Effects of intermittent suckling on the performance and digestive efficiency of Iberian piglets weaned at 35 days of age

During two consecutive replicates Iberian sows (n = 20) were subjected either to a conventional lactation (C) or intermittent suckling (IS). Piglets in the C treatment had free access to the dam. Piglets on IS treatment were separated from the sow during 6 h on days 29 and 30, 8 h on days 31 and 32, and 10 h on days 33 and 34. Litters on both treatments were weaned at 35 days of age and offered a starter diet until day 60 of age. The apparent digestibility (ApD) of nutrients and gross energy (GE) of the post-weaning diet was measured using Cr₂O₃ as external indigestible marker. Litters on IS tended to increase solid feed intake during the milk restriction (125 ± 12 vs. 70 ± 19 g piglet^− 1 day^− 1; P = 0.08). Feed intake was improved by IS during the second week post-weaning (676 ± 17 vs. 497 ± 12 g piglet^− 1 day^− 1, P < 0.01), but differences were totally offset after the 7th week of age. Differences in average growth rate of litters on C and IS treatments did not attain statistical significance during the period of restriction and in the first week post-weaning. Litters on IS showed increased growth rate during the second week post-weaning (422 ± 31 vs. 289 ± 33 g piglet^− 1 day^− 1; P = 0.01), but slower daily gains from the 3rd week post-weaning to 60 day of age than litters on C treatment (371 ± 14 vs. 432 ± 15 g piglet^− 1 day^− 1; P < 0.05). Nevertheless, neither at weaning nor at 60 days of age average body weight of piglets differed between treatments (7.71 ± 0.31 vs. 7.94 ± 0.30 kg for C and IS, at 35 days of age, 15.62 ± 0.65 vs. 16.20 ± 0.62 kg, at day 60). The apparent digestibility of nutrients of the starter diet offered after weaning remained unaffected by the treatment, except for a trend for higher ApD of GE for the piglets on IS treatment (P = 0.08). ApD for CP and GE was 78.1 ± 0.6 and 78.8 ± 0.3%, respectively. No significant differences in the proportions of total viscera and gastrointestinal tract to empty body weight (EBW) were observed between C and IS piglets at weaning and 60 d of age. In conclusion, the increase in feed intake observed prior and early after weaning as a consequence of intermittent suckling during the last week of 35 d lactation had no effect on nutrient digestibility measured at two weeks after weaning and failed on improving Iberian piglet performance.     

繁殖母猪的氨基酸需要研究进展

氨基酸不仅用于体蛋白合成,满足母体与胎儿发育需要,对乳腺及泌乳性能也具有重要的调节作用。本文重点讨论了繁殖母猪在不同繁殖阶段对氨基酸的需求。     

低酸度酒精阳性乳患牛乳汁蛋白组分及氨基酸含量变化

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和酸水解法对低酸度酒精阳性乳患牛乳汁中蛋白组分及17种氨基酸含量进行了测定。结果显示,酒精阳性乳患牛乳汁中总蛋白、SA、lgG-H、-αLG、-βLG相对百分含量无显著变化(P0.05),tCN相对百分含量显著降低(P0.05);在酪蛋白中,-αCN相对百分含量无显著变化(P0.05),-βCN相对百分含量上升(P0.05),-κCN相对百分含量极显著下降(P0.01);17种氨基酸中,Cys含量极显著下降(P0.01),而Arg含量极显著上升(P0.01),Leu含量亦呈上升趋势(P0.05)。结果表明,酒精阳性乳患牛乳汁中主要蛋白组分及氨基酸的含量均发生了变化,乳汁中酪蛋白微球的稳定性遭到了严重破坏,乳汁胶体的稳定性降低,导致酒精试验呈阳性反应。     

