The lysine requirement of the growing boar versus barrow

Five experiments were conducted to determine if boars and barrows differ in the level of dietary lysine required to maximize growth rate, efficiency of feed utilization, carcass leanness and N retention. In Exp. 1, 48 boars and 48 barrows were fed fortified corn-soybean meal diets calculated to contain 14 (grower) and 12% protein (finisher) and supplemented with 0, .15 or .30% lysine from 27 to 105 kg body weight. The basal diets analyzed .60 and .47% lysine, respectively. Linear improvements in feed/gain (P less than .01), backfat thickness (P less than .10), longissimus muscle area (P less than .01), and ham-loin (P less than .05) and lean cuts percentage (P less than .1) were observed in boars as dietary lysine increased. In barrows, however, growth rate, feed:gain ratio and carcass characteristics (except longissimus muscle area) were not significantly affected by dietary lysine level. In Exp. 2, 18 boars and 18 barrows initially averaging 64 kg body weight were fed a 12% protein diet (.47% lysine) supplemented with 0, .15 or .30% lysine. Linear (P less than .05) increases in N retention occurred in boars, but not barrows, as dietary lysine was increased. In Exp. 3 and 4, 140 boars (34 to 103 kg) were fed a 14-12% protein sequence (analyzed .61 and .48% lysine) supplemented with 0, .1, .2, .3 or .4% lysine. In Exp. 5, 60 boars (23 to 103 kg) were fed a 16-14% protein sequence (analyzed .83 and .68% lysine) supplemented with 0, .075, .15 or .225% lysine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of ractopamine on genetically obese and lean pigs

Twenty-eight genetically obese and 24 lean barrows (65.0 and 68.7 kg average BW, respectively) were allotted within genotype to a 16% CP corn-soybean meal basal diet or this basal diet + 20 ppm ractopamine (a phenethanolamine beta-adrenergic agonist) and allowed ad libitum access to feed for 48 d. Compared to lean pigs, obese pigs had lower ADG, gain to feed ratio, longissimus muscle area, predicted amount of muscle, and weights of trimmed loin and ham, ham lean, heart, spleen, kidney and gastrointestinal tract (P less than .05). Obese pigs also had shorter carcass but higher dressing percentage, backfat thickness, fat depth, fat area, untrimmed loin weight and fasting plasma urea N concentration (P less than .05). Dietary supplementation with 20 ppm ractopamine reduced daily feed intake and improved gain to feed ratio in both lean and obese pigs (P less than .05). Pigs fed ractopamine had shorter carcasses, less fat depth and fat area, smaller weights of stomach and colon plus rectum, but higher dressing percentages, longissimus muscle areas, weights of trimmed Boston butts, picnics and loins, ham lean and predicted amounts of muscle than pigs not fed ractopamine (P less than .05). Supplemental ractopamine had no effect on fasting plasma concentrations of urea N, nonesterified fatty acids, triglyceride or glucose (P greater than .05). No genotype x ractopamine interactions for the criteria described above were detected (P greater than .05). These results suggest that ractopamine will improve the efficiency of feed utilization and carcass leanness in swine with different propensities for body fat deposition.     

Effect of ractopamine on growth, carcass traits, and fasting heat production of U.S. contemporary crossbred and Chinese Meishan pure- and crossbred pigs.

Twenty-four U.S. crossbred (Duroc x White composite; D x Wc; 83.9 kg), 24 purebred Meishan (M; 59.4 kg), and 24 Meishan x White composite crossbred (M x Wc; 83.4 kg) barrows were allotted within genotype to a 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet or this basal diet + 20 ppm of ractopamine and allowed ad libitum access to feed for 52 d. No genotype x ractopamine interactions were detected (P greater than .05) in pigs for growth, lean cuts, ham and loin characteristics, leaf fat and visceral organ weights, fasting whole-animal heat production, and carcass traits except longissimus muscle area (LMA). The LMA was increased by ractopamine in D x Wc and M x Wc pigs (P less than .05) but not in M pigs. Compared with D x Wc and M x Wc pigs, M pigs had lower ADG, ADFI, and gain to feed ratio (G/F), shorter carcasses, and lower dressing percentage, LMA, predicted amount of muscle, weights of trimmed picnic, loin, and ham cuts, percentage of ham lean, and CP in ham lean, but heavier liver, kidneys, pancreas, and entire gastrointestinal tract with greater percentage of ham fat and ham bone (P less than .05). The M x Wc pigs had lower ADG, G/F, dressing percentage, LMA, amount of muscle, weights of trimmed cuts, and percentage of ham lean but heavier lungs, pancreas, stomach, and large intestine than did D x Wc pigs (P less than .05). Supplemental ractopamine increased ADG, G/F, dressing percentage, amount of muscle, trimmed loin weight, percentage of ham lean, and CP in ham lean and decreased weights of heart, lungs, kidneys, and pancreas in pigs (P less than .05). Neither genotype nor ractopamine had any effect on 4- to 24-h postprandial whole-animal heat production of pigs (P greater than .05). These results indicate that ractopamine will improve growth performance and carcass leanness in pure- and crossbred Meishan pigs.     

