thribfat depth, and plasma urea N concentration (Table 4). Barrows gained faster, consumed more feed, and produced higher plasma urea N concentrations than gilts, whereas gilts gained more efficiently and deposited less backfat than barrows. Linear and quadratic responses ( P< .05) to lysine addition were observed for dailygain, gain:feed ratio, longissimus muscle area, and daily lean gain; 10th rib fat depth and plasma urea N responded linearly ( P < .05) to lysine supplementation. Daily gains of both barrows and gilts exceeded the target levels suggested by PIC for pigs of this genotype and weight (Anonymous, 19931, and daily feed intakes were 125% of PIC target values for gilts and 135% of target values for barrows. Digestible lysine requirement estimates were based on average plateau points (Table 5 , Figure 1) for dailygain, gain:feed, daily lean gain, longissimus muscle area, 10th rib fat depth, and plasma urea N. Calculated digestible lysine requirements were .58% for barrows and .64% for gilts. Plateau performance levels for pigs fed 11% CP diets with lysine at or above the requirement were not different ( P > . l o ) from those achieved in pigs fed the 14.5% CP positive-control diet.

Statistical Analysis
All data were analyzed using the GLM procedures of SAS (1985), using pen as the experimental unit. Experiments were analyzed by ANOVA (Table3) appropriate for randomized complete-block designs (Steel and Torrie, with a split-plot arrangement 1980). Pooled SEM values reported were based on the 3 ) andare only replicate x dieterrorterm(Table appropriate for comparison of dietary treatment means. The error term used to test for sex effects was replicate in sex. This resulted ina lower sensitivity for

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wlnw

w m c

w m c

orlmocdnjc
N

w m c

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HAHN ET AL.

Table 5. Digestible lysine requirements of finishing pigsa

Breakpoint performance Measurement Gilt Barrow Barrow 1,079 3 13 352 22.3 33.1 10.7 - .75 1,068 283 342.61 12.1 GiltGilt 972 346 345 16.2 35.3 9.2 979 301 366 8.2 Digestible lysine, % Barrow
50

Total lysine', B

50 to 90 kg (Trial 1) Daily gain, g Gain:feed, g k g Lean gain, gld Fat depthc, 10th rib, mm Longissimus area, cm2 Plasma urea Ne, mgldL Pooled average 90 to 110 kg (Trial 2) Daily gain, g Gain:feed, g k g Lean gain, gld Plasma urea Ne, mg1dL Pooled average

.56

.71 .71 .68 .59 .59 .54

.57 .62 .60 .60 .58 .50 .50 50 .46 .49

.65 .64 .64 .67 .65 .61 .64 .50 .52 .53 .54 .61 .52

.59 .66 .67 .73

.76 .75 .75 .76 .79 .72

.59

.59 .61 .64

.58

aRequirement obtained by regressing the mean treatment values for each parameter on the digestible lysine concentration of the diet. Calculated using the GLM procedure of SAS (1985) and the broken-line model described by Robbins (1986). bDigestible lysine concentration converted to total lysine assuming 85% lysine digestibility in a corn-soybean meal diet.

Gain:feed ratio was negatively correlated ( P < . O l ) with plasma urea N concentration for both barrows and gilts ( r 2 = .57 for barrows and .66 for gilts). Lean gain was also negativelycorrelated ( P < .O 1) with plasma urea N for both barrows and gilts ( r 2 = .67 for barrows and .71 for gilts). Trial 2. Late-finishing barrowsconsumed more ( P < .05) feed and produced higher ( P < .05) plasma urea N concentrations than gilts, but gilts gained lean at a greater ( P < .05) rate, produced larger ( P < .05) longissimus muscle areas, and deposited less ( P < .05) fatthan barrows (Table 6 ) . Linearandquadratic responses ( P < .05) to lysine addition were observed for dailygain, gain:feed ratio, daily leangain,and N concentration. plasma urea Daily gains of both barrows and gilts again reached target levels suggested by PIC for pigs of this genotype and weight(Anonymous, 1993). Daily feed intakes were 107% of target values for gilts and 115% of target values for barrows. Digestible lysine requirement estimates were based on average broken-line plateau points for daily gain, gain:feed, daily lean gain, and plasma urea N. Longissimus muscle area and 10th rib fat depth were not used for requirement estimation because the responses were erratic and not suitable for broken-lineanalysis.Estimated digestible lysine requirements were .49% for barrows and 5 2 % for gilts (Table 5 , Figure 2 ) . As in Trial 1, LF pigs fed lysine at its requirement or above in 10% CP dietsperformed as well as those fed the 13.5% C P positive-control diet. ( P < .Ol) Gain:feed ratiowasnegativelycorrelated with plasma urea N concentration for both barrows and gilts ( r 2= .46 for barrows and .60 for gilts). Lean gainwas also negativelycorrelated ( P < .05) with plasma urea N in both barrows and gilts ( r = .30 for barrows and .70 for gilts).