五指山猪的泌乳性能及泌乳行为

为了研究五指山小型猪的泌乳性能及泌乳行为,试验测定了8头初产五指山母猪初乳(≤3d)常规成分含量、泌乳行为及第3、13、24和35d的泌乳量。结果表明:①五指山猪初乳(≤3d)中的脂肪、蛋白、乳糖和总固形物的含量分别为(6.64±0.56)%、(15.25±1.27)%、(1.99±0.15)%、(27.46±1.25)%。②随产后日龄的增加,母猪泌乳次数和泌乳持续时间逐渐减少,表现为泌乳次数第35日龄比第3和13日龄均少5.14次/d(P<0.05),且下午(12:00￣20:00)比晚上(20:00￣04:00)多1.46次(P<0.05);泌乳持续时间第24日龄显著短于第3日龄(P<0.05);日龄与日泌乳时段对泌乳次数和泌乳持续时间无显著交互作用(P>0.05)。③母猪分娩后0～35d的全期泌乳量和日平均泌乳量分别为31528.59g和900.82g,且第35日龄泌乳量显著高于第3和第24日龄泌乳量(P<0.05);日龄与日泌乳时段对泌乳量无显著交互作用(P>0.05);35d哺乳期内每窝仔猪每克初生体重日耗乳量0.94g,若以普通肉用型猪每窝每克初生体重日耗乳量0.50￣0.99g为参考值,则说明五指山母猪泌乳量充足。本试验结果表明,五指山母猪分泌的初乳干物质含量高、乳糖含量低,分娩后(35d泌乳期内)泌乳量能充分满足仔猪的维持和生长需要。     

Regulation of intestinal health by branched‐chain amino acids

Besides its primary role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, the intestine also interacts with a complex external milieu, and is the first defense line against noxious pathogens and antigens. Dysfunction of the intestinal barrier is associated with enhanced intestinal permeability and development of various gastrointestinal diseases. The branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) are important nutrients, which are the essential substrates for protein biosynthesis. Recently, emerging evidence showed that BCAAs are involved in maintaining intestinal barrier function. It has been reported that dietary supplementation with BCAAs promotes intestinal development, enhances enterocyte proliferation, increases intestinal absorption of amino acids (AA) and glucose, and improves the immune defenses of piglets. The underlying mechanism of these effects is mediated by regulating expression of genes and proteins associate with various signaling pathways. In addition, BCAAs promote the production of beneficial bacteria in the intestine of mice. Compelling evidence supports the notion that BCAAs play important roles in both nutrition and intestinal health. Therefore, as functional amino acids with various physiological effects, BCAAs hold key roles in promoting intestinal development and health in animals and humans.     

Dynamic changes of fatty acids and minerals in sow milk during lactation

The objective of the present study was to explore the changes in fatty acids (FAs) and minerals composition in sow milk in order to improve the knowledge about FAs and mineral requirements for piglets. The FAs and minerals composition in the sow milk samples which were collected from ten sows during a period of 16 days of lactation was analysed. The proportion of FAs in sow milk has a significant increase in C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, C14:1 and C16:1 FAs and the sum of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) according to the lactation period (p < 0.05). The proportion of C18:2 cis‐9,12 FA and the sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly decreased with the advancing of lactation (p < 0.05). The concentrations of minerals, including potassium, copper, manganese and zinc, were higher on day 1 and day 2 than those on day 13 and day 16 (p < 0.05). On the contrary, the lowest concentrations of calcium, sodium, magnesium and iron and the lowest molar calcium: phosphorus ratio emerged in colostrum (p < 0.05). In summary, our results demonstrated FAs profile and minerals concentrations were changed with lactation period. Better understanding of the changes of FAs and minerals may be valuable to swine nutritionists in the commercial industry. In addition, those results provided some meaningful information for sow's diet formulation during lactation.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of herbage ingestion upon ileal digestibility of amino acids in heavy Iberian pigs fed on an acorn‐based diet

