Digestible energy, protein and amino acid content in selected short season corn cultivars fed to growing pigs

Abstract

The digestible energy (DE), ileal digestible crude protein (CP) and amino acid (AA) contents in two corn cultivars commonly grown in Manitoba were determined using six ileal cannulated barrows (average initial BW of 21.5 ± 0.9 kg). Three samples of each cultivar, each obtained from two locations, were evaluated in six dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Diets contained 97% corn and 0.3% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker, and were assigned to pigs in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Ileal digesta and fecal samples were collected for determining energy and nutrient digestibilities. Location affected (P ≤ 0.05) ileal digestible indispensable AA, except for lysine and threonine. Cultivar affected (P ≤ 0.05) ileal digestible CP and indispensable AA, except for lysine, phenylalanine and valine. There was an interaction effect (P < 0.05) of location and cultivar on ileal digestible indispensable AA, except for lysine and histidine. Digestible energy, CP and AA averaged 3662 kcal kg-1, 5.95% and 0.40%, respectively, in the dry matter. The content of digestible CP and AA in corn may vary with location and cultivar and this variation should be considered when formulating livestock feeds. Key words: Amino acids, corn, digestibility, energy, pig