ARS | Publication request: Nutrient Requirements of High-Lean Gain Swine at a High Environmental Temperature

Submitted to: American Society of Agri Engineers Special Meetings and Conferences Papers
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: July 26, 2002
Publication Date: August 7, 2002
Citation: Nienaber, J.A., Brown Brandl, T.M., Yen, J., Klindt, J.M., Turner, L.W., Usry, J.L. 2002. Nutrient requirements of high-lean gain swine at a high environmental temperature. In Proceedings: 2002 American Society of Agri Engineers Annual International Meeting, Chicago, IL, July 28-31, 2002. Paper Number 024048.

Interpretive Summary: Two experiments were conducted on lean fast growing finishing pigs to pick the best ration for these pigs at a high environmental temperature. First, digestible lysine and energy content were varied with the room set at a neutral temperature. These rations were compared to a ration with crystalline amino acids that allowed for the use of much less protein. The second experiment was conducted at a high room temperature. Rations were made with various amounts of added fat, using the best ration from the first experiment as the base. Selection of the best diet for both experiments was based on measurements of growth, efficiency of feed usage, and body fat and lean content. There were small differences over the range of lysine to energy contents used in the first experiment, but the crystalline amino acids allowed for greatly reduced nitrogen losses. In the second experiment, the addition of fat increased growth rate under a high room temperature. However, carcass fat was also increased with the highest level of fat added to the diet.

Technical Abstract: High-lean gain swine initially averaging 85 kg were assigned to 96 individual pens and given one of six diets ranging in the ratio of Total Ileal Digestible (TID) Lysine:Metabolizable Energy (ME) of 1.23 to 2.28 g/MCal. Pigs and feed intake were weighed weekly and backfat was measured on two week intervals. Blood samples were drawn initially and at the final weighing, then analyzed for plasma urea nitrogen. Animals were marketed at 120 kg and packer carcass data were obtained. A second experiment used ninety-six 81 kg individually penned barrows at an environmental temperature of 28 ¿ 30°C and fed one of four diets containing 1.89 g TID Lysine/MCal ME with 0 to 6% dietary fat. Animal weights, feed intake, and slaughter data were collected as in experiment I. The optimal TID Lysine/ME ratio (1.89 g/MCal) was based on performance data, slaughter data, and circulating levels of plasma urea nitrogen. The optimal level of dietary fat for this high-lean gain population was near 4% for the 28-30°C environmental temperature. This was based on performance and slaughter data.