We conducted two experiments with heavy Iberian pigs to determine the ileal digestibility of amino acids (AA) in acorns and freshly cut herbage, and the effects of adding fresh herbage upon the supply of ileal digestible AA when pigs were fed on holm‐oak acorns. In Experiment 1, carried out in cannulated pigs of 107 kg bodyweight (BW), daily intake of acorns reached 44.9 g DM/kg^0.75 BW. Arg, His and Thr showed the lowest apparent ileal digestibility (AID) values, whereas Met, the branched‐chain AA and Phe had the highest coefficients. The AID of total EAA was 0.716 but only 0.222 for NEAA. Most of the digestive and absorptive processes of acorn protein occurred before the hindgut. Acorn provides (per kg DM) 2.27 g apparent ileal digestible Lys and 22.7 g apparent total digestible AA. Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) values for EAA, NEAA and total AA were 0.924 ± 0.020, 0.784 ± 0.041 and 0.860 ± 0.029. In Experiment 2 fresh herbage was given to six cannulated Iberian pigs of 140 kg either as a single feed (13.7 g DM/kg^0.75 BW) or as a supplement to acorns (28.4 g DM/kg^0.75 BW). When only freshly cut forage was offered the AID of the EAA, NEAA and total AA was close to 0.65 and supplied (per kg DM ingested) 5.61 g AID Lys and 91.7 g digestible AA. Standardized ileal values were 0.744 ± 0.023, 0.912 ± 0.038 and 0.831 ± 0.030 respectively. The addition of fresh forage to the acorns led to a significant decrease in AID of AA in acorn due to digesta transfer to the hindgut: His (p < 0.01), Met (p < 0.001), Phe (p = 0.092), Thr (p < 0.05) and Val (p < 0.05), but Arg, Lys and the branched‐chain AA remained unaffected. The main contribution of herbage to AA nutrition of the grazing Iberian pig relies mainly on increasing the supply of digestible AA for pig tissues.     

Ultrasonography to investigate the effect of supplementing whole milk with complex carbohydrates and specific amino acids on curd retention in the abomasum of dairy calves

AIM: To determine whether the retention time of curd in the abomasum of calves was influenced by supplementing milk with a plant-derived carbohydrate and amino acid supplement, evaluated non-invasively using ultrasonography.

METHODS: Female dairy calves aged between 2–6 days of age were sourced from a commercial farm in March 2013. All calves were fed whole milk until weaning (4?L per day); 21 calves were supplemented with a probiotic until 18 days of age, and thereafter with a plant-derived complex carbohydrate and amino acid supplement until weaning, and 22 calves were just fed whole milk. Treatment groups were balanced for age, weight and breed. At 9–14, 24–29 and 52–57 days of age, the abomasum of each calf was examined using ultrasonography immediately before and after feeding, 1 and 2 hours after feeding, and then at 30 minute intervals until curd was no longer visible in the abomasum. Abomasal volume and curd size were recorded to assess retention time of curd in the abomasum.

RESULTS: At 9–14 days of age, mean retention time of curd in the abomasum was similar (4.6 hours) in both groups. At 24–29 days of age, when the supplemented calves had been receiving the supplement for approximately 10 days, mean curd retention time was longer by 1.4 (SE 0.28) hours in supplemented compared with unsupplemented calves (p<0.001). At 52–57 days of age, mean retention time was longer by 0.7 (SE 0.34) hours compared to unsupplemented calves (p=0.05).

CONCLUSION: Using ultrasonography, changes in abomasal content could be followed non-invasively over time and it was demonstrated that the plant-derived complex carbohydrate supplement increased the curd retention time in the abomasum. We speculate that the increased retention time enables an increased availability of nutrients following a more complete digestion of milk, thereby improving animal performance.     

过瘤胃氨基酸高能复合物对奶牛产奶量及乳成分的影响

为研究不同过瘤胃氨基酸高能复合物对奶牛产奶量及乳成分的影响,试验选择胎次(3～5胎)、产奶量、产犊日期相近,体重(600±20)kg健康荷斯坦泌乳高峰期奶牛24头,随机分为4组,每组6头。1组为对照组,饲喂牛场常规日粮;2、3、4组为试验组,分别在常规日粮基础上添加过瘤胃氨基酸高能复合物Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ500 g/(d.头)。正式期60 d。结果表明:奶牛日粮中添加过瘤胃氨基酸高能复合物后,均可明显提高奶牛产奶量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率及乳中总干物质含量。尤其是复合物Ⅲ,添加效果最为理想,平均日产奶量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率及总干物质含量分别比对照组提高21.19%(P<0.05)、21.31%(P<0.05)、9.72%(P<0.05)和10.34%(P<0.05),平均日校正乳产量提高35.70%(P<0.05)。     

Dietary levels of protein and free amino acids affect pancreatic proteases activities,amino acids transporters expression and serum amino acid concentrations in starter pigs