The effects of dietary crude protein level on rate, efficiency and composition of gain of growing beef bulls

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary CP level on rate, efficiency and composition of gain of growing beef bulls. In Exp. 1, 59 bulls (333 +/- 15.8 kg) were used. Eleven bulls were slaughtered on d 0 to provide an estimate of initial carcass composition (9-10-11 rib section chemical analyses), and remaining bulls were assigned to treatment diets containing 10, 12 or 14% dietary CP. Bulls fed the 10% CP diet grew slower (P less than .05) than bulls fed the 12 or 14% CP diets, although dry matter intake and feed-to-gain ratio did not differ. Bulls fed the 12% CP diet had fatter carcasses (P less than .05) than bulls fed the 10 or 14% CP diets and had greater daily fat accretion than bulls fed the 10% CP diet. In Exp. 2, 60 bulls (318 +/- 9.0 kg) were used. Bulls were assigned to initial slaughter (n = 6) or to one of three dietary treatments, 10, 12 or 14% CP, and were slaughtered after feeding for 66, 136 or 202 d (n = 6 . treatment -1 . slaughter time -1). Bulls fed 10% CP diets had lower (P less than .05) rates of carcass protein accretion during d 0 to 136 and d 0 to 202. Carcass fat gain was similar among treatments over the entire experiment, although bulls fed the 14% CP diet gained more fat during d 0 to 136 than bulls fed the other treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Response of low and high protein select lines of pigs to the feeding of the beta-adrenergic agonist ractopamine (phenethanolamine)

The effect of ractopamine, a phenethanolamine beta-adrenergic agonist, on growth, nutrient utilization and carcass composition was studied in two lines of pigs that were fed high (24%) or low (12%) protein diets. Of the two lines of pigs that had been selected for seven generations for rapid lean growth when fed either the higher (HS line) or low (LS line) protein diet, the HS line tended to exhibit a leaner carcass when fed either diet. Ractopamine, at 20 ppm in the diet, was fed from 60 kg live body weight until slaughter at 90 kg. When compared with their respective line-diet control group, the greatest response to ractopamine treatment was observed in the LS-12 group; at 90 kg, that group had 31% less carcass lipid (P less than .05) and 17% more carcass protein (P less than .05). Considering the change that took place only between 60 and 90 kg live body weight, this translated into 57% less lipid and 59% more protein deposited in the carcasses with ractopamine treatment. This group also was 73% more efficient (P less than .05) in converting dietary protein to carcass protein but 39% less efficient (P less than .05) in energy utilization. Response to ractopamine treatment was least by the LS-24 group, followed by the HS-12 and HS-24 groups. A line x diet x treatment interaction (P less than .05) was noted for whole-carcass lipid, backfat, longissimus muscle area and efficiency of protein utilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The performance and carcass composition responses of finishing swine to a range of porcine somatotropin doses in a 1-week delivery system.

Four experiments using 580 barrows and 580 gilts (Study 1) and seven experiments using 500 barrows and 500 gilts (Study 2) were conducted at various geographical locations in the United States to determine the dose response of a pelleted form of porcine somatotropin (pST) relative to ADG, feed/gain (F/G), and percentage of carcass protein. Average initial weights for Studies 1 and 2 were 67.6 and 72.6 kg, respectively, and four pigs/pen were slaughtered when they achieved weights of 106.5 to 111.0 kg. In Study 1, pigs were implanted subcutaneously with pelleted pST doses of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 mg/wk and self-fed a corn-soybean meal diet containing 13.75% CP. Study 2 included two control groups self-fed a diet containing either 13.75 or 17% CP with added lysine. The pST-treated pigs were administered 12, 24, or 36 mg/wk, and all were offered the 17% CP diet. The pST treatments in Study 1 resulted in a linear reduction (P less than .05) in average daily feed intake (ADFI) and a quadratic (P less than .05) improvement in F/G and percentage of carcass protein. The pST treatments in Study 2 resulted in a linear reduction in ADFI (P less than .05), a linear improvement in F/G, and a quadratic increase in the percentage of carcass protein (P less than .05). Average daily gain was not affected in either study with this form of pST. The greatest increase in efficiency of lean gain was observed with the 36-mg dose for both Study 1 (9.4%) and Study 2 (10.8%). In Study 1, the force required to shear cores of the longissimus muscle was increased linearly with pST treatment (P less than .05). There was a similar linear increase in Study 2 with pST treatment (P less than .05); however, there was also an effect of sex (P less than .05) on shear force (gilts greater than barrows) that was similar in magnitude to that observed for pST treatment. Differences in sensory evaluation because of pST were minor and of the same magnitude as those observed between barrows and gilts. It was therefore concluded that weekly administration of pST improved F/G and percentage of carcass protein with no detrimental effects on palatability of cooked lean pork.     

