Standardized Ileal Digestible Thr Research Articles

PSII-13 Effects of Standardized Ileal Digestible Lysine, Fiber Level, and Amino Acid Ratios on Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine the interactive effects of standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine, dietary fiber, and amino acid ratios on growth performance of nursery pigs. A total of 4,320 pigs (initial BW = 7.8 kg), placed in pens of 36 mixed sex pigs, were used in a 43-d trial. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial structure with two levels of SID Lys (1.15 or 1.38%), two levels of dietary fiber [control or high fiber (5% sugar beet pulp + 3.75% soy hulls)], and two amino acid ratio profiles [control (65% SID Thr:Lys, 58% SID Met+Cys:Lys, 67% SID Val:Lys, 55% SID Ile:Lys, and 18.5% SID Trp:Lys) or AA+ (5 percentage points greater than control ratios)] with 15 replicates per treatment. The experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 25 and a common corn-soybean meal-based diet was fed from d 25 to 43. Pigs were weighed on d 0, 25, and 43 to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Data were analyzed with the MIXED procedure in SAS. From d 0 to 25, there was a fiber × amino acid ratio interaction (P = 0.008) for ADFI, where pigs fed the high fiber diet had similar ADFI, regardless of AA ratios, but those fed control levels of fiber had reduced ADFI when fed AA+ ratios (Table 1). Similar interactions were also observed (P < 0.05) for overall (d 0 to 43) ADG, ADFI, and final BW. There were no other significant interactions (P > 0.05). As for main effects, pigs fed low Lys had reduced (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Feeding high fiber diets reduced (P < 0.05) G:F but did not impact (P > 0.05) ADG or ADFI. Pigs fed AA+ ratios had improved (P < 0.05) G:F but no evidence for differences (P > 0.05) for ADG or G:F was observed.

Optimizing the ratios of standardized ileal digestible (SID) methionine plus SID cystine and SID threonine to SID lysine in low-protein diets for working boars

This study aimed to optimize the ratios of standardized ileal digestible (SID) methionine (Met) plus cystine (Cys), and threonine (Thr) to SID lysine (Lys) in low-protein diets for working boars. Forty-eight working Duroc boars were randomly allocated to one of 12 dietary treatments in a 3x4 factorial experimental design in which factor 1 was the ratios of SID Met plus Cys to SID Lys (50, 60, 70%), factor 2 was the ratios of SID Thr to SID Lys (40, 50, 60, 70%). Semen was collected at a 4 days interval for 6 weeks for 10 ejaculates. Semen volume (V), percentage of sperm with progressive motility (A), sperm concentration (C), and the total number of motile sperm per ejaculate (VAC) were measured. The results of the study revealed that the ratios of SID Met plus Cys to SID Lys in the diets affected the C and VAC. Values of C and VAC were highest at the ratios of SID Met plus Cys to SID Lys of 70% and lowest at 50% (P<0.05). Similarly, the ratios of SID Thr to SID Lys affected the C and VAC. Further, the values of C and VAC were highest at the ratio of SID Thr to SID Lys of 60% and lowest at 40% (P<0.05). There was no interaction effect between the two factors. In conclusion, the ratios of SID Met plus Cys to SID Lys of 70% and SID Thr to SID Lys of 60% in a 13.5% CP diet are optimal for working boars.

Evaluation of increasing digestible threonine to lysine ratio in corn-soybean meal diets without and with distillers dried grains with solubles on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

Corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is commonly available and often can lower diet cost for swine diets. This corn co-product is recognized to be a source of dietary insoluble fiber, which can not only increase the villous length of the gut mucosa but also increase intestinal production of mucin. Mucin structure, functions, and synthesis are correlated to Thr intake; consequently, the dietary Thr level may need to be increased when feeding an insoluble fiber source such as corn-DDGS. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate if feeding standardized ileal digestible (SID) Thr:Lys ratio at or above the estimated requirement in diets without and with DDGS would influence growth performance in finishing pigs. A total of 2,160 pigs (PIC 337 × 1,050; initially 35.1 ± 0.5 kg) were used in a 112-d growth trial. Pigs were randomly assigned to pens (27 pigs per pen) in a randomized complete block design by body weight (BW) with 20 replications per treatment. Pens of pigs were allotted to one of four dietary treatments that were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of dietary Thr level (normal vs. high) and DDGS (without or with). Treatment diets were formulated in four phases from 34 to 57, 57 to 79, 79 to 104, and 104 to 130 kg BW. Diets with high DDGS were formulated to include 40% DDGS in phases 1 and 2, 30% in phase 3, and 15% in phase 4. The normal Thr diets were formulated to contain 61%, 62%, 63%, and 65% SID Thr:Lys ratios for the four dietary phases, respectively. High Thr diets had SID Thr:Lys ratios of 67%, 68%, 69%, and 72%, respectively. There were no interactions (P > 0.10) observed in any phase or overall between Thr level and added DDGS. For the overall period (day 0 to 112), pigs fed diets without DDGS had increased (P < 0.001) average daily gain (ADG) but reduced (P < 0.001) average daily feed intake (ADFI), leading to increased (P < 0.001) feed efficiency (gain-to-feed ratio [G:F]). There was no evidence for difference (P > 0.10) between pigs fed diets formulated at normal or high SID Thr:Lys ratio. In summary, feeding high levels of DDGS decreased ADG and increased ADFI, which resulted in decreased G:F and lower final BW, regardless of the dietary SID Thr:Lys ratio level. In the current study, increasing the level of digestible Thr in a diet that contained a highly insoluble fiber source did not increase the growth performance of grow-finish pigs.

Evaluation of the optimal standardized ileal digestible threonine:lysine ratio in lactating sow diets.

Camborough PIC sows (n = 291) were fed 1 of 5 dietary treatments to evaluate the standardized ileal digestible (SID) Thr:Lys requirement during lactation. Sows were blocked by parity (1, 2, and 3+) and randomly allotted to 1 of 5 SID Thr:Lys ratios (52, 60, 68, 76, and 84). SID Lys was formulated to 1.03% and SID methionine and cystine (M + C):Lys was 55%. Sows were allowed 5.45 kg feed/day starting on the day of farrowing. All other nutrients met or exceeded the NRC (2012) requirements. Sows were allowed ad libitum access to water, and piglets were cross-fostered within treatment within 24 h of birth. Data collected during the study included sow prefarrow BW, sow weaning weight, starting litter weight, weaning litter weight, piglet mortality, weaning-to-estrus interval, and subsequent total born piglets. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using PROC MIXED with sow as the experimental unit and treatment and parity as fixed effects. Requirement estimation models evaluated were quadratic polynomial, broken-line linear, and broken-line quadratic (BLQ) using PROC NLMIXED. Models that differed in their Bayesian information criterion (BIC) values by at least 2 points were considered to have meaningful differences in their data fit. The best-fit model was based on the best BIC value. As the SID Thr:Lys ratio increased, there was a quadratic response on ADFI (4.73, 4.57, 4.67, 4.55, and 4.60 kg/d; P = 0.001) and percent of sow BW loss (-6.4, -7.89, -7.35, -6.19, and -5.81; P = 0.004). In addition, there was a trend for weaning-to-estrus interval to be affected by the ratio (5.4, 4.4, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.8; P = 0.07). Daily litter gain was also quadratically improved as the SID Thr:Lys ratio increased (2.67, 2.67, 2.78, 2.77, and 2.68 kg/d; P-value = 0.001). For daily litter gain, the BLQ model was determined to be the best fit with an estimated SID Thr:Lys requirement of 65%. In conclusion, the optimal SID Thr:Lys ratio for litter growth was 65.

Immune system stimulation increases dietary threonine requirements for protein deposition in growing pigs.

Previous studies have reported an increase in the utilization of threonine (Thr) during immune system stimulation (ISS). However, increased utilization of an AA during ISS may not reflect an increased dietary requirement, as endogenous sources may supply AA to meet the need for enhanced utilization. The current study evaluated the impact of ISS on components of dietary Thr requirements, i.e., maintenance requirement and the efficiency of Thr utilization. Thirty-nine gilts (initial BW 32 ± 2.1 kg) of commercially relevant genetics were individually housed in metabolism crates and fed one of six experimental diets in which Thr was the first limiting among other AA. Three levels of dietary Thr were tested within each ISS group: 70%, 90%, and 110% of daily Thr requirements, which were estimated based on the potential of each ISS group for protein deposition (PD). Following adaptation to the experimental diets, pigs from each dietary treatment group were injected with either increasing amounts of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (ISS+; 25 and 35 µg/kg BW) or saline (ISS-). Injections were given 48-h apart and whole-body nitrogen balance was measured for 72-h following the first injection. Body temperature (BT) was monitored and blood samples were collected 24 h after initiation of ISS and evaluated for measures of blood chemistry. Blood chemistry and BT results indicated an effective ISS in pigs (P < 0.03). Threonine intake increased PD in a linear fashion in both ISS groups (P < 0.01). The marginal efficiency of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Thr utilization for PD, represented by the slope, was not affected by ISS. However, ISS substantially increased the extrapolated maintenance SID Thr requirements, represented by the intercept at zero PD (ISS- vs. ISS+, -11.2 vs. -56.3 SE 13.2; P < 0.05). Collectively, our results indicated that the physiological changes associated with ISS increased the dietary SID Thr requirements for PD due to an increase in maintenance requirements.