The dietary contents of crude protein and free amino acids (AA) may affect the protein digestion and AA absorption in pigs. Trypsin and chymotrypsin activities, AA serum concentrations and expression of AA transporters in the small intestine of pigs fed a low protein, AA‐supplemented (19.2%, LPAA) or a high protein (28.1%, HP), wheat‐soybean meal diet were measured in two 14‐d trials. The LPAA diet contained free L‐Lys, L‐Thr, DL‐Met, L‐Leu, L‐Ile, L‐Val, L‐His, L‐Trp and L‐Phe. All pigs were fed the same amount of feed (890 and 800 g/d for trial 1 and 2 respectively). In trial 1, samples of mucosa (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and digesta (duodenum and jejunum) were collected from 14 pigs (17.2 ± 0.4 kg); in trial 2, blood samples were collected from 12 pigs (12.7 ± 0.3 kg). The trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in both intestinal segments were higher in pigs fed the HP diet (p < 0.01). Trypsin activity was higher in jejunum than in duodenum regardless the dietary treatment (p < 0.05). Pigs fed the LPAA diet expressed more b^0,+AT in duodenum, B⁰AT1 in ileum (p < 0.05), and tended to express more y⁺LAT1 in duodenum (p = 0.10). In pigs fed the LPAA diet, the expression of b^0,+AT was higher in duodenum than in jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01), but no difference was observed in pigs fed the HP diet. Ileum had the lowest b^0,+AT expression regardless the diet. The serum concentrations of Lys, Thr and Met were higher in LPAA pigs while serum Arg was higher in HP pigs (p < 0.05). Serum concentrations of AA appear to reflect the AA absorption. In conclusion, these data indicate that the dietary protein contents affect the extent of protein digestion and that supplemental free AA may influence the intestinal site of AA release and absorption, which may impact their availability for growth of young pigs.     

肉鸭氨基酸营养需要量的研究进展

文章综述了氨基酸需要量评定方法,肉鸭几种主要必需氨基酸需要量,肉鸭氨基酸需要量推荐标准以及氨基酸理想模式,并展望了肉鸭氨基酸营养今后的研究方向。     

德昌水牛与杂交水牛乳生化组成的分析

对德昌水牛、广西水牛×尼里拉菲水牛F1代乳生化组成进行了分析。结果表明:德昌水牛及F1代乳中蛋白质、乳脂含量和pH较高;SDS-PAGE分析显示德昌水牛及F1代乳蛋白中乳清蛋白比例高,而酪蛋白相对含量低于普通牛乳;德昌水牛乳中的氨基酸含量显著高于杂交水牛和普通牛。     

Production of aromatic amino acids and related compounds from p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid by rumen microorganisms in vitro

Suspensions of mixed rumen bacteria (B), protozoa (P), and mixed rumen microorganisms (BP) prepared from rumen contents of fistulated goats were anaerobically incubated with 1 mM p‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HPA) at 39°C for 24 h. Tyrosine (Tyr), phenylalanine (Phe), tryptophan (Trp) and other related compounds in both supernatants and hydrolyzates of microbial cells in all incubations were analyzed by HPLC. Large amounts of Tyr (32.1, 42.7 and 36.1% of disappeared HPA in B, P and BP, respectively) were produced from HPA during a 12 h incubation period. The formation of Tyr in P (178.6 µmol/g MN) was 1.5 and 2 times higher than in B and BP, respectively. Phe (7–11% of the disappeared HPA) and Trp (3–6% of the disappeared HPA) were also synthesized from HPA in B, P, and BP. Phe synthesis in P (46.3 µmol/g MN) was 1.7 times higher than in B but, in contrast, Trp synthesis in B, was 1.6 times higher than in P. The metabolites p‐hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid (in the range of 5–14% of disappeared HPA), phenylacetic acid (1–11%), p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (3–7%) and benzoic acid (1–6%) were produced from HPA in B, P and BP. Phenylpropionic acid (6% of the disappeared HPA) was produced only in B and BP.     

Direct and maternal additive effects are not the main determinants of Iberian piglet perinatal mortality

Data of 127,800 Iberian piglets were used to study genetic parameters of mortality at birth at the piglet level. These records proceed from three data sets: 4,987 litter of 2,156 sows of a dam line, 2,768 litter of 817 sows of a complete diallel cross between four Iberian strains and 7,153 litter of 2,113 sows of the Torbiscal composite line. Perinatal mortality was considered as a binary trait, and Bayesian threshold animal models were fitted to separately analyse the three data sets. The posterior means of direct heritability were 0.010, 0.004 and 0.003, and those of maternal heritability were 0.034, 0.011 and 0.014 for dam line, diallel cross and Torbiscal line, respectively. Important effects of litter size and parity order were inferred in the three data sets, of within‐breed cross‐breeding parameters in the diallel cross and of sex and sow handling in the Torbiscal line Therefore, the inclusion of perinatal mortality in the objective of selection is questionable in this breed and strategies for reducing piglet mortality successful in other breeds should be considered.     

