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Effects of Excess Arginine with and without Supplemental Lysine on Performance, Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations and Nitrogen Balance of Young Swine^1,2,

University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583

⁵ To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of excess arginine on performance, plasma amino acid levels and N balance of young pigs (initial weights 6.9, 7.0 and 10.3 kg, respectively). In a 28-d growth trial, various amounts of arginine (0 to 1.6%) were added to a conventional starter diet. Addition of arginine decreased (P<.01) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain (ADG), but had no effect on feed efficiency (G/F). Plasma urea, arginine and ornithine concentrations were elevated (P<.001) by the increasing dietary arginine levels at d 14 and 28. Plasma histidine levels were reduced (P<.01) at d 28. Plasma lysine levels exhibited a cubic response (P<.05) at d 14, but were not affected by excess arginine at d 28. In a second growth trial ADFI and ADG were decreased (P<.05), but G/F was not affected by the addition of 1.6% dietary arginine. Lysine supplementation (0, .15 or .30%) increased performance in the absence of excess arginine, but the main effect of lysine was not significant for any performance criteria. As in the first experiment, plasma concentrations of urea, arginine and ornithine were increased (P<.001) by the addition of arginine. Plasma histidine was not affected by either arginine or lysine. Plasma lysine levels were reduced (P<.001) by dietary arginine and increased (P<.001) by lysine. In a N balance experiment, addition of 1.6% dietary arginine increased N digestibility, but decreased apparent biological value. Nitrogen balance was not affected by added arginine. Lysine addition did not improve any of these three indices of N utilization. The inability of lysine supplementation to alleviate any of the adverse effects of excess arginine in young swine indicates that the reduced performance is caused by a generalized amino acid imbalance, and not by a specific interference with lysine utilization in the manner of a classical arginine lysine antagonism.

¹ Published as Paper No. 7097, Journal Series, Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta. Research reported was conducted under Project 13-052.

² The technical assistance of Mary B. Barnes, Roy L. Carlson and Diana J. Smith is gratefully acknowledged.

³ Current Address: Golden Sun Feeds, Inc., Grinnell, IA 50112.

⁴ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

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