189 Efficiency of utilizing standardized ileal digestible Thr for whole body protein retention in pregnant gilts during early, mid and late gestation.

189 Efficiency of utilizing standardized ileal digestible Thr for whole body protein retention in pregnant gilts during early, mid and late gestation.

Effects of dietary threonine:lysine ratioes and sanitary conditions on performance, plasma urea nitrogen, plasma-free threonine and lysine of weaned pigs.

Two 21 d-experiments were conducted to determine the optimum standardized ileal digestible (SID) threonine:lysine ratio (Thr:Lys) for weaned piglets reared under clean (Exp. 1) or unclean (Exp. 2) sanitary conditions and fed antibiotic-free diets. In each experiment, 90 mixed-sex pigs (Duroc × [Yorkshire × Landrace]; initial BW 7.2 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments each with 6 replicates (3 pigs per pen). The dietary treatments were 5 graded levels of SID Thr:Lys (55, 59, 63, 67 and 71%). Diets were corn-wheat-soybean meal-based with a constant SID Lys of 1.18% that was set to be second limiting amino acid. In Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, plasma-free Thr increased (P = 0.05) with increasing dietary SID Thr:Lys. In Exp. 1, the SID Thr:Lys for gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) was optimized at 65%. In Exp. 2, the estimated optimal SID Thr:Lys for overall G:F was 66.5%. In conclusion, an average optimal SID Thr:Lys of 65 and 66.5% could be used to optimize feed efficiency for weaned pigs under clean and unclean sanitary conditions, respectively.

Estimation of the optimal ratio of standardized ileal digestible threonine to lysine for finishing barrows fed low crude protein diets.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) requirement and the ideal SID threonine (Thr) to Lys ratio for finishing barrows. In Exp. 1, 120 barrows with an average body weight of 72.8±3.6 kg were allotted to one of six dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design conducted for 35 d. Each diet was fed to five pens of pigs containing four barrows. A normal crude protein (CP) diet providing 15.3% CP and 0.71% SID Lys and five low CP diets providing 12% CP with SID Lys concentrations of 0.51, 0.61, 0.71, 0.81 and 0.91% were formulated. Increasing the SID Lys content of the diet resulted in an increase in weight gain (linear effect p = 0.04 and quadratic effect p = 0.08) and an improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) (linear effect p = 0.02 and quadratic effect p = 0.02). For weight gain and FCR, the estimated SID Lys requirement of finishing barrows were 0.71 and 0.71% (linear broken-line analysis), 0.79 and 0.78% (quadratic analysis), respectively. Exp. 2 was a 26 d dose-response study using SID Thr to Lys ratios of 0.56, 0.61, 0.67, 0.72 and 0.77. A total of 138 barrows weighing 72.5±4.4 kg were randomly allotted to receive one of the five diets. All diets were formulated to contain 0.61% SID Lys (10.5% CP), which is slightly lower than the pig’s requirement. Weight gain was quadratically (p = 0.03) affected by SID Thr to Lys ratio while FCR was linearly improved (p = 0.02). The SID Thr to Lys ratios for maximal weight gain and minimal FCR and serum urea nitrogen (SUN) were 0.67, 0.71 and 0.64 using a linear broken-line model and 0.68, 0.78 and 0.70 using a quadratic model, respectively. Based on the estimates obtained from the broken-line and quadratic analysis, we concluded that the dietary SID Lys requirement for both maximum weight gain and minimum FCR was 0.75%, and an optimum SID Thr to Lys ratio was 0.68 to maximize weight gain, 0.75 to optimize FCR and 0.67 to minimize SUN for finishing barrows.