不同精粗比全混合日粮饲养技术对南方奶牛采食行为、产奶性能和血清游离氨基酸的影响

研究了具有南方奶牛日粮类型特征的全混合日粮饲养技术不同精粗比(T1,60∶40;T2,55∶45;T3,50∶50;T4,45∶55;T5,40∶60)对奶牛的采食行为、产奶性能和血清游离氨基酸的影响。试验结果表明,在全混合日粮饲养技术下,日粮精粗比的增加,奶牛的干物质采食量从T5组的13.57 kg/d显著降低至T1组的12.70 kg/d(P<0.05),咀嚼时间从T5组的786.50 min/d极显著降低至T1组的607.83 min/d(P<0.01);奶牛的产奶量、4%标准奶产量、乳糖、乳总固形物、总非脂固形物产量均随日粮精粗比增加而显著增加(P<0.05),以60%精料添加量的T1组为最高,分别为13.92,13.25,0.65,1.73和1.20 kg/d;但对奶牛的血清游离氨基酸含量无显著影响(P>0.05)。表明在南方奶牛典型日粮采用全混合日粮饲养技术时,日粮精粗比的增加可提高奶牛的产奶性能,降低奶牛的干物质采食量、咀嚼时间,对奶牛的血清游离氨基酸含量没有显著影响。     

饲粮含硫氨基酸水平对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道形态及酶活性的影响

文章旨在研究饲粮含硫氨基酸水平对断奶仔猪生长性能、肠道形态及酶活性的影响。试验选择体重接近的28日龄断奶仔猪80头,称重后随机分为试验1、2、3、4组,各组饲粮中含硫氨基酸含量分别0.49%、0.64%、0.79%、0.94%,共进行21d。试验结果,仔猪平均日采食量(ADFI)随着饲粮中含硫氨基酸水平增加出现先增加后下降的趋势,料肉比(F/C)与之趋势相反,当含硫氨基酸含量为0.79%时(试验3组)生长性能最好。其中,试验2、3组仔猪平均日增重(ADG)较试验1组分别增加12.5%、15.9%(P<0.05),F/C较试验1组分别降低10.8%、12.4%(P<0.05)。饲粮中含硫氨基酸水平显著影响仔猪空肠形态,而对十二指肠、回肠形态无显著影响(P>0.05)。相比于试验1组,试验2、3、4组空肠绒毛高度(VH)分别增加8.6%、11.7%、9.1%(P<0.05),空肠隐窝深度(CD)分别下降22.6%、16.4%、12.7%(P<0.05),试验2、3组绒毛高度和隐窝深度比(V/C)较试验1组分别增加24.3%、17.4%(P<0.05)。除此之外,饲粮中含硫氨基酸显著影响仔猪空肠中碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性(二次P<0.05)及麦芽糖酶活性(P<0.05)。综上所述,饲粮中含硫氨基酸水平显著影响断奶仔猪小肠发育及空肠内酶活性,改善生长。     

藏羚羊与其他羊种被毛纤维氨基酸含量的比较分析研究

本研究对藏羚羊被毛纤维氨基酸含量进行了测定。结果表明:藏羚羊粗毛中谷氨酸含量比绒纤维的高出约3个百分点,但组氨酸和胱氨酸含量仅为绒纤维的15.48%和66%。藏羚羊被毛角蛋白氨基酸的组成与山羊、绵羊被毛纤维相同;但在各种氨基酸的含量比例上有一定的差异:藏羚羊绒组氨酸含量为5.88%,比山羊绒和绵羊毛高约4个百分点;胱氨酸含量为10.60%,高于其他所测山羊的绒和毛;碱性氨基酸与酸性氨基酸含量接近(14.87%,15.23%);藏羚羊绒促螺旋蛋白(Paa)含量低于降螺旋蛋白(Daa)。     

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on the intestinal morphology,intestinal barrier function and microbiota composition of suckling piglets

