Recent Advances in Swine Amino Acid Nutrition

Recent advances in swine protein nutrition are characterized by the development of functional amino acids(AA)in regulating fetal and postnatal survival,growth and development. These AA include arginine,glutamine,glutamate,proline,leucine, cysteine and tryptophan. Due to limited knowledge on AA nutrition,pork producers have traditionally paid little attention to supplementing the arginine family of AA to swine diets. Results of recent studies indicate that functional AA serve important regulatory functions in nutrient metabolism,protein turnover, and immune function,therefore enhancing efficiency of feed utilization by pigs. The underlying mechanisms include activation of nitric oxide,mammalian target of rapamycin,gaseous signaling,and AMP-activated protein kinase pathways, as well as anti-oxidative function. Dietary supplementation with arginine,glutamine, proline or leucine to weanling piglets enhances their growth performance. Arginine or glutamine is also effective in increasing milk production by lactating sows. Furthermore,supplementing arginine to the diet of pregnant gilts between days 30 and 114 of gestation increases the number of live-born piglets and litter birth-weight. Availability of feed-grade functional AA holds great promise for improving animal health and nutrient utilization in pig production worldwide. Additionally, feedstuffs of animal origin[e. g. , blood meal (ring dried),feather meal(hydrolyzed),meat and bone meal, porcine protein meal,and poultry by-product meal(both feed- and petfood-grades )]are excellent and cost-effective sources of both essential and functional AA for formulating balanced swine diets.New knowledge on AA nutrition provides a much needed scientific basis for revising the next edition of swine nutrient requirements.     

Biochemical and physiological bases for utilization of dietary amino acids by young Pigs

Protein is quantitatively the most expensive nutrient in swine diets. Hence it is imperative to understand the physiological roles played by amino acids in growth, development, lactation, reproduction, and health of pigs to improve their protein nutrition and reduce the costs of pork production. Due to incomplete knowledge of amino acid biochemistry and nutrition, it was traditionally assumed that neonatal, post-weaning, growing-finishing, and gestating pigs could synthesize sufficient amounts of all "nutritionally nonessential amino acids" (NEAA) to support maximum production performance. Therefore, over the past 50 years, much emphasis has been placed on dietary requirements of nutritionally essential amino acids as building blocks for tissue proteins. However, a large body of literature shows that NEAA, particularly glutamine, glutamate, arginine and proline regulate physiological functions via cell signaling pathways, such as mammalian target of rapamycin, AMP-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-related kinase, Jun kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and NEAA-derived gaseous molecules (e.g., nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide). Available evidence shows that under current feeding programs, only 70% and 55% of dietary amino acids are deposited as tissue proteins in 14-day-old sow-reared piglets and in 30-day-old pigs weaned at 21 days of age, respectively. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the roles and dietary requirements of NEAA in swine nutrition. This review highlights the basic biochemistry and physiology of absorption and utilization of amino acids in young pigs to enhance the efficacy of utilization of dietary protein and to minimize excretion of nitrogenous wastes from the body.     

Dietary requirements of synthesizable amino acids by animals:a paradigm shift in protein nutrition

Amino acids are building blocks for proteins in all animals.Based on growth or nitrogen balance,amino acids were traditionally classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential for mammals,birds and fish.It was assumed that all the "nutritionally nonessential amino acids(NEAA)" were synthesized sufficiently in the body to meet the needs for maximal growth and optimal health.However,careful analysis of the scientific literature reveals that over the past century there has not been compelling experimental evidence to support this assumption.NEAA(e.g.,glutamine,glutamate,proline,glycine and arginine) play important roles in regulating gene expression,cell signaling,antioxidative responses,fertility,neurotransmission,and immunity.Additionally,glutamate,glutamine and aspartate are major metabolic fuels for the small intestine to maintain its digestive function and to protect the integrity of the intestinal mucosa.Thus,diets for animals must contain all NEAA to optimize their survival,growth,development,reproduction,and health.Furthermore,NEAA should be taken into consideration in revising the "ideal protein" concept that is currently used to formulate swine and poultry diets.Adequate provision of all amino acids(including NEAA) in diets enhances the efficiency of animal production.In this regard,amino acids should not be classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential in animal or human nutrition.The new Texas A&M University’s optimal ratios of dietary amino acids for swine and chickens are expected to beneficially reduce dietary protein content and improve the efficiency of their nutrient utilization,growth,and production performance.     