Prediction of the concentration of standardized ileal digestible amino acids in distillers dried grains with solubles1

Values for the concentration of standardized ileal digestible (SID) CP, Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp from 34 sources of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were obtained from a series of 5 experiments with the objective of predicting the concentration of SID AA from physical and chemical assays. The concentration of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, acid detergent insoluble CP (ADICP), and KOH soluble protein (SolCP) were measured and calculated in all DDGS sources. Likewise, particle size was measured and color of each source of DDGS was determined with a Minolta colorimeter and HunterLab spectrometer and was expressed as lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*). The HunterLab spectrometer also provided optical density that was recorded between 400 and 700 nm. Front face fluorescence was measured at 360 nm excitation and recorded from 380 to 600 nm. Multiple linear regression and principal components analyses were performed to predict the concentration of SID AA among DDGS sources, and predicted means as well as predicted residual sums of squares (PRESS) were calculated to estimate accuracy and precision of the model. Some correlations (P < 0.05) were observed between ADF, hemicellulose, ADICP, and SolCP with SID CP and AA but were generally low (r < 0.51). There was a greater association (R(2) = 0.40; P < 0.05) between L* and SID Lys among DDGS sources when L* was less than 50 than when samples had L* values greater than 50. In addition, a* was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with SID CP (r = -0.41), Lys (r = -0.59), and Met (r = -0.50) whereas b* tended to be positively correlated (P < 0.10) with SID Lys (r = 0.31) and Trp (r = 0.30) and was correlated (P = 0.05) with SID Met (r = 0.43) and Thr (r = 0.36). There were no correlations between NDF or particle size with SID CP and AA. Optical density, along with CP, was highly predictive of SID Lys (R(2) = 0.97; PRESS = 0.05), Thr (R(2) = 0.94; PRESS = 0.06), and Trp (R(2) = 0.93; PRESS = 0.004) but not SID Met (R(2) = 0.39; PRESS = 0.12). Front face fluorescence was also highly predictive of SID Lys (R(2) = 0.99; PRESS = 0.07), Met (R(2) = 0.95; PRESS = 0.05), Thr (R(2) = 0.99; PRESS = 0.008), and Trp (R(2) = 0.99; PRESS = 0.006). In conclusion, correlations between ADICP, SolCP, NDF, particle size, and color measurements with SID AA concentrations were poor, but optical density and front face fluorescence methods appear to provide good predictions of SID AA concentrations in DDGS. However, these prediction equations need to be validated using samples of DDGS from a separate data set.

Estimation of the ideal ratio of standardized ileal digestible threonine to lysine for growing pigs (22–50 kg) fed low crude protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of various standardized ileal digestible (SID) threonine (Thr) to lysine (Lys) ratios on the performance and serum parameters of growing pigs fed low crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids (CAA). In Exp. 1, 144 growing pigs (22–50kg) were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments. The treatments included a high CP (186g/kg) diet with 10.2g/kg SID Lys or one of two low CP diets (dietary CP reduced by 40g/kg but supplemented with crystalline Lys, Thr, methionine, tryptophan, isoleucine and valine) providing 9 or 10.2g/kg SID Lys. Six pens of pigs (three with gilts and three with barrows) were fed each treatment and each pen housed eight pigs. The average daily gain (ADG) of pigs receiving the low CP diet containing 9g/kg SID Lys was lower (P<0.05) than that of pigs fed diets containing 10.2g/kg SID Lys with either a high or low CP level confirming that the dietary Lys concentration in this diet was deficient and therefore this SID Lys level was used in all diets fed in Exp. 2. In Exp. 2, 300 growing pigs (22–50kg) were utilized in a dose–response study. Pigs were randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments containing 9g/kg SID Lys. Graded levels of crystalline Thr (0.6, 1.0, 1.5, 1.9 or 2.4g/kg) were added to the basal diet to produce diets providing SID Thr to Lys ratios of 0.55, 0.60, 0.65, 0.70 or 0.75. Each diet was fed to six pens of pigs (three with barrows and three with gilts) with ten pigs per pen. Serum Thr (linear and quadratic, P<0.05) and glycine were increased (linear, P<0.05) as the dietary SID Thr to Lys ratio increased. Serum urea nitrogen (SUN; linear and quadratic, P<0.05), Lys, methionine and cystine decreased (linear, P<0.05) as the dietary SID Thr to Lys ratio increased. The optimum SID Thr to Lys ratios to maximize ADG and feed conversion ratio (FCR) as well as to minimize SUN levels were 0.68, 0.67 and 0.62 using a linear-breakpoint model and 0.73, 0.70 and 0.65 using a curvilinear-plateau model. Taking an average of these values, we conclude that the optimum SID Thr to Lys ratio for 22–50kg pigs fed low CP protein diets supplemented with CAA is 0.70 to maximize ADG, 0.68 to optimize FCR and 0.63 to minimize SUN.

