Effectiveness and optimum level of protected methionine in fattening pig diets

• Published in: Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 217 - 227
• Main Authors: Trujano San Luis, David, Sánchez Torres, Maria Teresa, Ruiz Flores, Agustín, Figueroa Velasco, J. Luis, Martínez Aispuro, José Alfredo, Crosby Galván, María M, Cordero Mora, José L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medellín Universidad de Antioquía 01.10.2020; Universidad de Antioquia
• Subjects: aminoácidos sintéticos; Bioavailability; biodisponibilidad; biodisponibilidade; Body weight; Body weight gain; características de carcaça; características de la canal; carcass traits; cerdos; comportamento produtivo; comportamiento productivo; Diet; Finishing; growth performance; Hogs; Methionine; metionina protegida; necessidades nutricionais; Nurseries; nutrient requirements; Physical growth; pig; porcos; protected methionine; protein; Protein biosynthesis; Protein synthesis; proteína; requerimientos nutricionales; suínos; swine; synthetic amino acids; Urea; uréia
• ISSN: 0120-0690; 2256-2958
• DOI: 10.17533/udea.rccp.v33n4a02

Background: Methionine (Met) requirements have not been clearly established for fattening pigs due to their metabolic interrelationships and its bioavailability for protein synthesis. Objective: To determine the optimum level of regular crystalline or protected Met in pig diets from nursery to finishing. Methods: A total of 48 crossbred pigs (11.74±1.72 kg of initial body weight) were used. The treatments consisted of adding four levels (0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15% in addition to dietary content) and two types of Met (regular and protected) to pig diets. Results: Nursery, Finishing I, and II pigs fed protected Met increased daily feed intake (DFI; p≤0.10). Protected Met raised daily weight gain (DWG) in nursery pigs and increased backfat thickness (BT) in nursery and grower pigs (p≤0.10). In Finishing I pigs, protected Met increased DWG and improved carcass characteristics (p≤0.10). In nursery and grower pigs, an extra 0.15% Met decreased feed:gain ratio (FGR; p≤0.10). In grower and Finishing II pigs fed extra 0.05% Met improved DWG and extra 0.10% Met reduced plasma urea concentration (p≤0.10). Conclusions: Feeding protected Met in pig diets increases DWG, DFI and BT. Increasing 0.05-0.15% Met level improves FGR, DWG, potentially reducing nitrogen excretion to the environment.