日粮添加过瘤胃氨基酸对高产奶牛生产性能、乳成分和经济效益的影响

试验旨在研究日粮添加过瘤胃蛋氨酸和过瘤胃赖氨酸对高产奶牛生产性能、乳成分及经济效益的影响。按照胎次、产奶日期、日产奶量一致的原则,选择处于泌乳高峰期的健康中国荷斯坦奶牛96头,随机分为对照组和试验组,每组48头牛,每头牛1个重复。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组饲喂基础日粮+过瘤胃氨基酸[过瘤胃蛋氨酸添加量20 g/(头·d);过瘤胃赖氨酸添加量27 g/(头·d)]。预试期7 d,正试期30 d。结果表明:①日粮添加过瘤胃蛋氨酸和过瘤胃赖氨酸极显著提高奶牛日产奶量3.63%(P0.01),极显著提高饲料转化率4.49%(P0.01)。②日粮添加过瘤胃蛋氨酸和过瘤胃赖氨酸极显著降低尿素氮含量26.92%(P0.01),对乳脂率、乳蛋白率、体细胞数无显著影响(P0.05)。③与对照组相比,试验组奶牛经济效益增加2.30元/(头·d)。在本试验条件下,日粮添加过瘤胃蛋氨酸和过瘤胃赖氨酸能够提高高产奶牛产奶量,提高饲料转化率,提高经济效益。     

DDGS和其他来源的粗饲料在肉牛生产上的应用研究

两组试验用来评估当在蒸汽压片玉米（SFC）日粮中添加玉米DDGS和苜蓿干草（AH）或者玉米青贮（CS）的肉牛的胴体品质、瘤胃发酵或日粮代谢的影响。在试验1中,358头体重为353±13kg的杂交母牛被用来评估玉米DDGS和AH（或CS）对肉牛胴体品质的影响,试验日粮分为4组,分别为：SFC-CS日粮,即蒸汽压片玉米（SFC）和11%青贮料（CS）;DDGS-CS日粮,即蒸汽压片玉米（SFC）和11%青贮料（CS）以及25%DDGS;SFC-AH日粮,即蒸汽压片玉米（SFC）和6%AH;DDGS-AH日粮,即SFC和25%DDGS以及6%AH。所有的牛每天自由采食,试验时间为97d。结果显示,饲喂DDGS没有影响肉牛的平均日增重（ADG,P=0.19）、干物质采食量DMI（P=0.14）以及饲料转化率（P=0.67）。饲喂CS的肉牛要比饲喂AH的肉牛的DMI高（P=0.05）,但ADG（P=0.56）和G：F（P=0.63）没有太大差别;各处理组的肉牛热胴体重（HCW）、屠宰率、皮下脂肪厚度以及牛肉产量、质量等级的差别也不大（P〉0.20）;饲喂CS组的肉牛相对饲喂AH肉牛有降低大理石花纹评分分数的趋势。在第2个试验中,12头荷斯坦奶牛用来评估各种日粮的肉牛瘤胃发酵和日粮代谢的差异。结果显示,饲喂后14h所有处理组的肉牛瘤胃pH值低于5.8,饲喂25%的DDGS组的肉牛瘤胃的乙酸和丙酸的比率较低（P=0.02）,但瘤胃乳酸浓度要比未添加DDGS组的高（P=0.02）。饲喂25%的DDGS组的肉牛瘤胃氨气浓度有所下降（P〈0.01）。这说明当在肉牛蒸汽压片玉米日粮中添加DDGS可以提高饲料转化率。     

大蒜对肉牛的作用机制

肉牛的饲料中添加大蒜(AlliumSativum),可明显促进肉牛的增重,本试验对与肉牛日粮转化率密切相关的几项血液指标进行分析得出:大蒜添加量在66～84g/头·d和大蒜素在0.3～0.4g/头·d的剂量范围,血液中胰岛素(INS)、总氨基酸(TAA)、限制性氨基酸(LAA)、生长激素(GH)含量达到最大值。试验结果表明大蒜量低于75g/头·d或大蒜素低于0.35g/头·d的范围值时,INS、TAA、LAA、GH对肉牛增重的基础代谢起正相关生物学调控;反之,为负相关的生物学调控。     

