Effect of Level of Dietary Fat, Pantothenic Acid and Protein on Performance of Growing-Fattening Swine

Abstract

Seventy-six Yorkshire and Berkshire weanling pigs were used in two trials to study the effect of level of dietary energy, protein and pantothenic acid on performance. High protein (20-18%) rations produced significantly greater (P<0.01) rate of body weight gain than low-protein (12-10%) rations. The addition of 10% stabilized beef tallow increased rate of gain significantly (P<0.05) with the high protein ration but not with the low protein ration. Level of pantothenic acid had no effect on any of the criteria measured, even though the unsupplemented low protein rations were calculated to contain less than NRC recommendations. Average daily feed consumption was decreased in the presence of added fat but average daily calculated TDN consumption was increased. Average TDN and protein required per pound of gain were reduced by added fat at both protein levels. Average backfat thickness was slightly greater, though not significantly, in pigs fed high energy rations, indicating that the increased rate of body weight gain of pigs fed those rations may have been a reflection of increased fat; deposition. Serum cholesterol level was higher in pigs fed the low protein rations than in those fed the high protein rations. Serum cholesterol was reduced and serum albumin and total serum protein were increased by feeding a high protein ration to pigs previously consuming the low protein ration.