Triennial Growth Symposium: important roles for L-glutamine in swine nutrition and production

L-Glutamine (Gln) has traditionally not been considered a nutrient needed in diets for livestock species or even mentioned in classic animal nutrition textbooks. This is due to previous technical difficulties in Gln analysis and the unsubstantiated assumption that animals can synthesize sufficient amounts of Gln to meet their needs. Consequently, the current (1998) version of NRC does not recommend dietary Gln requirements for swine. This lack of knowledge about Gln nutrition has contributed to suboptimal efficiency of global pig production. Because of recent advances in research, Gln is now known to be an abundant AA in physiological fluids and proteins and a key regulator of gene expression. Additionally, Gln can regulate cell signaling via the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-related kinase, Jun kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and nitric oxide. The exquisite integration of Gln-dependent regulatory networks has profound effects on cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, metabolism, homeostasis, survival, and function. As a result of translating basic research into practice, dietary supplementation with 1% Gln maintains gut health and prevents intestinal dysfunction in low-birth-weight or early-weaned piglets while increasing their growth performance and survival. In addition, supplementing 1% Gln to a corn- and soybean-meal-based diet between d 90 and 114 of gestation ameliorates fetal growth retardation in gilts and reduces preweaning mortality of piglets. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with 1% Gln enhances milk production by lactating sows. Thus, adequate amounts of dietary Gln, a major nutrient, are necessary to support the maximum growth, development, and production performance of swine.     

Dietary requirements of synthesizable amino acids by animals: a paradigm shift in protein nutrition

Amino acids are building blocks for proteins in all animals. Based on growth or nitrogen balance, amino acids were traditionally classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential for mammals, birds and fish. It was assumed that all the “nutritionally nonessential amino acids (NEAA)” were synthesized sufficiently in the body to meet the needs for maximal growth and optimal health. However, careful analysis of the scientific literature reveals that over the past century there has not been compelling experimental evidence to support this assumption. NEAA (e.g., glutamine, glutamate, proline, glycine and arginine) play important roles in regulating gene expression, cell signaling, antioxidative responses, fertility, neurotransmission, and immunity. Additionally, glutamate, glutamine and aspartate are major metabolic fuels for the small intestine to maintain its digestive function and to protect the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. Thus, diets for animals must contain all NEAA to optimize their survival, growth, development, reproduction, and health. Furthermore, NEAA should be taken into consideration in revising the “ideal protein” concept that is currently used to formulate swine and poultry diets. Adequate provision of all amino acids (including NEAA) in diets enhances the efficiency of animal production. In this regard, amino acids should not be classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential in animal or human nutrition. The new Texas A&M University’s optimal ratios of dietary amino acids for swine and chickens are expected to beneficially reduce dietary protein content and improve the efficiency of their nutrient utilization, growth, and production performance.     

Chronic lung inflammation affects plasma amino acid concentrations in pigs

Metabolic changes associated with inflammatory processes and immune response can modify protein and AA requirements. Improved knowledge of these processes will provide opportunities for nutritional intervention to sustain growth and animal defense at the same time. The objective of the study was to identify AA whose metabolism is affected by chronic lung inflammation. Six pairs of littermate piglets were selected at 28 d of age on the basis of their BW. After catheterization of the jugular vein, one littermate received complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) intravenously, whereas its littermate was injected with a sterile saline solution (CON). Piglets within a litter were pair-fed in order to avoid confounding effects of feed intake and inflammation on plasma AA concentrations. Blood samples were taken after an overnight fast and 2 h after the morning meal for 9 d. Rectal temperature, food consumption, weight gain, plasma haptoglobin, and AA concentrations were measured. The CFA injection decreased food intake, and increased body temperature and plasma haptoglobin concentration. Plasma tryptophan, glutamine, proline, glycine, tyrosine, ornithine, total AA concentrations, and the ratio of tryptophan to large neutral AA were less in CFA than in CON (P < 0.05), independent of time and meal. In contrast, plasma histidine concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in CFA than in CON pigs. Plasma serine, arginine, alanine, asparagine, and total AA concentrations were lower in CFA than in CON pigs only in the fed state (P < 0.05). Among essential AA, only plasma tryptophan concentration was lower (P < 0.01) in CFA than in CON pigs in both fasted and fed state. These results show that chronic lung inflammation affects individual AA differently and suggest that the utilization of some AA increased during chronic lung inflammation in pigs. Activation of tryptophan catabolism enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase seems a relevant hypothesis to explain the increased tryptophan utilization, although its incorporation in acute-phase proteins and the existence of other catabolic pathways cannot be excluded.     