Trial 3. Because performance and carcass quality of pigs fed lysine-adequate diets containing only 11% GP ( E F ) or 10% CP ( L F ) were as good as those in pigs fed the 14.5% CP ( E F ) or 13.5% CP ( L F ) positivecontrol diets in Trials1and 2, it was necessary to test whether the positive-control diets used in these trials were indeed adequate for achievement of optimal Performance. No diet or sex effects were significant ( P > .05) for any of thecriteriameasured(Table7). Overall,gilts in this trial had reducedlongissimus muscle areas and more fat depth than those used in Trial 2, even though the same genotype, diet ingredients, and housing conditions were used. Clearly, neither barrows nor gilts responded to the increased level of lysine and CP provided in the 17% CP diet.
Discussion
Specific factors affecting the lysine requirement of pigs were outlined in a review by Baker ( 1986) and are as follows: genetics (lean vs fat), sex (boar, gilt, barrow), criterion of response (daily gain, gain:feed ratio, carcass leanness), energy concentration of the diet, protein concentration of the diet, bioavailability of lysine in the basal ingredients of an assaydiet, frequency of feeding, and the statistical method used to select the requirement from the data. Inaddition to the above factors, environmental conditions such as stocking density,temperature,andinherent disease level in a herd could alter feed intake and the lean of animals, and ultimately the growth potential quantity of lysine required. A recent review of lysine requirement experiments in pigs (Kerr, 1993)showed that lysine requirement estimates from trials in the 45- to 100-kg weight range varied from .39 to .77%

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r l 3 m

t-do

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780
360

HAHN ET AL.

Early Finisher
..

340

320

300

280

.55

.45

260 I .35

.75
Digestible lysine, %

360

340

Lean gain, gld

320

300

Beakpoint Ba = 352 g I d ; .57 % lysine Gi = 3 4 5 g l d ; . M % l y s i n e

280

260 .55 .45 .35 Digestible lysine, Yo

Ba = 10.69 rng I dL ; . 6 0 Yo lysine Gi = 9.21 mg IdL ; .61 % lysine

9.0

tI

A
I I I

8.0 .55 .45 .35

Digestible lysine, %

Figure 1. Selected broken-line plots from Trial 1. Plots are gain:feed ratio, lean gain, and plasma urea N concentration as a function of digestible lysine concentration. Responses to increasing dietary concentrations of digestible lysine are shown for both barrows ( 0 )and gilts [A). Data points represent means k SE of four replicate pens of two pigs per pen.
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LYSINE FOR FINISHING PIGS

78 1

320

Late Finisher

300

Li

_._...____ ,__-._.__._._.._.__._._.__ .Gi

\l

4
T

Gain: feed, 9 1 kg

280

Ba

Breakpoints Ba = 283 gIkg ; .50 O h lysine Gi = 301 gI kg : .52 % lysine

I
J .

260

L.IU

.30

.40

.50 -60 Digestible lysine, %

.70

380 360
340

Late Finisher

.____._._.._ _____._.. Gi
T

h
T

Ba

Lean gain, gld

Breakpoints Ba = 342 g I d ; .50 % lysine Gi = 366 g I d ; .53 % lysine

.30

.40

.50 .60 Digestible lysine, O h

.70

12.5 Plasma urea N, mg IdL

11.5

-'

..

10.5

---*.a-.

Y
S.

0
Breakwints

T.

Ba

'.__ '.

*-

_.

9.5 8.5
7 .S

""l---...,.-a '.
*-=.
I 1

Ba=11.58mgldL;.46%lysine Gi = 7.23 mg I dL ; 5 4 % lysine

.-.---$. _ __._ _.__ __ ___.___ __ Gi

I
I
I

.30

.40

.50 .60 Digestible lysine, %

.70

Figure 2. Selected broken-line plots from Trial 2. Plots are gain:feed ratio, lean gain, and plasma urea N concentration as a function of digestible lysine concentration. Responses to increasing dietary concentrations of digestible lysine are shown for both barrows (0) and gilts ( A ) . Data points represent means k SE of four replicate pen. pens of two pigs per
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Table 7. Performance and carcass composition of finishing pigs fed two protein regimens during early (EF) and late finishing (LF) periods (Trial 3)a
Barrows Diet: CP level, %b: Measurement Daily gain, g Dailyfeed,g Gain:feed, &g Daily lean gain, gd Longissimus area, cm2 Fat depth (10th rib), mme 1,043 3,437 304 337 37.4 26.8 1,033 3,322 312 336 37.5 26.5 22.1 6.1 1 14.5113.5 2 17.0 17.0
1 14.5113.5 SEMC

