224 Amino Acid Imbalance with Excess Methionine in Late-finishing Pigs: Effects on Performance and Carcass Quality

Abstract

Abstract Limitations in harvest facility capacity can necessitate feeding programs to slow growth rate in late-finishing pigs. In Trial 1, six dietary regimens were used with 423 pigs (initial weight, 109 kg) randomly allotted in a 35 d study. The regimens consisted of: 1) Con (11.7% CP diet), 2) Low Protein (LP 8.8% CP), 3) Methionine (Met) 1% (LP plus 1% added Met for 35 d), 4) Met 1–1.8% (LP plus 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8% added Met for d 0–7, 7–14, 14–21, 21–28 and 28–35 d, respectively), 5) Met 2% (LP plus 2% added Met for 35 d) and 6) Met 1.5–2.3% (LP plus 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 2.1 and 2.3%, added Met for d 0–7, 7–14, 14–21, 21–28 and 28–35 d, respectively). Pigs on Met 1% had reduced overall ADG and ADFI (P < 0.05) with similar G:F vs. pigs on LP. Compared to pigs on Met 1%, pigs on Met 1–1.8%, Met 2%, and Met 1.5–2.3% had reduced (P < 0.05) ADG of 28, 54 and 53%, respectively; and decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI of 12, 26 and 26%, respectively. In Trial 2, three regimens were used with 393 pigs (initial weight, 109 kg) in a 35 d study. The regimens consisted of 1) Met 2%, 2) Met 1.5–2.3% and 3) Met 2.0–2.8% (LP plus 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8% added Met for d 0–7, 7–14, 14–21, 21–28 and 28–35 d, respectively). Regimens 1 and 2 were identical to Trial 1. Overall, pigs on Met 1.5–2.3% had ADG and ADFI which were greater (P < 0.001) compared to pigs on Met 2%. Pigs on Met 2–2.8% had an overall ADG and ADFI which were less (P < 0.05) than those pigs on Met 2%. These data suggest that growth can be manipulated with excess Met.