Effects of level of supplemental phytase on ileal digestibility of amino acids, calcium, and phosphorus in dehulled soybean meal for growing pigs.

Ileally cannulated pigs were used to assess the effects of four dietary levels of microbial phytase (Natuphos) on the apparent and true digestibility of Ca, P, CP, and AA in dehulled soybean meal. Fourteen pigs (25 kg initial BW) were surgically fitted with T-cannulas at the terminal ileum and assigned to diets in a replicated 7 x 7 Latin square design. Following a 14-d recovery, four diets consisting of 30.5% soybean meal with 0, 500, 1,000, or 1,500 units of phytase/kg of diet were fed. Diets 5 (1.05% lysine, 0.90% Ca, and 0.75% P) and 6 (1.05% lysine, 0.90% Ca, and 0.75% P) contained 35.25% soybean meal and 27.0% soy protein concentrate, respectively. Diet 7 (0.37% lysine, 0.03% Ca, and 0.05% P) was a low-CP, casein-based diet used to estimate the nonspecific endogenous losses of Ca, P, CP, and AA in order to estimate the true digestibility of these nutrients. All diets contained cornstarch and dextrose and were fortified with vitamins and minerals. Chromic oxide was used as an indigestible indicator. The diets were fed daily at 9% of metabolic BW (BW0.75). Apparent and true ileal digestibility of P increased quadratically (P < 0.01) and true digestibility of Ca increased linearly (P < 0.07) with increasing levels of phytase. Apparent digestibility of Ca was unaffected (P = 0.15) by phytase level. Apparent and true ileal digestibility of CP and most AA increased slightly with the addition of 500 units of phytase/kg of diet, but not at higher levels of phytase supplementation (in most cases, cubic effect, P < 0.05). Apparent and true ileal nutrient digestibility coefficients were unaffected by soybean meal source (Diet 1 vs Diet 5), except for arginine and Ca. The apparent and true digestibility coefficients for most of the AA tended (P < 0.10) to be lower in diets containing soy protein concentrate vs the common source of soybean meal used in Diet 5, but ileal digestibilities of Ca and P were unaffected (P = 0.15). In this study, supplemental microbial phytase did not improve the utilization of AA provided by soybean meal but was an effective means of improving Ca and P utilization by growing swine fed soybean meal-based diets.     

功能性氨基酸对断奶仔猪肠道损伤修复机制的研究进展

氨基酸是仔猪饲粮中最重要的成分之一,但传统氨基酸分类存在缺陷。功能性氨基酸是对传统氨基酸定义的一种重新界定,在动物的免疫功能方面发挥着重要作用。本文综述了精氨酸、谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺、支链氨基酸、色氨酸、甘氨酸、半胱氨酸和脯氨酸等功能性氨基酸在断奶仔猪肠道中的代谢作用及其对肠道健康的影响,并阐明功能性氨基酸修复肠道损伤的机制,为其在断奶仔猪肠道损伤修复上的应用提供依据。     

Intestinal supply of amino acids in sheep fed alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw-based diets supplemented with soybean meal or combinations of corn gluten meal and blood meal

The intestinal supply of amino acids (AA) in sheep fed alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw (AHPWS)-based diets supplemented with soybean meal (SBM) or corn grain plus combinations of corn gluten meal (CGM) and blood meal (BM) was measured in a 5 X 5 latin square. Sheep (avg wt 45 kg) with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas were fed diets containing 65% AHPWS supplemented with the following protein sources: soybean meal (SBM), corn gluten meal (CGM), blood meal (BM), 2/3 CGM:1/3 BM and 1/3 CGM:2/3 BM. Total nitrogen (N) flow at the duodenum was not affected (P greater than .05) by protein source. Flows of bacterial N and AA increased (P less than .05) and flows of nonbacterial N and AA decreased (P less than .05) when wethers were fed SBM vs corn plus other protein sources. When diets contained SBM, quantities of total AA at the duodenum were lower (P less than .05) and the profile of AA supplied to the intestine was altered substantially. Total flows of AA at the duodenum and total quantities of AA disappearing from the small intestine were similar (P greater than .05) for all diets containing BM and CGM, but flows and disappearance of valine, histidine, lysine and arginine increased linearly (P less than .05), whereas flows and disappearance of leucine, isoleucine and methionine decreased linearly (P less than .05) as BM replaced CGM in the diets. Results suggest that quantities of individual AA flowing to the duodenum and disappearing from the intestine of wethers fed AHPWS-based diets can be altered by source of dietary protein. Furthermore, feeding protein sources resistant to ruminal degradation in combination may improve the profile of AA supplied to the intestine.     