Influence of level of dietary protein or energy on effects of ractopamine in finishing swine.

The effect of ractopamine, a beta-adrenergic agonist, on growth, nutrient utilization, and carcass composition was studied in pigs fed either 18% CP, 12% CP, or 18% CP restricted (RES = 67% of ad libitum) diets. The 18 and 12% CP diets provided 3.52 and 3.68 Mcal of DE/kg, respectively. All pigs were fed a low-protein (12% CP) diet during pretreatment growth from 15 to 60 kg. Ractopamine at 20 or 30 ppm (30 ppm for RES pigs) in the diet was fed from 60 kg live BW until slaughter at 105 kg (9 pigs/treatment). No ractopamine treatment effect (P greater than .05) was observed for either daily gain or gain/feed, although gain/feed was improved by 8% in both of the ad libitum groups. Ractopamine treatment resulted (P less than .01) in an overall reduction of carcass lipid by 8%, an increase of carcass protein by 5%, and a 21% improvement in the efficiency of protein utilization; the greatest changes occurred in the pigs fed the 12% CP diet (-17%, +11%, and +32%, respectively). The ad libitum daily feed intake was 15% less for pigs fed the 12% CP diet than for those fed the 18% CP diet (P less than .01), and there was a 10% reduction in intake of both diets with the addition of ractopamine (P less than .05). Both carcass lipid and protein deposition seemed to be closely related to energy intake (P less than .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Growth, carcass composition and plasma melatonin in postpubertal beef heifers fed melatonin

Two experiments were conducted to determine if feeding melatonin alters plasma concentrations of melatonin, growth and carcass composition of postpubertal beef heifers exposed to 16 h light (L):8 h dark (D). In Exp. 1, 16 heifers were blocked by initial body weight (318 +/- 5.6 kg). Four heifers were killed before starting the melatonin treatment to obtain initial carcass composition. Six heifers received vehicle (95% ethanol) and six were fed melatonin (4 mg/100 kg body weight) daily for 58 d at 1330 to coincide with the middle of the 16-h light period. On d 59 heifers were slaughtered. Melatonin feeding increased the percentage of fat in rib (P less than .05) and longissimus muscle (LD; P less than .10) and carcass fat accretion 28% (P less than .09) but reduced the percentage of protein 8% in rib (P less than .05) and carcass protein accretion 30% (P less than .09). Other measures in the carcass and body weight gain were not affected (P greater than .10) by feeding melatonin. Plasma concentrations of melatonin increased (P less than .01) from 10 to 140 pg/ml within 30 min of feeding melatonin. In Exp. 2, 24 heifers were blocked by initial body weight (348 +/- 13.7 kg). Eight heifers were killed initially, eight received vehicle and eight were fed melatonin for 63 d as described in Exp. 1. Melatonin did not influence (P greater than .10) body weight gain or any measure in the carcass; however, these heifers were fatter (40.1%) than those in Exp. 1 (30.9%) at the beginning of the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effect of excess protein on growth performance and protein metabolism of finishing barrows and gilts