日粮添加发酵玉米秸秆对肉牛生长性能、养分表观消化率和经济效益的影响

文章旨在研究日粮添加发酵玉米秸秆对肉牛生长性能、养分表观消化率和经济效益的影响。试验将45头西门塔尔杂交公肉牛随机分为3组,每组3个重复,每个重复5头牛。分别向基础饲料中添加0%、15%和30%的发酵玉米秸秆作为试验日粮。试验持续70?d（预饲期10?d,正试期60?d）。试验结果表明,日粮添加30%发酵玉米秸秆显著提高了肉牛的平均日增重、平均日采食量和终末体重（P <0.05）;显著降低肉牛料重比（P <0.05）;日粮添加15%发酵玉米秸秆显著提高了肉牛平均日采食量（P <0.05）,但对肉牛增重和料重比无显著影响（P> 0.05）。日粮中添加15%和30%发酵玉米秸秆显著提高了肉牛粗蛋白质表观消化率（P <0.05）;肉牛中性洗涤纤维表观消化率随发酵玉米秸秆添加量提高而升高（P <0.05）;日粮中添加30%发酵玉米秸秆显著提高了肉牛酸性洗涤纤维表观消化率（P <0.05）;日粮添加发酵玉米秸秆对肉牛干物质、粗脂肪、钙和磷的表观消化率无显著影响（P> 0.05）。日粮添加30%发酵玉米秸秆小幅增加了日粮成本,肉牛的增重成本降低,毛利...     

大豆小肽对肉牛瘤胃发酵和养分消化的影响

文章旨在评估日粮添加不同水平的大豆小肽对肉牛瘤胃发酵、微生物菌群数量及养分消化率的影响。试验选择平均体重为(398±12)kg的肉牛12头,随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复1头牛。肉牛饲喂以玉米-黑麦草为基础的日粮,各组肉牛日粮分别补充0、120、240和360 g/d大豆小肽。经过3周试验后,对瘤胃发酵和养分消化进行评估。结果 :大豆小肽添加水平对瘤胃pH、普雷沃氏菌、瘤胃球菌和纤毛虫数量无显著影响(P 0.05)。240 g/d大豆小肽组瘤胃丁酸弧菌数量较对照组显著提高22.67%(P 0.05),而对照组瘤胃链球菌数量较大豆小肽组分别显著提高20.90%、21.65%和19.67%(P 0.05)。随着日粮大豆小肽添加水平的升高,十二指肠和粪中干物质流量表现为显著线性和二次曲线降低(P 0.05),同时干物质总消化率表现为显著线性升高(P 0.05)。360 g/d大豆小肽组十二指肠有机物流量最低(P 0.05),而对照组粪有机物流量最高,总消化率最低(P 0.05)。随着日粮大豆小肽水平的升高,氮摄入量、尿氮排泄量及氮沉积量表现为显著线性升高(P 0.05)。精氨酸消化率随着大豆小肽水平的升高表现为显著线性和二次曲线升高(P 0.05),而赖氨酸消化率表现为显著的二次曲线升高(P 0.05)。结论 :日粮中补充大豆小肽对肉牛瘤胃发酵性能、十二指肠和回肠干物质、有机物、纤维和氨基酸消化有显著改善作用。     

包被玉米对肉牛增质量和营养物质消化的影响

为研究过瘤胃淀粉对肥育肉牛增质量和营养物质消化的影响,试验选用20头西杂肉牛,分成2组,包被玉米取代对照组日粮玉米组成试验组日粮,60d的饲喂试验结果表明,日粮中使用包被玉米可显著提高肉牛日增质量和饲料转化率,试验组和对照组的日增质量分别为1280和1110g。消化试验表明,包被淀粉对全消化道有机物、蛋白质和淀粉的表观消化率没有明显的影响。     

