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Effect of Protein Level on Growth, Nitrogen Balance and Reproductive Performance in Gilts¹

Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater 74074

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to establish the effect of three levels of crude protein, fed for an extended period of time, on the growth, nitrogen balance and reproductive performance of 90 Yorkshire gilts. Gilts were fed 178, 317 or 431 g of crude protein daily from 146 days of age to 180 days, then protein was reduced to 143, 254 or 345 g per day. Average daily gain to first estrus increased with increasing protein intake (P < .01), while total weight gain to first estrus was not significantly affected by treatment. Ages at first, second, and third estrus tended to decrease with additional protein intake but the effects were not significant (.05 < P < .10). Although a higher incidence of anestrous gilts was associated with the two lower protein levels, the numbers involved in this study were too limited to detect a significant difference.

Nitrogen balance prior to breeding (at third estrus) was not significantly affected by treatment, but daily retention tended to increase, with increasing protein intake. Additional dietary protein had a significant linear effect (P<.01) on early pregnancy nitrogen retention.

¹ Journal Article 2805 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74074.

² Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.