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of excess protein on growth performance, carcass characteristics, organ weights, plasma urea concentration, and liver arginase activity of finishing barrows and gilts. In Exp. 1, 35 barrows and 35 gilts with an initial BW of 51 kg were used. Five pigs of each sex were slaughtered at the start of the study to determine initial body composition. The remaining 60 pigs were allotted to a randomized complete block (RCB) experiment with a 2x5 factorial arrangement of treatments (two sexes x five protein levels: 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25% CP). The experiment continued until the average BW was 115 kg, at which time three blocks of pigs (30 total) were selected randomly and slaughtered. Feed intake decreased with increasing protein concentration (linear, P<.05), and the reduction was greater in gilts than in barrows (P<.05). There was a trend toward a linear negative effect of dietary protein on ADG (P<.10) and also a quadratic effect of protein on protein accretion (P<.10). Fat accretion decreased linearly as protein level increased (P<.05). Increased protein concentrations increased liver, kidney, and pancreas weights (linear, P<.05). Plasma urea concentration increased with each protein concentration, with the exception of the 25 vs. 22% CP treatment in gilts. In Exp. 2, 18 barrows and 18 gilts (BW 63 kg) were allotted to an RCB design consisting of a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two sexes and two dietary protein concentrations (16 and 25% CP). The experiment was terminated when the average BW of pigs reached 105 kg. Average daily feed intake was greater (P<.10) in barrows than in gilts. Average daily gain was reduced by 18% in gilts when dietary protein was increased from 16 to 25% but was only reduced 3% in barrows (sex x protein, P<.10). Barrows had lighter livers (P<.005), greater arginase activities (P<.05), and greater plasma urea concentrations (P<.005) than did gilts. Increasing dietary protein concentration from 16 to 25% increased liver weight, arginase activity, and plasma urea concentration (P<.005). These data suggest that gilts are more sensitive than barrows to excessive intakes of protein. The more negative effects in gilts may be related to liver metabolic capacity and activity of urea cycle enzymes.     

The interrelationship between crude protein and exogenous porcine somatotropin on growth, feed and carcass measurements of pigs

In three experiments the interrelationship between dietary CP and recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpSt, i.m. daily) on ADG, feed efficiency (F/G) and carcass traits was examined in crossbred Yorkshire gilts and barrows given ad libitum access to their diets during the finishing period (55 to 110 kg BW). Pigs, blocked by BW and gender, were assigned (four/pen) within block. In Exp. 1, 140 pigs were assigned two/gender per pen to each of five pens/block and received a diet of either 12%, 18% or 24% CP (n = 2, 1 and 2 pens/block, respectively). Pigs received rpSt, either 0 or 120 micrograms/kg BW (12% and 24% CP groups) or 60 micrograms/kg BW (18% CP group). When CP was 12%, rpSt decreased ADG and increased F/G (P less than .05), whereas when CP was 18% or 24%, rpSt increased ADG and lowered F/G (P less than .05). Backfat thickness was reduced (P less than .05) by rpSt regardless of CP. In Exp. 2, 120 pigs were assigned two/gender per pen to each of five pens/block and received a diet of 24% CP. Either 0, 15, 30, 60 or 120 micrograms of rpSt/kg BW was administered to each pig. All doses of rpSt increased ADG, lowered F/G and decreased backfat thickness compared with measurements for control pigs (P less than .05). In Exp. 3, 140 pigs were assigned two/gender per pen to each of seven pens/block and received a diet of either 14%, 18% or 24% CP (n = 3, 2 and 2 pens/block, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of carbohydrate source on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of substituting a more available dietary carbohydrate (CHO) for portions of corn or fat in the diet on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and serum or plasma metabolites in growing-finishing pigs. A three-phase feeding program was used with corn-soybean meal diets formulated to provide 105% of the Lys requirement for barrows or gilts gaining 325 g of lean daily in Exp. 1 or gilts gaining 350 g of lean daily in Exp. 2. Diets were isoenergetic within experiments. All other nutrients met or exceeded suggested requirements. In Exp. 1, pigs were allotted to three dietary treatments (0, 7.5, or 15.0% sucrose), with three replications of barrows and three replications of gilts, and with three or four pigs per replicate pen; average initial and final BW were 25.2 and 106.7 kg. In Exp. 2, gilts were allotted to two dietary treatments (waxy [high amylopectin] or nonwaxy [75% amylopectin and 25% amylose] corn as the grain source), with five replications of four gilts per replicate pen; average initial and final BW were 37.7 and 100.0 kg. In Exp. 1, ADG and gain:feed ratio increased linearly (P < 0.02) as dietary sucrose increased. Minolta color scores, a* and b*, and drip loss (P < 0.06) also increased linearly with added sucrose. In Exp. 2, ADG, carcass weight and length, and the Minolta a* value were greater for pigs fed waxy corn (P < 0.08) than for those fed nonwaxy corn. Feed intake, longissimus muscle area, 10th-rib and average backfat thickness, dressing percentage, fat-free lean, percentage of lean and muscling, lean gain per day, total fat, percentage fat, lean:fat ratio, serum or plasma metabolites (Exp. 1: serum urea N; Exp. 2: serum urea N, and plasma nonesterified fatty acids, triacylglycerols, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, and total protein), pH of the longissimus muscle, and subjective muscle scores (color, firmness-wetness, and marbling) were not affected by diet in either experiment. In summary, increasing availability of dietary CHO in growing-finishing pig diets improved growth performance, but it did not affect carcass traits.     