Comparison of spray‐dried egg and albumen powder with conventional animal protein sources as feed ingredients in diets fed to weaned pigs

We evaluated the apparent (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in spray‐dried egg (SPE) and albumen powder (AP) compared with spray‐dried porcine plasma (SDPP), dried porcine solubles (DPS) and fish meal (FM). Additionally, the effects of these egg byproducts as a replacement for conventional animal proteins on the performance and nutrient digestibility of piglets were studied. In Exp. 1, six barrows fitted with ileal T‐cannulas were allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin Square design and fed six diets. The AID and SID of AA were generally higher in AP and FM (P < 0.01) than in the other protein sources. In Exp. 2, 150 piglets weaned at 21 days, were fed diets containing the five protein sources for 3 weeks. Weight gain of piglets fed SDPP was the highest among the treatments. Dry matter and protein digestibility for pigs offered SDPP were higher (P < 0.01) than those offered FM and DPS. AP decreased (P < 0.05) Escherichia coli counts in the cecum. DPS decreased (P < 0.05) serum diamine oxidase compared with SPE. In conclusion, AP and SPE are competitive with traditional animal protein sources and can be successfully fed to piglets without compromising performance.     

Influence of guanidination on apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in pigs fed diets with soybean meal, rapeseed meal or peas as a protein source

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of guanidination, the conversion of dietary lysine to homoarginine, on the apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of amino acids (AA) from 3 protein sources in diets for pigs. Six barrows, initial body weight of 18 ± 1.5 kg, fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, were fed one of three corn starch-based diets that contained 18% crude protein (CP) from soybean meal, rapeseed meal or peas for an experimental period of 10 d according to a repeated 3 × 3 Latin square design. On d 9 of each experimental period, the pigs were fed one meal of the guanidinated test meals, which corresponded to their respective diets. In the test meals, 50% of the protein source in each diet was replaced, on an equal weight basis, with a guanidinated source. Guanidination increased the content of CP by 190, 116 and 28 g kg^− 1 for soybean meal, rapeseed meal and peas, respectively. With the exception of lysine, the AID of CP and AA were 2.2 to 8.2 percentage units (pu) higher in the test meal than in the soybean meal diet. Other than arginine and isoleucine, the differences were significant (P < 0.05) for all indispensable AA. With the exception of lysine, the AID of CP and AA were 3.8 to 11.9 pu higher in the test meal than in the diet with peas. The differences were significant (P < 0.05) for all indispensable AA. Other than lysine, glycine and proline, the AID of CP and AA were slightly higher, 0.1 to 4.3 pu, in the test meal than in the rapeseed meal diet. Of the indispensable AA, the differences were significant (P < 0.05) for arginine, leucine and phenylalanine. The AID of lysine was 10.9 pu lower (P < 0.05) in the test meal than in the rapeseed meal diet, 61.5 vs. 72.4%, indicating that guanidination of rapeseed meal was not uniform and random. The increase in the AID of CP and AA after guanidination may result from solubilisation of protein and degradation of antinutritional factors such as fiber, trypsin inhibitors and tannins.     

不同粉碎粒度的豆粕对断奶仔猪生长性能和养分消化率的影响

本试验研究不同粉碎粒度的豆粕对断奶仔猪生长性能和养分消化率的影响,选用26～28日龄断奶(7.9±0.7)kg杜×长×大健康仔猪80头,按体重、性别相同原则随机分为4个处理,每处理设5个重复,每个重复4头猪。各个处理组采用相同的日粮组成,对照组饲喂含常规粉碎豆粕(目标粒径为750μm)的日粮,处理1、2、3分别饲喂含目标粒径为150、30、6μm豆粕的日粮。结果表明:使用粉碎粒度低于30μm豆粕的日粮提高了断奶仔猪日增重(P<0.05),明显提高采食量(P>0.05),降低饲料增重比(P<0.05),显著降低断奶仔猪的腹泻频率;使用粉碎粒度低于30μm豆粕的日粮提高断奶仔猪日粮氮、磷表观消化率(P<0.05),改善能量消化率(P=0.063)和有机物表观消化率(P=0.082),显著提高必需氨基酸的表观消化率(P<0.05)。粉碎粒度低于30μm的超微粉碎豆粕可显著提高断奶仔猪日粮蛋白质的消化效率,提高断奶仔猪的生长性能,改善了豆粕作为蛋白质营养源的生物适应性。     