This study investigated the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum strain 299v on gut health in suckling piglets. Sixty newborn piglets were assigned to control and probiotic treatments, with three litters per treatment (ten piglets/litter). From days 1 to 20 of life, piglets were orally administered a placebo of 0.1% peptone or 1.0 ×  10¹⁰ CFU L. plantarum 299v daily. Six piglets per treatment were sacrificed on day 20, and intestinal tissues (including duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon) and the intestinal contents from colon segments were collected. The results demonstrated that piglets treated with L. plantarum 299v had a lower diarrhoea incidence than the controls. L. plantarum 299v administration significantly increased the ratio of the villus height to the crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum, as well as the mRNA expression of jejunal occludin and ileal zonula occludens 1 (ZO‐1). The L. plantarum treatment also increased the mRNA abundance of porcine β‐defensin 2 (pBD2) and pBD3 in the jejunum and ileum and of toll‐like receptors (TLRs), such as TLR2, TLR4, TLR6 and TLR9 in the ileum, and significantly upregulated the mRNA abundances of ileal pBD1 and colonic TLR4. Additionally, the L. plantarum 299v treatment significantly changed the structure of the colonic microbiota, as evidenced by the obvious increases in the relative abundances of the phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and of the genus Lactobacillus. Our findings indicate that L. plantarum 299v facilitates the gut health of suckling piglets, probably by improving the intestinal morphology and intestinal barrier function and by modifying the structure of the gut microbiota.     

饲料肽对仔猪后期的生长、氨基酸消化率及消化酶活性的影响

本试验研究饲料肽对仔猪后期的生长、氨基酸利用率和肠道消化酶活性的影响.选用体重近似的96头(38±2)日龄的杜长大仔猪,随机分为4个处理组,每个处理4个重复.4个处理分别为:含6%鱼粉的对照组(C)、6%鱼粉和2%血浆蛋白粉的日粮组(T1)以及分别加1%和2%饲料肽等蛋白取代喷雾干燥血浆蛋白粉的试验日粮组(T2和T3),试验21 d结束时进行屠宰试验.结果表明:血浆蛋白粉和饲料肽可显著提高仔猪的平均日增重和日粮必需氨基酸消化率(P<0.05),二者之间的生产性能和日粮必需氨基酸消化率差异不显著(P>0.05).日粮处理对仔猪肠道消化酶活性没有显著影响(P>0.05).这表明饲料肤部分取代喷雾干燥血浆蛋白粉对仔猪后期的生长、氨基酸消化率和消化酶活性无显著影响.     

Effect of dietary excess of branched‐chain amino acids on performance and serum concentrations of amino acids in growing pigs

Depressed performance and availability of some amino acids (AA) in pigs fed excess Leu diets appear to be related to lower feed intake. Surplus Ile and Val may help to overcome this effect. An experiment was conducted with 24 pigs (31.8 ± 1.2 kg initial BW) to evaluate the effect of dietary excess of either Leu alone or with surplus Ile and Val on performance and serum concentration (SC) of essential AA. Treatments were as follows: T1, basal diet; T2, basal plus 0.43% L‐Leu (excess Leu); T3, basal added with 0.43% L‐Leu, plus 0.20% L‐Ile and 0.25% L‐Val (excess LIV). The basal diet was formulated to contain 0.90% standardized ileal digestible Lys and added with crystalline L‐Lys, L‐Thr, DL‐Met, L‐Trp, L‐Leu, L‐Ile, L‐His and L‐Val to create essential AA:Lys ratios close to an ideal protein for growing pigs. All pigs were fed the same amount of feed twice a day (average, 3.42× the requirement of NEm). Blood samples were collected at 2.5 (absorptive) and 11.0 h (post‐absorptive) post‐prandial to analyse SC of AA. Excess of either Leu or LIV did not affect growth rate nor feed conversion. Excess Leu increased Leu SC and decreased Ile and Val SC (p < 0.05) at both absorptive and post‐absorptive phases, but excess LIV restored the SC of Ile and Val. The SC of other essential AA was not affected by excess of either Leu or LIV. The SC of all AA during absorptive, on average, was about two times higher than that of post‐absorptive phase. These results suggest that the reduced availability (SC) of Ile and Val in pigs consuming excess Leu diets is attributed to a reduced absorption and increased cellular degradation rates of them.