过瘤胃蛋氨酸添加水平对断奶羔羊生长性能、营养物质表观消化率和血液生化指标的影响

本试验研究饲料中过瘤胃蛋氨酸添加水平对刚断奶羔羊增重性能、营养物质消化率、血液生化指标的影响。选择30只萨寒杂交一代(萨福克×小尾寒羊)断奶羔羊,采用单因素试验设计,随机分为3组(n=10),各试验组每只羔羊每天饲喂0、4、8 g的过瘤胃蛋氨酸,预试期为10 d,正式期为60 d。试验结果表明:饲粮中添加过瘤胃蛋氨酸对断奶羔羊的生长性能具有显著的改善作用(P0.05),其中4 g/d的添加量显著提高了断奶羔羊的体重和平均日增重,显著降低了料肉比。饲粮中添加4 g/d的过瘤胃蛋氨酸显著提高了断奶羔羊干物质、粗蛋白质和中性洗涤纤维的表观消化率(P0.05),而对粗脂肪和酸性洗涤纤维表观消化率无显著影响(P0.05)。4 g/d的过瘤胃蛋氨酸组羔羊的血糖含量和总蛋白含量显著高于其他两组(P0.05),血液尿素氮含量显著低于其他两组(P0.05)。因此,断奶羔羊饲粮中添加过瘤胃蛋氨酸可以显著改善断奶羔羊的生长性能,以4 g/d的添加量具有最佳效果。     

甜菜粕替代玉米对肉牛生长性能及瘤胃发酵成分的影响

文章旨在研究日粮添加不同水平甜菜粕替代玉米对肉牛生长性能、瘤胃发酵能力及营养物质表观消化率的影响。试验选择初始体重为(237.2±24.5)kg的肉牛36头,随机分为4组,每组9头牛,每头牛作为1个重复,试验共进行20周。试验基础日粮以玉米和青贮高粱为主,处理组分别用33%、67%和100%甜菜粕等量替代玉米。结果:试验期间肉牛总增重和日增重随甜菜粕替代水平的升高表现为显著二次曲线效应(P<0.05),料比表现为显著二次曲线降低(P<0.05)。日粮添加甜菜粕显著提高肉牛瘤胃pH(P<0.05),33%甜菜粕替代玉米组瘤胃氨氮含量最高(P<0.05);随着日粮甜菜粕添加水平的升高,总脂肪酸、乙酸、丁酸含量及乙酸与丙酸比值表现为显著线性升高(P<0.05),而丙酸和异丁酸含量表现为显著线性降低(P<0.05)。有机物、粗蛋白质、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维和纤维素摄入量随日粮甜菜粕水平的升高表现为显著二次曲线增加效应(P<0.05),而粗脂肪摄入量表现为显著二次曲线降低效应(P<0.05)。有机物、中性洗涤纤维、纤维素和半纤维素表观消化率随甜菜粕水平的升高表现为显著线性升高(P<0.05)。血清肌酸酐、胆固醇水平随甜菜粕添加水平的升高表现为显著线性降低(P<0.05),而血清尿素氮、甘油三酯、IGF-1、皮质醇和T4含量表现为显著二次曲线升高效应(P<0.05)。结论:在本试验条件下,肉牛日粮用甜菜粕替代玉米可有效提高营养物质的消化率,改善肉牛瘤胃的发酵能力,在不损害动物健康的前提下提高日增重,降低料肉比,其适宜替代水平为67%。     

过瘤胃赖氨酸对肉牛生产性能的影响

研究旨在讨过瘤胃赖氨酸对肉牛生产性能的影响。通过在肉牛日粮中添加过瘤胃赖氨酸5、10、20和30 g/d,肉牛总增质量分别为31.22、36.12、41.76 kg、39.70和17.06 kg。研究发现,随着过瘤胃赖氨酸添加量增加,各组总增质量提高,尤以添加10 g/d效果较好,但添加过多,总增质量反而下降。     

