Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of digestible methionine+cystine on performance and carcass composition of high genetic potential barrows for lean deposition. Sixty-four barrows with initial weight of 95.46 ± 1.09 kg were allotted to a completely randomized block design, with four levels of digestible methionine+cystine (0.427, 0.466, 0.504, and 0.545%, corresponding to the digestible methionine+cystine:digestible lysine ratios of 57.0, 62.0, 67.0 and 73.0%, respectively), with eight replicates, and two animals per experimental unit. Experimental diets and water were provided ad libitum until the end of the experimental period when pigs reached 125.21 ± 2.49 kg. Levels of digestible methionine+cystine did not affect daily intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion of the animals, but they affected daily intake of digestible methionine+cystine which increased linearly. Levels of digestible methionine+cystine did not affect carcass weight, meat amount, backfat thickness at P2, and daily meat deposition. The digestible methionine+cystine level of 0.427%, corresponding to the digestible methionine+cystine:lysine ratio of 57.0% and to a daily digestible methionine+cystine intake of 14.20 g/d, provides the best performance and carcass traits for high genetic potential barrows in the phase of 95 to 125 kg.
Highlights
The growing demand of consumers for a healthy pig meat has been increasing the interest of pig producers and pork industries in slaughtering pigs with higher amount of meat and less fat in the carcass
Sixty-four commercial hybrid male pigs (PIC) with high genetic potential for meat deposition were used allotted in a completely randomized block design with four treatments, eight replicates, and two pigs per experimental unit which was represented by the pen
The treatments evaluated consisted of 0.427, 0.466, 0.504, and 0.545% digestible methionine+cystine, corresponding to digestible methionine+cystine and lysine ratios of 57.0, 62.0, 67.0, and 73.0%, respectively, obtained from a basal diet supplemented with DL-methionine
Summary
The growing demand of consumers for a healthy pig meat has been increasing the interest of pig producers and pork industries in slaughtering pigs with higher amount of meat and less fat in the carcass. This work was conducted to evaluate the effects of different dietary methionine+cystine levels on performance and carcass traits of castrated male pigs with high genetic potential for meat deposition from 95 to 125 kg.
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