Gilts 2 Pooled 998 3,143 318 356 38.4 22.5

1,003 3,036 332 365 37.9 24.0

81.9 3.2 1.13 .40

aMeans within sex represent three replicate pens of two pigs; average initial weight was 57.0 kg and average ending weight was 107.3 kg. bThe diet containing 14.5% CP fed was fed from 57 to 90 kg ( E F ) a n d was followed by the diet containing 13.5% CP from 90 to 107 kg ( L F ) . The diet containing 17.0% CP was fed from 57 to107 kg. for evaluation of CPooledSEM was based on the error termused to test the effect of diet (subplot); theseSEM values are not appropriate sex (main plot) effects. dCalculated by dividing the difference of the estimated lean in final carcass and the lean in the initial carcassdivided by the number of days on trial. Estimates of the initial composition are values reported for 50-kg pigs of this genotype by Hahn (1994); percentage of muscling in the final carcass was estimated a s described by Cromwell e t al. (1993), using the percentage of muscling equation from NPPC (1976). eMeasured according to established procedures for 10th-rib fat measurement (NPPC, 1991).

digestible lysine on a concentrationbasis, and from 11.78 to 23.19gld of digestiblelysine on an intake basis, Although a significant portion of the variation published in estimates can be attributed to sex, estimates of the lysine requirement for finishing pigs are variable within sex, and it is difficult to separate response to lysine, to protein level, or to energy density. In a broad-based study of the protein and lysine requirement of finishing pigs by Cromwell et al. (1993), gain, efficiency of gain, and lean growth rate reached a plateau in barrows at 13% CP (.60% total lysine), but lysine and protein concentrations in this study were achieved by changing the ratio of corn: soybean meal inthe diet. In gilts, Cromwell et al. (1993) found in two of three trials that performance was near a plateau at 17.2% CP (.go% total lysine). When our determined requirements for the EF period (Table 6 ) are converted to a total lysine basis of 85%, in corn(assuming lysine a digestibility soybeanmeal diets),total lysine requirementestimates of .68%for barrows and .75% for gilts result. of Cromwell et al. Compared with the estimates ( 1993), our requirement estimates for the EF period for barrows but lower than arehigherthantheirs theirs for gilts. Yen et al. (1986b) reported responses of growing pigs to a source of dietary ideal protein. Based on total lysine, therequirement for barrows was .72% lysine (18.6 gld) in a diet containing 11.6% CP, and the requirement for gilts was .85% (2 1.2 gld) in a diet containing 13.4% CP. The estimated barrow requirement of Yen et al. (198613) is higher than that determinedherein for the EF barrow (Table 6 ) or that reported by Cromwell et al. (19931, but the estimatedgiltrequirementfallsbetweenourvalue gilt andthat reported by determined for theEF Cromwell et al. (1993).

Both EF and LF gilts required higher dietary concentrations of lysine than EF and LF barrows to maximize growth performance and carcass leanness. Similar results have been reported previously (Baker et al., 1967; Hale and Southwell, 1967; Bereskin et al., 1976; Watkinsetal., 1977; Christian etal., 1980; Henry et al., 1992). Concentration requirements can vary over the finishing period simply due to the of the weight relative partitioning (1ean:lipid ratio) gain. Differences in appetite and partitioning of gain create a situation in which the gilt is inherently more efficient at depositing protein than the barrow when both are growing at a rate near their maximum potential. Tullis ( 1981)reported that gilts had higher lean deposition rates than barrows across the entire weight range of 50 to 90 kg, and that the efficiency of N utilization was greater for gilts than for barrows. The higher efficiency of dietary N utilization in gilts is consistent with the results of our experiments. Gilts utilized dietary lysine more efficiently than barrows, as demonstrated by their ability in the EF period to produce the same amount of lean gain per day as the barrows on a lower intake of lysine. In the LF period, gilts produced 7% more lean gain per day on a lower intake of lysine. The greater efficiency of utilization of dietary lysine by the gilt is consistent with the data of Cromwell et al. ( 1993 if their reported lean deposition rates reported are regressed on lysine intake (intake calculated by multiplying reported lysine concentration by reported feed intake). The total lysine intake required is a function of the rate of lean deposition, the efficiency of lean deposition, and the appetiteor feed intake potential of a pig. In our EF trial, barrows consumed approximately 20% more feed and grewapproximately 11%faster than of finishing gilts.Thedailyweightgainadvantage barrows over gilts has been shown previously (Baker