发酵玉米秸秆对肉牛生长性能、养分表观消化率及血液生化指标的影响

试验研究在肉牛日粮中添加不同比例的发酵玉米秸秆对其生长性能、养分表观消化率及血液生化指标的影响。选用体重相近(180.10±20.15) kg、健康状态良好的肉牛90头,分为3组,每组30头。A组(对照组)肉牛饲喂基础日粮(正常不发酵玉米秸秆),B组和C组饲喂分别添加30%和60%的发酵玉米秸秆代替玉米秸秆的基础日粮。预试期5 d,试验期30 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,C组肉牛平均日增重显著高于对照组(P0.05);C组肉牛料重比显著低于对照组(P0.05)。B、C组肉牛中性洗涤纤维表观消化率显著高于对照组(P0.05);B、C组肉牛酸性洗涤纤维表观消化率显著高于对照组(P0.05)。B、C组肉牛血液中的尿素氮含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。C组肉牛血液中生长激素浓度显著高于对照组(P0.05)。B、C组血液中胰岛素生长因子浓度显著高于对照组(P0.05)。研究表明,发酵玉米秸秆能够提高肉牛生长性能和营养物质表观消化率,改善部分血液生化指标。     

Phosphorus requirement of finishing feedlot calves

Dietary P supplied to feedlot cattle is important because an inadequate supply will compromise performance, whereas excess P may harm the environment. However, P requirements of feedlot cattle are not well documented. Therefore, 45 steer calves (265.2+/-16.6 kg) were individually fed to determine the P required for gain and bone integrity over a 204-d finishing period. The basal diet consisted of 33.5% high-moisture corn, 30% brewers grits, 20% corn bran, 7.5% cottonseed hulls, 3% tallow, and 6% supplement. Treatments consisted of 0.16 (no supplemental inorganic P), 0.22, 0.28, 0.34, and 0.40% P (DM basis). Supplemental P was provided by monosodium phosphate top-dressed to the daily feed allotment. Blood was sampled every 56 d to assess P status. At slaughter, phalanx and metacarpal bones were collected from the front leg to determine bone ash and assess P resorption from bone. Dry matter intake and ADG did not change linearly (P > 0.86) or quadratically (P > 0.28) due to P treatment. Feed efficiency was not influenced (P > 0.30) by P treatment and averaged 0.169. Plasma inorganic P averaged across d 56 to 204 responded quadratically, with calves fed 0.16% P having the lowest concentration of plasma inorganic P. However, plasma inorganic P concentration (5.7 mg/dL) for steers fed 0.16% P is generally considered adequate. Total bone ash weight was not influenced by dietary P for phalanx (P = 0.19) or metacarpal bones (P = 0.37). Total P intake ranged from 14.2 to 35.5 g/d. The NRC (1996) recommendation for these calves was 18.7 g/d, assuming 68% absorption. Based on performance results, P requirements for finishing calves is < 0.16% of diet DM or 14.2 g/d. Based on these observations, we suggest that typical grain-based feedlot cattle diets do not require supplementation of inorganic mineral P to meet P requirements.     

Nitrogen utilization by ruminants during restricted intake of high-concentrate diets

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effects of limit-feeding high-concentrate (LFHC) diets on dietary CP requirements of steer calves. When steer calves were fed 80% concentrate diets at 78 g/kg of BW.75, increasing dietary CP resulted in increased ADG (P less than .001). Average daily gain was increased in steers as daily monensin dosage increased from 120 to 180 mg (P less than .05). Increasing the daily monensin dosage to 240 mg did not increase ADG further. There were no (P greater than .10) CP X monensin interactions, suggesting that the monensin response was caused by improved energy utilization and not be the possible protein-sparing effects of ionophores. Steer calves in the second feedyard experiment expressed similar ADG when provided equal NEg as limit-fed, high-moisture ear corn (HMEC) or when given ad libitum access to corn silage. The basal diet did not affect the steers' daily N requirement for growth. Gain per unit of protein intake declined quadratically (P less than .05) with increasing CP intake, indicating that CP requirements were near NRC estimates on both diets. The corn silage-based diet was less digestible (70.3 vs 77.4%; P less than .01) than the HMEC diet when fed to lambs. Fecal output differed (P less than .10) substantially (342 g/d of corn silage vs 205 g/d of HMEC), whereas fecal N output was only slightly higher (6.97 vs 6.34 g/d, respectively; P less than .10). Limited feeding of higher-concentrate diets to steer calves seemed to be an effective management procedure and did not cause acute digestion upset.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of a high-fat diet on the performance response to porcine somatotropin (PST) in finishing pigs

