Journal of Animal Science, Vol 74, Issue 6 1307-1313, Copyright © 1996 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Valine requirement of the high-producing lactating sow

B. T. Richert, M. D. Tokach, R. D. Goodband, J. L. Nelssen, J. E. Pettigrew, R. D. Walker and L. J. Johnston
Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-0201, USA.

Two hundred three (40 or 41/treatment, average parity 4.3) Large White x Landrace or Large White x Chester White x Landrace sows were used to determine the valine requirement of sows with a genetic capacity for high milk production. All diets were formulated to contain .90% total lysine, with all amino acids other than valine formulated to be at least 110% of their suggested estimates relative to lysine based on ratios derived from the National and Agricultural Research Councils. The control diet was formulated to .75% total valine, and crystalline valine replaced cornstarch to provide additional treatments containing .85, .95, 1.05, and 1.15% total dietary valine. Corresponding valine:lysine ratios were 83, 94, 106, 117, and 128%. Mean litter size after adjustment was 10.3 pigs across treatments, and average lactation length was 26 d. Number of pigs weaned was not affected by dietary valine (mean = 10.2 pigs), nor was daily sow feed (mean = 6.24 kg) or lysine (mean = 56 g) intake. Valine intake increased (linear, P < .001) as dietary valine increased. Litter weight at d 21 and at weaning (d 26) increased (linear, P < .02) with increasing dietary valine (62.4 to 65.5 kg and 76.1 to 79.9 kg, respectively). Litter weight gain increased from d 0 to 7 (linear, P < .06) and from d 0 to 21 and d 0 to weaning (linear, P < .02) as dietary valine increased. Dietary valine had no effect (P > .10) on sow weight change, 10th rib, or last lumbar backfat change from d 0 to 21 or d 0 to weaning or on days from weaning to estrus. These results demonstrate that increasing dietary valine for high-producing sows (21-d litter weights > 60 kg) results in improved litter weight gain. Based on the linear responses observed, the requirement is at least 1.15% of the diet (72 g/d of valine intake) to maximize litter weaning weight and litter weight gain, much greater than recommended currently by the National Research Council (100% of lysine, 36.5 g/d) or the Agricultural Research Council (70% of lysine, 25.5 g/d).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. T. Soltwedel, R. A. Easter, and J. E. Pettigrew Evaluation of the order of limitation of lysine, threonine, and valine, as determined by plasma urea nitrogen, in corn-soybean meal diets of lactating sows with high body weight loss J Anim Sci, July 1, 2006; 84(7): 1734 - 1741. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Gaines, R. D. Boyd, M. E. Johnston, J. L. Usry, K. J. Touchette, and G. L. Allee The dietary valine requirement for prolific lactating sows does not exceed the National Research Council estimate J Anim Sci, June 1, 2006; 84(6): 1415 - 1421. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Guan, J. E. Pettigrew, P. K. Ku, N. K. Ames, B. J. Bequette, and N. L. Trottier Dietary protein concentration affects plasma arteriovenous difference of amino acids across the porcine mammary gland J Anim Sci, October 1, 2004; 82(10): 2953 - 2963. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Guan, B. J. Bequette, P. K. Ku, R. J. Tempelman, and N. L. Trottier The Amino Acid Need for Milk Synthesis Is Defined by the Maximal Uptake of Plasma Amino Acids by Porcine Mammary Glands J. Nutr., September 1, 2004; 134(9): 2182 - 2190. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. DeRouchey, J. D. Hancock, R. H. Hines, K. R. Cummings, D. J. Lee, C. A. Maloney, D. W. Dean, J. S. Park, and H. Cao Effects of dietary electrolyte balance on the chemistry of blood and urine in lactating sows and sow litter performance J Anim Sci, December 1, 2003; 81(12): 3067 - 3074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. T. Nielsen, N. L. Trottier, H. H. Stein, C. Bellaver, and R. A. Easter The effect of litter size and day of lactation on amino acid uptake by the porcine mammary glands J Anim Sci, September 1, 2002; 80(9): 2402 - 2411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Guan, B. J. Bequette, G. Calder, P. K. Ku, K. N. Ames, and N. L. Trottier Amino Acid Availability Affects Amino Acid Flux and Protein Metabolism in the Porcine Mammary Gland J. Nutr., June 1, 2002; 132(6): 1224 - 1234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. DeSantiago, N. Torres, A. Suryawan, A. R. Tovar, and S. M. Hutson Regulation of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Metabolism in the Lactating Rat J. Nutr., July 1, 1998; 128(7): 1165 - 1171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]