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et al., 1967; Bereskin et al., 1976; Christianet al., 1980; Cromwell et al., 1993). Because total weight ( P < .05) higher in gain per day was significantly barrows than in gilts, the barrows actually deposited as the gilts in the same quantity of lean tissue per day the EFperiod, but the percentage of gain deposited as lean was reduced, and thus the overall efficiency of gain was reduced as well. In the LF period, the gilt was able to deposit more total lean per day than the barrow, and the gilt required a lower lysine intake to accomplish that lean deposition. A higher daily intake requirement for lysine by the barrow was observed in both the EF and LF periods as a result of the lower utilization of dietary lysine by the barrow relative to the gilt. The ability of barrows in our study to produce rates of lean gain equal to those of gilts is in contrastto the results of Tullis (1981) and Yen et al. (1986b). The barrows in their studies, however, did not grow appreciably faster than the gilts. Total daily weight gains of barrows were only 104% of that obtained in gilts in the study by Tullis (19811, and theywere only 94% of those obtained by gilts in the studies by Yen et potential of al. (1986b). Appetite or growth-rate barrows relative to gilts seems to vary with genotype, and it may explain why our EF barrows could reach the same ratesof lean gain deposition as the EF gilts. Until the maximum rate of protein deposition is achieved, increases in protein intake result in linear increases in protein deposition rate as appetite potential increases (Whittemore, 1987; Campbell and Taverner, 1988). Gilts can achieve higher maximum rates of lean gain deposition than barrows, as shown by the rates of lean gain for our pigs in the LF period. During EF, however, the tremendous appetite potential of the barrows allowed them to deposit lean at their maximum rate. The EF gilts may be limited in lean gain potential by their appetite for a larger portion of the trial period relative to the barrows. This would result in themaximal rate of lean deposition for the gilts being achieved for a smaller portion of the EF trial period. Pigs fed our low-protein experimentaldiets,with lysine at or above its determinedrequirement,perhigher-protein formed as well as those fed the positive-control diets. This raises the question of the adequacy of the 14.5%CP positive-control diet for EF and the 13.5% CP positive-control diet for LF. The data from Trial 3 (Table 7) clearly demonstrated that a 14.5% CP (corn-soybean meal diet) fed from 50 to 90 kg followed by 13.5% C P from 90 to 110 kg produced the samegrowth performance and carcass merit, including lean gain, as that obtained by feeding a 17% CP corn-soybean meal diet from 50 to 110 kg. Pigs in our trials were confined two per pen under what might be termed ideal environmentalconditions. This probably contributed tothe excellent performance levels achieved. Thus, our feed intake levels were higher than those generally expected for either

E F or LF pigs. Would the lysine requirements be higher for pigs in a commercial setting with higher stocking densities? The evidence seems to indicate thatthe combined stress factors of crowding and disease level that may decrease voluntary feed intake requirement are not likely to increase the lysine expressed as a percentage of the diet. In fact, the lysine requirement expressed as grams/day islikely to decrease. Chapple ( 1993) reported that pigs were unable t o reach the same genetic potential for lean growth when confined in groups of five to eight compared to the potential of similar pigs penned individually. Also, we have compared our 14.5/13.5% CP regimen for EFLF pigs to a 17% CP corn-soybean meal diet fed continuously during both finishing periods under conditions of nine pigdpen (Hahn, same genotype as those 1994). Pigs were of the herein. No differences were found in growth performance or carcass merit between the two dietary protein regimens, even though the pigs housed nine/ pen (.65m2/pig) consumed approximately 7% less feed than those housed two/pen (2.2m2/pig) under the same conditions as those used for the two trials reported herein.

Implications
If low-protein corn-soybean meal diets are formulated to ideal levels of digestible lysine,threonine, (+ cystine), valine, and tryptophan, methionine isoleucine, excellent performance can be achieved. The determined lysine requirements for early finishing barrows and gilts are higher than those suggested by the National Research Council; for late-finishing barrows andgilts, however, the NationalResearch Council requirement suggestions are similar to those found herein. Gilts require a higher level of digestible lysine than barrows, and the difference between sexes is greater during early finishing (50 to 90 kg) than during late finishing (90 to 110 kg).

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