One hundred sixty pigs were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design to compare the performance response to daily injection of porcine somatotropin (PST); (0 or 2 mg/d) in animals fed a 14% CP corn-soy diet (control, C) to those fed a diet with 10% added fat (F) and calorie:protein and lysine:protein ratios similar to that of the C diet. Treatments, assigned randomly to 20 pens (n = 5/treatment) of eight pigs each, were initiated at 90 kg body weight and continued for 28 d. Responses to PST and dietary fat were typical. These include improved gain and feed efficiency and decreased feed intake. The effects of dietary fat on intake and efficiency were accounted for largely by the difference in energy density of these diets. Across diets, PST treatment resulted in a 13% improvement in ADG (P less than .001), a 13% decrease in feed intake (P less than .0001) and a 22% improvement in efficiency (P less than .0001). Of particular interest were the additive (PST x diet interaction, P less than .2) effects of PST and dietary fat on gain in these animals. Pigs treated with PST that were fed the F diet had greater rates of gain than did PST-treated pigs fed the C diet (P less than .05). Treatment with PST increased ADG by 9% in pigs consuming the C diet vs 16% in pigs fed the F diet. Similarly, dietary fat resulted in 4 and 11% increases in ADG in pigs treated with 0 or 2 mg of PST/d.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ileal amino acid digestibility and performance of growing pigs fed wheat-based diets supplemented with xylanase

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of xylanase to a wheat-based diet on the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of AA and the performance of growing pigs fed diets limiting in AA. In Exp. 1, eight pigs (average initial BW = 20.5+/-1.2 kg) fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, were fed four diets according to a repeated 4 x 4 Latin square design. Diet 1 was a basal diet that contained 97.6% wheat. Diets 2, 3, and 4 were the basal diet supplemented with xylanase at rates of 5,500, 11,000, and 16,500 units of xylanase activity (XU), respectively (as-fed basis). There were linear and quadratic effects (0.062 < P < 0.001) of xylanase supplementation on the AID of CP and most of the AA. The largest increases in AID of CP and AA were obtained when xylanase was supplemented at a rate of 11,000 XU; no further increases were observed with xylanase supplementation at a rate of 16,500 XU. In Exp. 2, 30 pigs (average initial BW 21.4+/-1.8 kg) were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments. Diets 1 to 4 were similar to those used in Exp. 1. Diet 5 was the same as Diet 1, but supplemented with 0.53% lysine, 0.12% threonine, and 0.05% methionine. Diet 6 (positive control diet) was a wheat-soybean meal diet that contained 18.2% CP (as-fed basis). The total contents of lysine, threonine, and methionine were similar for Diets 5 and 6. There was a linear effect of xylanase supplementation on ADG (P = 0.093) and feed:gain ratio (P = 0.089), and a quadratic effect on ADG (P = 0.067) and feed:gain ratio (P = 0.074). But, the greatest response was obtained with the supplementation of 11,000 XU. The supplementation of lysine, threonine, and methionine to Diet 1 increased (P = 0.001) ADG and ADFI and improved (P = 0.01) feed:gain ratio. There was no difference (P = 0.508) in the performance of pigs fed the AA-supplemented or control diet. In conclusion, the supplementation of xylanase to a diet in which wheat provided the sole source of protein and energy improved the AID of AA, ADG, and feed:gain ratio; however, this improvement was very small compared with that obtained with the supplementation of synthetic amino acids.     