生长猪高蛋白豆粕氨基酸回肠可消化率的研究

选用10头健康回肠末端安装简单T型瘘管的杂交(杜×长×大),阉公猪体重(37.8±0.7)kg,采用有重复5×5拉丁方设计,比较4种不同豆粕产品(去皮与带皮高蛋白豆粕,去皮与带皮常规豆粕)在生长猪的氨基酸回肠表观和真消化率。结果表明:豆粕加工类型显著地影响豆粕中氨基酸回肠表观和真消化率,除精氨酸外,去皮豆粕氨基酸回肠表观消化率显著高于带皮豆粕(P<0.05);去皮豆粕必需氨基酸中的组氨酸、亮氨酸、蛋氨酸和苏氨酸均显著高于带皮豆粕(P<0.05)。与常规豆粕相比,高蛋白豆粕中苯丙氨酸、色氨酸、缬氨酸、丙氨酸的回肠表观消化率显著提高(P<0.05),这预示着高蛋白豆粕是生长猪的优良蛋白质和氨基酸来源。     

谷氨酰胺的生物学功能及其在断奶仔猪中的应用

文中概述了谷氨酰胺的营养生理功能及对动物机体免疫功能的影响。谷胺酰胺对早期断奶仔猪胰腺及小肠胰蛋白酶活性,肠道结构和功能,血浆内毒素水平,饲喂生大豆后肠道通透性的影响及对早期断奶仔猪腹泻的影响,以及对骨骼肌中DNA、RNA浓度的影响。     

酵母提取物对断奶仔猪前期生长性能的影响

试验的目的是研究酵母提取物部分替代断奶仔猪饲粮中的血浆蛋白粉对断奶仔猪保育前期生长性能的影响。研究结果显示,在断奶仔猪日粮中添加酵母提取物或以不同水平替代日粮中的血浆蛋白粉,对仔猪的试验末重、平均日增重、饲料转化率和仔猪平均日采食量均有不同程度的改善作用。因此酵母提取物可以替代动物蛋白质饲料原料如血浆粉而不影响猪的生产性能。     

Amino acid digestibility in dry extruded-expelled soybean meal fed to pigs and poultry

The digestibility of AA in dry extruded-expelled soybean meal (DESBM) and regular, solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM) were determined in pigs and poultry. In the pig assay, 4 Cotswold barrows (average initial BW of 80.4 kg) fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum were allotted to 4 semipurified diets in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Diet 1, a low protein diet (5% casein), was used to quantify endogenous CP and AA losses. Diets 2, 3, and 4 were formulated to contain 35% regular, solvent-extracted SBM; batch 1 of DESBM (DESBM-1); and batch 2 of DESBM (DESBM-2), respectively, as the sole source of protein. The DESBM samples were obtained from 2 different batches but were subjected to the same processing conditions. Chromic oxide (0.3%) was included as a digestibility marker in all diets. Compared with DESBM-1 and DESBM-2, apparent ileal digestibility of DM in SBM was greater (P < 0.05). Apparent and true ileal digestibilities of AA in SBM were greater (P < 0.05) compared with DESBM-2. In the poultry assay, 4 dietary treatments were each assigned to adult cecectomized roosters in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was a nonnitrogenous diet (NND; 90% sucrose and 10% vegetable oil) used to estimate endogenous N and AA losses. Treatments 2, 3, and 4 contained SBM, DESBM-1, and DESBM-2 as the only source of protein. Each of these diets was fed in 25-g quantities formulated to provide 5 g of CP from the respective soybean meal source. The SBM had greater (P < or = 0.05) true digestibility for isoleucine, leucine, cysteine, proline, serine, and tyrosine compared with DESBM-1. The results indicate that, relative to regular, solvent-extracted soybean meal, AA digestibilities of different batches of dry extruded-expelled soybean meal varied in pigs and poultry.     