Assessment of chromium tripicolinate supplementation and dietary energy level and source on growth, carcass, and blood criteria in growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate potential interactive effects of supplemental Cr and dietary energy supply in growing pigs. Experiment 1 used 36 individually penned barrows, 25 to 65 kg, in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of supplemental Cr (0 or 200 ppb) and energy level (70, 80, or 90% of ME requirement). A corn-soybean meal basal diet was designed to supply all protein, mineral, and vitamin needs and 70% of the estimated ME need at 70% of ad libitum feed intake. Additional energy to 80% or 90% of the ME requirement was provided by a cornstarch/corn oil blend. In Exp. 2, 30 individually penned barrows, 23 to 68 kg, were used in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of supplemental Cr (0 or 200 ppb) and added energy source (none, cornstarch, corn oil, or choice white grease) with basal diets identical to Exp. 1. The various energy sources were added to 90% of the ME requirement. In both experiments, growth data were collected over a 50-d period and pigs were killed at 70.1 kg. Increasing energy levels increased (linear, P < 0.01) ADG, average backfat thickness, 10th rib backfat thickness, and cooler shrink and decreased (linear, P < 0.01) longissimus muscle area in Exp. 1. Carcass composition increased (linear, P < 0.01) in lipid and decreased in protein, water, and protein:lipid ratio in response to increasing ME levels. Similar results were observed in Exp. 2 in response to added energy, regardless of the energy source used. In response to ME, linear increases (P < 0.05) in plasma insulin concentration before feeding and after feeding were observed in Exp. 1. In Exp. 2, plasma insulin concentration was lower for the basal diet before feeding (P < 0.05) and higher for the starch diet after feeding (P < 0.01); insulin:glucose ratio increased (P < 0.01) after feeding for starch compared to oil and fat. No consistent effect of Cr or Cr x ME level on performance or carcass was observed (P > 0.10) in these experiments. Similarly, no Cr effect or Cr x ME interaction (P > 0.10) was observed in plasma glucose or insulin levels. Dietary energy levels markedly affected growth criteria in growing pigs (23 to 68 kg) in these experiments, as anticipated, but supplemental Cr was without effect on performance or carcass responses.     

Effects of dietary protein level and clinoptilolite on the weight gain and liver mineral response of growing lambs to copper supplementation

Growing male Synthetic I (1/2 Finnish Landrace x 1/4 Dorset x 1/4 Rambouillet) lambs were used in two experiments (64 lambs in Exp. 1 and 63 in Exp. 2) to test the hypothesis that dietary CP level (9 or 14% of diet as fed) and(or) clinoptilolite (clino; 0 or 2% of diet) affects growth and tissue mineral concentrations of growing lambs fed supplemental Cu. Lambs were individually fed their respective diets ad libitum and killed after 12 wk (Exp. 1) or 16 wk (Exp. 2) to obtain carcass measurements, organ weights and liver mineral concentrations. In Exp. 1, 20 ppm added Cu (as CuSO4.5H2O) increased mortality and depressed BW gain (P less than .01) and daily feed intake (P less than .05) in the presence or absence of clino and at both levels of CP. Liver Cu concentration was greater (P less than .01) in lambs fed added Cu than in those not fed Cu (408 ppm vs 110 ppm, respectively). Neither CP nor clino affected liver Cu concentration. Clinoptilolite increased daily gain of lambs fed high CP but not low CP (P less than .01). In Exp. 2, clino in the diet had no effect on daily gain or daily feed, but 20 ppm Cu addition depressed daily gain (P less than .01) and gain/feed (P less than .07). Organ weights and levels of trace elements other than Cu in the liver generally were not affected by diet in either experiment. It is concluded that high dietary CP or 2% dietary clino did not protect against toxic signs of Cu when Cu was added to the basal diet (10 ppm Cu) at 10 or 20 ppm.     

Effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth performance and body composition in nursery and growing-finishing pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth performance and carcass composition of nursery and growing-finishing pigs. In Exp. 1,216 weanling pigs (initially 4.9 kg and 19 to 23 d of age) were used in a 35-d growth trial. Pigs were blocked by weight in a randomized complete block design (six pigs per pen and six pens per treatment). Four barrows and four gilts were used to determine initial carcass composition. L-Carnitine replaced ground corn in the control diets to provide 250, 500, 750, 1,000, or 1,250 ppm. On d 35, three barrows and three gilts per treatment (one pig/block) were killed to provide carcass compositions. L-Carnitine had no effect (P > 0.10) on growth, percentages of carcass CP and lipid, or daily protein accretion. However, daily lipid accretion tended to decrease and then return to values similar to those for control pigs (quadratic P < 0.10) with increasing dietary L-carnitine. In Exp. 2, 96 crossbred pigs (initially 34.0 kg BW) were used to investigate the effect of increasing dietary L-carnitine in growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts) were blocked by weight and sex in a randomized complete block design (two pigs/pen and eight pens/treatment). Dietary L-carnitine replaced cornstarch in the control diet to provide 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 ppm in grower (34 to 56.7 kg; 1.0% lysine) and finisher (56.7 to 103 kg; 0.80% lysine) diets. At 103 kg, one pig/pen was slaughtered, and standard carcass measurements were obtained. Dietary L-carnitine did not influence growth performance (P > 0.10). However, increasing dietary carnitine decreased average and tenth-rib back-fat (quadratic, P < 0.10 and 0.05), and increased percentage lean and daily CP accretion rate (quadratic, P < 0.05). Break point analysis projected the optimal dosage to be between 49 and 64 ppm of L-carnitine for these carcass traits. It is concluded that dietary carnitine fed during the nursery or growing-finishing phase had no effect on growth performance; however, feeding 49 to 64 ppm of L-carnitine during the growing-finishing phase increased CP accretion and decreased tenth-rib backfat.     

Response of barrows to space allocation and ractopamine

An experiment using 264 crossbred barrows was conducted to examine the interaction between space allocation and dietary ractopamine addition on pig performance and carcass characteristics using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were 0.55 (19 pigs per pen) or 0.74 (14 pigs per pen) m2/pig from start (29.7 +/- 0.1 kg BW) to slaughter (108 kg BW) in a fully slatted facility and 0 or 10 ppm (as-fed basis) ractopamine for 28 d before slaughter. There were few treatment interactions. Pigs given 0.55 m2/pig had a lower ADG (P = 0.010), ADFI (P = 0.088), 10th-rib backfat depth on d 86 (P = 0.010), and carcass loin muscle depth (P = 0.011) than pigs given 0.74 m2/pig. There was no difference in feed conversion (P = 0.210) as a result of space allocation. Pigs fed diets containing 10 ppm ractopamine had decreased (P = 0.004) ADFI and improved (P = 0.001) feed conversion efficiencies for the 28-d feeding period, along with greater loin depth (P = 0.005) and carcass lean percent (P = 0.001). The improvements in 28-d carcass lean growth associated with feeding 10 ppm ractopamine resulted in an improvement in overall daily fat-free lean gain (P = 0.046). Under these experimental conditions, the response to dietary ractopamine was similar for crowded and uncrowded pigs.     

Impact of betaine on pig finishing performance and carcass composition

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of betaine supplementation of finishing diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics of swine. Experiment 1 included 288 pigs in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of barrows and gilts of two genetic populations fed diets with 1.25 g/kg supplemental betaine from either 83 or 104 kg to 116 kg and control pigs fed betaine-devoid diets. Pigs were housed three pigs per pen with eight replicate pens per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based with 300 ppm added choline. Genetic populations differed (P < 0.05) in fat depth (2.24 vs 2.93 cm) and longissimus muscle depth (53.8 vs 49.1 mm) at 116 kg. Betaine reduced feed intake (P < 0.05); however, real-time ultrasound measurements were not affected. In Exp. 2, 400 pigs were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effect of sex (barrow or gilts), betaine (0 or 1 g/kg of diet), and crude protein (CP) (0.70% lysine = 12.7% CP or 0.85% lysine = 15.0% CP) when fed from 60 to 110 kg live weight. Pigs had been assigned to either a high- or low-protein feeding regimen at an average initial weight of 11.3 kg and were maintained on their respective protein levels throughout the experiment. For a 56-d period from 61.7 kg to 113.6 kg, pigs were fed diets with 300 ppm added choline. Within each protein level, pigs were randomly assigned to diets containing 0 or 1 g/kg betaine. Pigs were group-housed (four to five pigs per pen). Pig weight and feed intake were recorded every 28 d. Real-time ultrasound measurements were recorded initially and at d 28 on 64 pigs, and on all pigs prior to slaughter. Growth rate was fastest and feed intake greatest for barrows (P < 0.05) and for pigs receiving 12.7% crude protein. A crude protein x betaine interaction (P < 0.05) was observed from d 28 to 56 with pigs fed the 15% CP diet growing fastest when supplemented with 1 g/kg betaine, and pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet growing fastest when the diets contained 0 g/kg betaine. Gilts more efficiently (P < 0.05) converted feed into body weight gain, as did pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet (P < 0.05). Longissimus muscle area and fat measurements were unaffected by betaine or dietary protein on d 28. However, by d 56 betaine reduced average fat depth in barrows (P < 0.05; 3.21 vs 3.40 cm), but not in gilts. Betaine may be more effective at altering body composition in barrows than in gilts.     