饲粮赖氨酸水平对生长獭兔生长性能、氮代谢及血清免疫和生化指标的影响

本文旨在探讨饲粮赖氨酸水平对生长獭兔生长性能、氮代谢及血清免疫和生化指标的影响。选用平均体重为（６６５±１２３）ｇ的断奶獭兔 ２００只,随机分成 ５组（每组 ４０个重复,每个重复 １只）,分别饲喂赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％、０．７０％、０．８５％、１．００％和 １．１５％的试验饲粮。预试期 ７ｄ,正试期 ５３ｄ。结果表明：饲粮赖氨酸水平对平均日采食量、平均日增重和料重比无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）。饲粮赖氨酸水平显著或极显著影响食入氮（Ｐ＝０．００６５）、氮沉积（Ｐ＝０．０４５９）和氮生物学效价（Ｐ＝０．０２２６）,而对粪氮排出量、尿氮排出量、可消化氮、氮表观消化率和氮利用率无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）。饲粮赖氨酸水平为 １．００％和 １．１５％的组的食入氮极显著高于饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％和 ０．７０％的组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．７０％、０．８５％、１．００％和 １．１５％的组的氮沉积和氮生物学效价显著高于饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％的组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。饲粮赖氨酸水平极显著影响血清免疫球蛋白 Ａ（Ｐ＜０．０００１）、免疫球蛋白 Ｇ（Ｐ＜０．０００１）和免疫球蛋白 Ｍ 含量（Ｐ＜０．０００１）。饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．７０％、０．８５％、１．００％和 １．１５％的组的免疫球蛋白 Ａ、免疫球蛋白 Ｇ和免疫球蛋白 Ｍ 含量均极显著低于饲粮赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％的组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。饲粮赖氨酸水平除显著影响血清胆固醇浓度（Ｐ＝０．０１６７）外,对血清总蛋白、球蛋白、尿素氮含量以及谷丙转氨酶活性均无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）。综合考虑本试验所测指标,生长獭兔的饲粮适宜赖氨酸水平为 ０．５５％ ～０．７０％。     

Effect of ruminal protein degradability on growth and N metabolism in growing beef steers

The objective of two experiments was to correlate plasma levels of urea N (PUN) and the percentage of urine N in the form of urea (UUN) to weight gain in response to different dietary protein regimens for growing Angus steers. In Exp. 1, 60 steers (302 kg BW) were assigned to various levels of dietary N (control plus supplemental N to provide from 100 to 400 g more crude protein daily) within two sources of supplemental N (soybean meal [SBM] or a mixture of two parts corn gluten meal:one part blood meal [CGM:BM]). In Exp. 2, 27 steers (229 kg BW) were fed two levels of SBM, and half of the steers received growth-promoting implants. Steers were housed in groups of 12 and fed individually for 84 d in both experiments. Corn silage was fed at a restricted rate to minimize orts. Jugular blood and urine samples were collected during the experiments. In Exp. 1, maximal ADG of steers fed SBM (1.0 kg) was reached with 671 g/d total crude protein, or 531 g/d metabolizable protein. Maximal ADG of steers fed CGM:BM (0.91 kg) was reached with 589 g/d total crude protein, or 539 g/d metabolizable protein. The DMI was higher (P < 0.07) for steers fed SBM (6.37 kg/d) than for steers fed CGM:BM (6.14 kg/d). Increasing ruminal escape protein from 36% (SBM) to 65% (CGM:BM) of CP decreased (P < 0.05) endogenous production of urea, as evidenced by lower concentrations of urea in blood and lower UUN. In Exp. 2, increasing supplemental protein from 100 to 200 g/d increased (P < 0.05) ADG and PUN. Implants lowered (P < 0.05) UUN, particularly at the higher level of supplemental protein. Protein supplementation of growing steers can be managed to maintain acceptable ADG yet decrease excretion of urea in the urine.     