Valine and isoleucine requirement of 20- to 45-kilogram pigs1,2

Three experiments were conducted to determine the Val and Ile requirements in low-CP, corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) AA-supplemented diets for 20- to 45-kg pigs. All experiments were conducted for 26 to 27 d with purebred or crossbred barrows and gilts, which were blocked by initial BW. Treatments were replicated with 5 or 6 pens of 3 or 4 pigs per pen. At the beginning of Exp. 1 and the end of all experiments, blood samples were obtained from all pigs to determine plasma urea N (PUN) concentrations. All diets were C-SBM with 0.335% supplemental Lys to achieve 0.83% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys, which is the Lys requirement of these pigs. In Exp. 1, 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, or 0.10% L-Val was supplemented to achieve 0.51, 0.53, 0.55, 0.57, 0.59, or 0.61% dietary SID Val, and Thr, Trp, Met, and Ile were supplemented to maintain Thr:Lys, Trp:Lys, TSAA:Lys, and Ile:Lys ratios of 0.71, 0.20, 0.62, and 0.60, respectively. Also, supplemental Gly and Glu were added to all diets to achieve 1.66% Gly + Ser and 3.28% Glu, which is equal to the Gly + Ser and Glu content of a previously validated positive control diet that contained no supplemental AA. Treatment differences were considered significant at P < 0.10. Valine addition increased ADG, ADFI, and G:F in pigs fed 0.51 to 0.59% SID Val (linear, P < 0.08), but ADG and ADFI were decreased at 0.61% SID Val (quadratic, P ≤ 0.10). On the basis of ADG and G:F, the SID Val requirement is between 0.56 and 0.58% in a C-SBM diet supplemented with AA. In Exp. 2 and 3, 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, or 0.08% L-Ile was supplemented to achieve 0.43, 0.45, 0.47, 0.49, or 0.51% dietary SID Ile, and Thr, Trp, Met, and Ile were supplemented to maintain Thr:Lys, Trp:Lys, TSAA:Lys, and Val:Lys ratios of 0.71, 0.20, 0.62, and 0.74, respectively. Also, supplemental Gly and Glu were added to achieve 1.66% Gly + Ser and 3.28% Glu as in Exp. 1. Data from Exp. 2 and 3 were combined and analyzed as 1 data set. Daily BW gain, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by Ile additions to the diet; however, ADFI was decreased among pigs fed the diet with 0.45% SID Ile (P < 0.10) compared with pigs fed the 0.43% SID Ile diet. Broken-line analysis requirements could not be estimated for the combined data from Exp. 2 or 3. The results of this research indicate that the SID Val requirement is between 0.56 to 0.58% (0.67 to 0.70 SID Val:Lys), and the Ile requirement is adequate at 0.43% SID Ile (0.52 SID Ile:Lys) for 20- to 45-kg pigs.

Processing conditions affect nutrient digestibility of cold-pressed canola cake for grower pigs1

Cold-pressed canola cake is a coproduct of biodiesel production that contains more residual oil than expeller-pressed and solvent-extracted canola meal. Cold-pressed canola cake might be an attractive feedstuff for swine due to local availability from small plants. However, the nutritional quality and content of anti-nutritional factors of cold-pressed canola cake are poorly defined and vary with processing conditions. This experiment evaluated cold-pressed canola cake processed using 4 different conditions: a nonheated and heated barrel at slow and fast screw speed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Seven ileally cannulated barrows (26 kg of BW) were fed twice daily at 2.8 × maintenance diets containing either 44% of 1 of the 4 cold-pressed canola cake samples, expeller-pressed canola meal, canola seed, or an N-free diet in a 7 × 7 Latin square. The objectives were to measure the energy and AA digestibility and to calculate standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA and NE content. Each 9-d experimental period consisted of a 5-d diet adaptation, followed by 2-d feces and 2-d ileal digesta collections, and 7 observations per diet were obtained. Cold-pressed canola cake contained 41% CP, 16% ether extract, and 5 µmol of total glucosinolates/g (DM basis). Both apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and total tract energy digestibility of energy in cold-pressed canola cake was 36% greater (P < 0.05) in heated vs. nonheated conditions and 8% greater (P < 0.05) in fast vs. slow screw speed without interaction, indicating that heat enhanced energy digestibility. The AID of energy of cold-pressed canola cake was 13 and 118% greater (P < 0.01) than expeller-pressed canola meal and canola seed, respectively. Heat and speed interacted (P < 0.05) for SID of AA of test ingredients, but effects were not consistent among AA. The DE and calculated NE content of cold-pressed canola cake was 0.73 and 0.52 Mcal/kg greater (P=0.001; DM basis), respectively, than expeller-pressed canola meal and did not differ from canola seed. Cold-pressed canola cake averaged 4.17 Mcal of DE/kg, 2.84 Mcal of NE/kg, 0.87% SID Lys, 0.46% SID Met, and 0.79% SID Thr (DM basis). In conclusion, processing conditions greatly affected the digestible nutrient content of cold-pressed canola cake. Content of residual ether extract was an important determinant of the energy value of cold-press canola cake, whereas residual glucosinolates did not seem to hamper nutrient digestibility.

