Journal of Animal Science, Vol 76, Issue 4 1098-1111, Copyright © 1998 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effect of lean growth genotype and dietary amino acid regimen on the lactational performance of sows

T. E. Sauber, T. S. Stahly, N. H. Williams and R. C. Ewan
Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50010, USA.

The effect of dietary amino acid regimen and genetic capacity for lean tissue growth on the lactational performance of sows was determined in primiparous sows with a high (350 to 390 g/d) or low (240 to 280 g/d) genetic capacity for lean tissue growth from 18 to 110 kg of body weight. During lactation, sows were offered daily 6.5 kg of one of four fortified corn-soybean meal diets containing .58, .77, .96, and 1.15% lysine (L). Litters were standardized to 14 pigs within 8 h after birth. On d 2 of lactation, the high lean growth (LG) sows possessed more proteinaceous tissues and protein and less fat tissue and lipid. During lactation (d 2 to 28 postpartum), high LG sows consumed more feed, mobilized more body protein, and lost less body lipid. Milk, milk energy, and milk lysine yields (pooled across dietary regimens) were similar between genotypes. As daily dietary lysine intakes increased from 27 to 62 g and total digestible lysine supplies (from diet and mobilized tissues) increased from 39 to 68 g, daily yields of milk, milk energy, and milk lysine increased, but the magnitude of the response differed (P < .05) between genotypes, evidently because of differences in the ability of the high and low LG sows to mobilize energy from body tissue. Based on these data, the lactational capacities of high and low LG sows nursing 12 to 14 pigs are similar when similar supplies of lysine and energy are available from dietary intake and mobilized body tissue stores. When supplies of ME do not limit milk synthesis, daily digestible lysine intakes of at least 54 g (> or = 66 g from a corn-soy diet) are needed by these sows nursing litters of 12 to 14 pigs to support milk synthesis and minimize maternal protein losses. This is equivalent to a total digestible lysine need of 4.3 to 4.6 g/kg of milk produced. When ME provided by the diet is less than that needed to fuel maximum milk synthesis, however, the dietary amino acid needs of genetically lean sows may be reduced because of their inability to mobilize sufficient body fat stores.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. G. Young, M. D. Tokach, F. X. Aherne, R. G. Main, S. S. Dritz, R. D. Goodband, and J. L. Nelssen Effect of sow parity and weight at service on target maternal weight and energy for gain in gestation J Anim Sci, January 1, 2005; 83(1): 255 - 261. [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]

				E. J. Clowes, F. X. Aherne, A. L. Schaefer, G. R. Foxcroft, and V. E. Baracos Parturition body size and body protein loss during lactation influence performance during lactation and ovarian function at weaning in first-parity sows J Anim Sci, June 1, 2003; 81(6): 1517 - 1528. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]