Effect of dietary energy concentration and apparent ileal digestible lysine:metabolizable energy ratio on nitrogen balance and growth performance of young pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the optimal apparent ileal digestible lysine:ME (Lys:ME) ratio and the effects of lysine and ME levels on N balance (Exp. 1) and growth performance (Exp. 2) in growing pigs. Diets were designed to contain Lys:ME ratios of 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 g/MJ at 13.5 and 14.5 MJ of ME/kg of diet in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement. In Exp. 1, conventional N balances were determined on 48 crossbred barrows (synthetic line 990, initial BW = 13.1 +/- 0.7 kg) at approximately 15, 20, and 25 kg of BW with six pigs per diet. At 15 kg of BW, an energy density x Lys:ME ratio interaction on daily N retention was observed (P < 0.05). At each BW, N retention improved with an increase in N intake associated with increasing ME concentration. In 15-kg BW pigs, increasing the Lys:ME ratio increased daily N retention at the 13.5 (linear, P < 0.001) and 14.5 MJ of ME level (linear, P < 0.01; quadratic, P < 0.05). In 20-kg BW pigs, N retention (g/d) increased (linear, P < 0.001; quadratic, P < 0.01) and N retention (percentage) increased (linear, P < 0.001) as the Lys:ME ratio increased. At 25 kg of BW, N retention (g/d) increased quadratically (P < 0.05) with an increase in Lys:ME ratio. The Lys:ME ratios that maximized daily N retention at 15 kg of BW were 0.88 and 0.85 g/MJ at the 13.5 and 14.5 MJ of ME levels, respectively and 0.81 and 0.77 g/MJ (for both ME levels) at 20 and 25 kg of BW, respectively. Over the 28-d trial, an energy density x Lys:ME ratio interaction on ADG was observed (P < 0.05). Increasing energy density increased growth performance, whereas increasing the Lys:ME ratio in high-energy diets increased ADG (linear, P < 0.05; quadratic, P < 0.01) and gain:feed ratio (G/F) quadratically (P < 0.01). Average daily gain and G/F ratio were greatest in pigs fed the 14.5 MJ of ME diet and the Lys:ME ratio of 0.82 g/MJ. In Exp. 2, 128 individually housed crossbred barrows and gilts (initial BW = 12.8 +/- 1.6 kg) were used to determine the effect of diets used in Exp. 1 on growth performance in a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The ME level increased ADG and G/F from d 0 to 14 and from d 0 to 28. Increasing the Lys:ME ratio increased ADG from d 0 to 14, whereas growth performance was maximized in pigs fed Lys:ME ratio of 0.82 g/MJ. These results suggest that pigs from 13 to 20 and from 20 to 30 kg of BW fed diets containing 14.5 MJ of ME/kg had maximum N retention and ADG at 0.85 and 0.77 g of apparent ileal digestible lysine/MJ of ME, respectively.     

Effects of dietary energy density and lysine:calorie ratio on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs

We conducted two experiments to evaluate the effects of dietary energy density and lysine:calorie ratio on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, 80 crossbred barrows (initially 44.5 kg) were fed a control diet or diets containing 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0% choice white grease (CWG). All diets contained 3.2 and 2.47 g of lysine/Mcal ME during growing (44.5 to 73 kg) and finishing (73 to 104 kg), respectively. Increasing energy density did not affect overall ADG; however, ADFI decreased and feed efficiency (Gain:feed ratio; G:F) increased (linear, P < .01). Increasing energy density decreased and then increased (quadratic, P < .06) skinned fat depth and lean percentage. In Exp. 2, 120 crossbred gilts (initially 29.2 kg) were used to determine the effects of increasing levels of CWG and lysine:calorie ratio fed during the growing phase on growth performance and subsequent finishing growth. Pigs were fed increasing energy density (3.31, 3.44, or 3.57 Mcal ME/kg) and lysine:calorie ratio (2.75, 3.10, 3.45, or 3.80 g lysine/Mcal ME). No energy density x lysine:calorie ratio interactions were observed (P > .10). Increasing energy density increased ADG and G:F and decreased ADFI of pigs from 29.5 to 72.6 kg (linear, P < .05). Increasing lysine:calorie ratio increased ADG and ADFI (linear, P < .01 and .07, respectively) but had no effect on G:F. From 72.6 to 90.7 kg, all pigs were fed the same diet containing .90% lysine and 2.72 g lysine/Mcal ME. Pigs previously fed with increasing lysine:calorie ratio had decreased (linear, P < .02) ADG and G:F. Also, pigs previously fed increasing CWG had decreased (linear, P < .03) ADG and ADFI. From 90.7 to 107 kg when all pigs were fed a diet containing .70% lysine and 2.1 g lysine/Mcal ME, growth performance was not affected by previous dietary treatment. Carcass characteristics were not affected by CWG or lysine:calorie ratio fed from 29.5 to 72.6 kg. Increasing the dietary energy density and lysine:calorie ratio improved ADG and G:F of growing pigs; however, pigs fed a low-energy diet or a low lysine:calorie ratio from 29 to 72 kg had compensatory growth from 72 to 90 kg.     

