Considerations in the Use of Crystalline Amino Acids in Swine Diets

A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of reduced-protein, amino-acid-supplemented diets on pig performance, carcass characteristics, heat production and nitrogen and energy balance. Pigs from weaning to market weight fed diets reduced in protein by two to four percentage units below recommended levels exhibited inferior performance and carcass characteristics in comparison to pigs fed adequately. Pig performance and carcass characteristics were improved to a level equal to pigs fed the higher-protein diets when the reduced-protein diets were supplemented with the required indispensible amino acids. However, pigs fed the reduced-protein, amino-acid-supplemented diets tended to have greater backfat thickness than pigs fed diets of higher-protein content.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Kerr, Brian Jay

• Agriculture, Animal Culture and Nutrition

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8815369

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/70059