不同比例低蛋白氨基酸平衡日粮对断奶仔猪生长性能及氮平衡的影响

为了解不同比例低蛋白氨基酸平衡日粮对断奶仔猪生长性能及氮平衡的影响,试验将96头初始体重9.8 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪随机分成4个处理,每个处理分别饲喂含不同蛋白水平的玉米-豆粕型饲粮(20%CP、19%CP、18%CP和17%CP),通过补充合成氨基酸,使各处理组的氨基酸与要求相一致。正式试验期为28 d,测定断奶仔猪生长性能、氮平衡指标。结果表明,日粮蛋白水平降至18%时,不会影响断奶仔猪生长性能,且显著降低尿氮、粪氮和总氮排放量(P<0.01);但随着日粮蛋白水平进一步降至17%时,显著降低仔猪平均日增重(P<0.01),显著增加料重比(P<0.01);18%CP组与17%CP组总氮排放量、氮表观利用率、氮表观生物学效价差异不显著(P>0.05)。说明添加合成氨基酸满足断奶仔猪需要,将日粮蛋白水平降至18%,不仅不会影响仔猪生长性能,而且还会降低氮排放,减少环境污染。     

ASAS centennial paper: Landmark discoveries in swine nutrition in the past century

During this centennial year of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), it is of interest to look back over the history of our Society and, in particular, to the many contributions made by researchers in the area of swine nutrition. A great number of basic and applied research studies involving the nutrition of weanling, growing, and finishing pigs, and gestating and lactating sows have been conducted by swine nutritionists during the past 100 yr. Most of these studies were conducted at universities by animal scientists or by the graduate students under their leadership. Others were conducted by nutritionists in the feed and pharmaceutical industries and government scientists at ARS/USDA research centers. Contributions were also made by animal scientists beyond our borders. Much of the research was published in the Journal of Animal Science during its 66 yr of existence. Before the first issue of the journal was published in 1942, some of the earlier studies were reported in the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Animal Production, the forerunner of ASAS. These research studies have progressively led to a better understanding of the role and utilization of dietary energy, protein, AA, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins by pigs and have helped to quantify the nutrient requirements of pigs for various stages of growth, for sows during gestation and lactation, and to a limited extent, for boars. Determining the nutritional value of a wide array of feedstuffs, evaluating feeding strategies, and assessing the value of growth-promoting and carcass-enhancing agents have been important research contributions as well. To identify the particular studies that were among the most instrumental in contributing to our present knowledge of swine nutrition is, to say the least, a daunting assignment. To aid in this task, a survey of swine nutritionists was conducted in which they were asked to identify and rank the 10 most significant findings in swine nutrition during the past 100 yr. The results of that survey are presented in this paper.     

Estimation of endogenous protein and amino acid ileal losses in weaned piglets by regression analysis using diets with graded levels of casein

Background： Many studies have investigated endogenous loss of proteins and amino acids （AAs） at the ileal level in growing pigs. However, only a few studies have researched this subject in piglets. Knowledge regarding AA ileal digestibility in piglets would be helpful during the formulation of diets for weaning piglets, rather than just using coefficients obtained in growing pigs. Therefore, in this study, we sought to estimate endogenous protein and AA ileal losses in piglets. Furthermore, apparent and true ileal digestibility （AID and TID） of protein and AAs from casein were measured. Results： The average flow of protein was 20.8 g/kg of dry matter intake （DMI）. Basal protein loss, as estimated by regression, was 16.9 g/kg DMI. Glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid （2.2, 1.4, and 1.2 g/kg DMI, respectively） were the AAs for which greater losses were seen. The AID of protein and AAs increased as the protein level in the diet increased. A higher increment in AID was observed between diets with 80 and160 g CP/kg of feed; this finding was mainly attributable to increases in glycine and arginine （46.1% and 18%, respectively）. The TID of protein was 97.8, and the TID of AAs varied from 93.9 for histidine to 100.2 for phenylalanine. Conclusions： The basal endogenous protein loss in piglets was 16.9 g/kg DMI. Endogenous protein was rich in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and arginine, which represented 32.7% of endogenous protein loss in weaning piglets. The TID of casein was high and varied from 93.0 for histidine to 100.2 for phenylalanine.