Muscle protein turnover and tenderness in broiler chickens fed cimaterol

To investigate the impact of cimaterol (CIM) on muscle protein turnover, carcass and muscle composition, muscle cathepsin B + L activity and meat tenderness, 21-d-old broiler chickens (n = 88) were assigned to dietary treatments of either 0 or 1 ppm CIM. Fractional synthesis rates (FSR), fractional accretion rates (FAR), proximate composition and collagen content were determined in the breast muscle (BM); pectoralis major) and a group of leg muscles (LM; gastrocnemius and peroneous longus) from groups of six birds per treatment within each of two time periods (age = 38 or 56 d). Whole body composition, serum hydroxyproline content and BM cathepsin B + L activity also were measured. Fractional degradation rates (FDR) were calculated as the difference between FSR and FAR. Feeding CIM increased (P less than .01) whole body protein content. Weights of LM and percentage of body weight as BM and LM were increased (P less than .05) when CIM was included in the diet. Although FSR was not significantly reduced by CIM feeding it decreased (P less than .05) with increasing age. Due to decreases in FAR, FDR thereby was reduced by CIM 31.5% and 11.9% in BM and 38.2% and 37.4% in LM at 38 d and 56 d of age, respectively. Cathepsin B + L activities also were reduced 33.6% (P less than .01) and shear forces were increased by 41% (P less than .05) by CIM feeding. For chickens fed CIM, the correlation between cathepsin B + L activity and shear force was -.63 (P less than .01). Feeding CIM improved carcass leanness and muscling due to reductions in FDR and proteolytic enzyme activity. Feeding CIM also reduced meat tenderness.     

Effects of increasing crude protein level on nitrogen retention and intestinal supply of amino acids in lambs fed diets based on alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw.

The effects of increasing dietary CP level on N retention (Exp. 1) and intestinal supply of amino acids (AA; Exp. 2) were studied in lambs fed diets based on alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw (AHPWS). Soybean meal (SBM) was substituted for corn to increase CP level in both experiments. In Exp. 1, an incomplete design for the two-way elimination of error was used to allot 24 ram lambs (mean BW = 25 kg) within breed to six CP levels (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16% of DM). Neutral detergent fiber digestibility and N retention increased quadratically (P = .06 and P less than .01, respectively) with increasing CP level. Nitrogen retention, expressed as a percentage of N intake, was greatest for lambs fed 12% CP (20.7%) but was greatest for lambs fed 14% CP when expressed as grams per day (4.0 g/d). In Exp. 2, five multicannulated St. Croix lambs (34 kg) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design. Treatments were 8.5, 11, 13.5, 16, and 18.5% dietary CP. Chromic oxide was used as a digesta flow marker and purines were used as a bacterial marker. Protein level had no effect on extent of dietary CP degradation in the rumen (69 +/- 3.2%). True ruminal OM digestibility increased (P less than .01) linearly and ruminal fluid NH3 N concentration increased (P less than .01) quadratically with increasing CP level. Total, bacterial, and nonbacterial N and AA flows to the duodenum increased (P less than .05) linearly with increasing CP level. Duodenal AA profile (g/100 g total AA) was altered slightly. The essential AA valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and arginine increased (P less than .05) and methionine decreased (P less than .05) in proportion to other AA with increasing CP level. Flows of all essential AA increased with increasing CP level. Apparent small intestinal N and AA disappearance increased linearly (P less than .05) and apparent total tract N digestibility increased (P less than .01) quadratically with increasing CP level. These data are interpreted to indicate that maximal N retention and fiber digestibility in diets based on AHPWS are obtained at 12% CP, even though the intestinal supply of AA continues to increase with increasing CP level. Supplementation of diets based on AHPWS with an extensively degraded protein source (SBM) does not substantially alter the profile of AA entering the duodenum compared to the AA profile of bacterial protein.     