Digestible lysine requirement of starter and grower pigs

Three experiments were conducted to determine the digestible lysine requirement of starter (6 kg BW initially) and of grower (21 kg BW initially) pigs. Experiment 1 used 294 starter pigs and lasted 28 d; Exp. 2 used 182 grower pigs and lasted 35 d. Protein and total lysine contents of the basal corn-peanut meal diets were 20 and .8% for Exp. 1 and 16 and .54% for Exp. 2. Basal diets were fortified with five incremental additions of lysine.HCl to provide lysine contents ranging from .8 to 1.3% in Exp. 1, and .54 to .94% in Exp. 2. Diets contained crystalline tryptophan, threonine and isoleucine (Exp. 1 only) to provide dietary concentrations equal to 18, 70 and 60% of the highest lysine level fed. Average daily gain and gain/feed of both starter and grower pigs increased (P less than .05) linearly and quadratically as dietary lysine level increased. For starter pigs, ADG and gain/feed were optimized at 1.1 to 1.2% total lysine. For grower pigs, ADG and gain/feed were optimized at .86% total lysine. In Exp. 3, barrows fitted with an ileal T-cannula were used in a 4 X 4 Latin square design. Basal diets and diets with added lysine were evaluated. Apparent lysine digestibility of the basal starter and grower diets and lysine.HCl were 79.9, 74.1 and 96.7%, respectively. Based on these values and the total lysine contents found to optimize performance, the digestible lysine requirements of starter and grower pigs are 1.03 and .71%, respectively.     

Corn expressing an Escherichia coli-derived phytase gene: a proof-of-concept nutritional study in pigs

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the concept that the addition of corn expressing an Escherichia coli-derived gene (corn-based phytase; CBP) to a P-deficient diet would improve growth performance and P utilization in pigs. An E. coli-derived microbial phytase (expressed in Pichia pastoris) sprayed onto a wheat carrier (Quantum) was included for comparison. In Exp. 1, forty-eight 10-kg pigs were blocked by BW into 6 blocks and allotted to 8 dietary treatments such that the BW among dietary treatments was similar and given free access to feed for 28 d. The dietary treatments were a negative control (NC) with no inorganic P supplementation; NC + 2, 4, or 6 g of monosodium phosphate/kg; NC + 16,500, 33,000, or 49,500 phytase units (FTU) of CBP/kg; and NC + 16,500 FTU of Quantum/kg. In Exp. 2, twenty-four 13-kg barrows were assigned to the NC, NC + 16,500 or 33,000 FTU of CBP/kg, or NC + 16,500 FTU of Quantum/kg, in a nutrient- and energy-balance study consisting of 5 d of adjustment and 5-d collection periods. The total collection method was used to determine nutrient and energy balance. Addition of CBP to the low-P NC diet linearly increased (P < 0.01) ADG, G:F, and plasma P concentration of pigs during the 28-d study. There was no difference in ADG, G:F, or plasma P concentration between pigs fed the CBP or Quantum phytase at 16,500 FTU/kg. Weight gain, G:F, and plasma P concentration of pigs increased (P < 0.01) with monosodium phosphate supplementation, confirming P deficiency of the NC diet. Linear improvements (P < 0.05) in DM digestibility and energy retention were observed with CBP supplementation of the NC diet. Although there were linear (P < 0.01) and quadratic (P < 0.05) increases in N digestibility, N retention was unaffected by CBP supplementation of the NC diet in growing pigs. Phosphorus and Ca digestibilities and retentions improved linearly and quadratically (P < 0.01) with the addition of CBP to the NC diet. There was no difference in digestive utilization of P or Ca between pigs fed CBP and Quantum phytase at 16,500 FTU/kg. The data showed that the addition of a corn expressing an E. coli-derived gene to a P-deficient diet improved growth performance and indices of P utilization in pigs, and corn expressing phytase was as efficacious as Quantum phytase when supplemented in P-deficient diets for weanling pigs.