Influence of dietary protein level, amino acid supplementation, and dietary energy levels on growing-finishing pig performance and carcass composition

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding reduced-CP, AA-supplemented diets at two ambient temperatures (Exp. 1) or three levels of dietary NE (Exp. 2) on pig performance and carcass composition. In Exp. 1, 240 mixed-sex pigs were used to test whether projected differences in heat increment associated with diet composition affect pig performance. There were 10 replications of each treatment with four pigs per pen. For the 28-d trial, average initial and final BW were 28.7 kg and 47.5 kg, respectively. Pigs were maintained in a thermoneutral (23 degrees C) or heat-stressed (33 degrees C) environment and fed a 16% CP diet, a 12% CP diet, or a 12% CP diet supplemented with crystalline Lys, Trp, and Thr (on an as-fed basis). Pigs gained at similar rates when fed the 16% CP diet or the 12% CP diet supplemented with Lys, Trp, and Thr (P > 0.10). Pigs fed the 12% CP, AA-supplemented diet had a gain:feed similar to pigs fed the 16% CP diet when housed in the 23 degrees C environment but had a lower gain:feed in the 33 degrees C environment (diet x temperature, P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, 702 gilts were allotted to six treatments with nine replicates per treatment. Average initial and final BW were 25.3 and 109.7 kg, respectively. Gilts were fed two levels of CP (high CP with minimal crystalline AA supplementation or low CP with supplementation of Lys, Trp, Thr, and Met) and three levels of NE (high, medium, or low) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. A four-phase feeding program was used, with diets containing apparent digestible Lys levels of 0.96, 0.75, 0.60, and 0.48% switched at a pig BW of 41.0, 58.8, and 82.3 kg, respectively. Pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diets had rates of growth and feed intake similar to pigs fed the high-CP diets. Dietary NE interacted with CP level for gain:feed (P < 0.06). A decrease in dietary NE from the highest NE level decreased gain:feed in pigs fed the high-CP diet; however, gain:feed declined in pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diet only when dietary NE was decreased to the lowest level. There was a slight reduction in longissimus area in pigs fed the low-CP diets (P < 0.08), but other estimates of carcass muscle did not differ (P > 0.10). These data suggest that pigs fed low-CP, AA-supplemented diets have performance and carcass characteristics similar to pigs fed higher levels of CP and that alterations in dietary NE do not have a discernible effect on pig performance or carcass composition.     

Effect of magnesium mica on performance and carcass quality of growing-finishing swine

A total of 240 crossbred pigs were used in two experiments to determine the effect of feeding magnesium mica (MM) during the growing-finishing period on animal performance and pork carcass characteristics. All pigs were blocked by weight, and treatments were assigned randomly to pens (five pigs/pen) within blocks. In each experiment, eight pens were allotted randomly to one of three treatments: 1) a negative control corn-soybean meal starter, grower, and finisher diet devoid of supplemental magnesium; 2) the control diets supplemented with 1.25% MM; and 3) the control diets supplemented with 2.50% MM. In Exp. 1, pigs were slaughtered at the University of Arkansas Red Meat Abattoir, whereas pigs in Exp. 2 were transported to a commercial pork packing plant and slaughtered according to industry-accepted procedures. In both experiments, dietary supplementation of MM had no (P > .10) effect on ADG, ADFI, or gain:feed ratio at any phase during the growing-finishing period. In Exp. 1, MM supplementation had no (P > .10) effect on carcass fatness or muscling. Moreover, Japanese color scores were not (P > .10) affected by feeding pigs MM; however, American color scores increased linearly (P < .01) with increasing levels of MM in the diet. Although MM supplementation did not (P > .10) affect L* and b* values for the longissimus muscle (LM), there was a linear increase (P < .05) in LM a* and chroma values associated with increased MM levels in swine diets. In Exp. 2, carcasses from pigs fed 1.25% MM had less (P < .05) fat opposite the LM at the 10th rib than untreated controls and pigs fed 2.50% MM and higher (P < .10) percentages of muscle than carcasses of untreated controls. Moreover, the LM from pigs fed 1.25% MM was less (P < .05) red and less (P < .05) yellow than the LM from pigs fed the control or 2.50% MM-supplemented diets. Drip loss from the LM was unaffected (P > .10) by inclusion of MM in the diet. Results from this study confirm that inclusion of MM, an inexpensive, inorganic magnesium source, in diets of growing-finishing swine has beneficial effects on pork carcass cutability and quality with no deleterious effects on live animal performance.