The Threonine Requirements and its Effects on Growth Performance and Gut Morphology of Broiler Chicken Fed Different Levels of Protein

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary threonine (Thr) and crude protein (CP) on growth performance, gut measurements and morphology and to estimate Standardized Ileal Digestible (SID) Thr requirements of Ross 308 males at 0-21 days of age. The SID Thr levels were 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0 and 1.1% with two levels of protein 16 and 19%. Chicks were randomized into 64 battery pens (5 chicks per replicate). FI was lower for broiler given the high CP diets compare to those fed on the low CP diets. BWG and FCR improved up to 0.7% Thr in both CP levels. Weight gain improved non-linearly suggesting optimum dietary SID Thr levels between 0.89 and 0.84% (quadratic) at 16 and 19% ideal protein, respectively. Significant interaction was found between CP and Thr on relative weight and length of duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05). Thr supplementation had significant effect on villus height, epithelial thickness, goblet cell number and crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum and ileum (p<0.01). Low CP diets adequate in Lys, TSAA supplemented with Thr may result in optimal BWG and FCR as well as growth of intestinal length non-linearly. Parameters of gut functionality such as microvilli height, crypt depth and epithelia thickness seemed to be improved with even higher levels of dietary SID Thr level.

Efficiency of utilizing ileal digestible lysine and threonine for whole body protein deposition in growing pigs is reduced when dietary casein is replaced by wheat shorts1,2

To determine the effect of dietary inclusion level of wheat shorts (WS; a high nonstarch poly-saccharide-containing feed ingredient) and casein (CS; a control) on the efficiency of utilizing ileal digestible Lys (kLys) and Thr (kThr) for whole body protein deposition (PD) in the growing pig, 2 separate N-balance studies were conducted with either Lys or Thr as first-limiting AA in cornstarch-based diets. For the Lys study, a basal diet (L-basal) was formulated to contain 0.24 g of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys per MJ of DE, to which 0.095 or 0.19 g of SID Lys per MJ of DE were added using either CS (L-CS2 or L-CS3, respectively) or WS (L-WS2 or L-WS3, respectively). A sixth diet was evaluated that was similar to L-CS3 but to which 6% pectin (L-pectin) was added as a source of soluble nonstarch polysaccharides. For the Thr study, the basal diet (T-basal) was formulated to contain 0.14 g of SID Thr per MJ of DE, to which 0.055 or 0.11 g of SID Thr per MJ of DE were added from CS (T-CS2 or T-CS3, respectively) or from WS (T-WS2 and T-WS3, respectively). A sixth diet was evaluated that was similar to T-CS3 but to which 6% pectin was added (T-pectin). Increasing SID Lys intake from CS did not influence kLys for PD (P > 0.10), whereas increasing SID Lys intake from WS reduced kLys for PD (P = 0.001; 89 vs. 79%). Inclusion of 6% pectin had no effect on kLys for PD (P > 0.10). Increasing SID Thr intake from CS also did not influence kThr for PD (P > 0.10), whereas kThr for PD was reduced at the greatest dietary inclusion level of WS (P < 0.001; 90 vs. 77%). Pectin inclusion had no effect on kThr for PD (P > 0.10). The inefficiency of utilizing ileal digestible Lys intake for PD may be attributed to nonreactive Lys in WS. The negative impact of including high levels of WS in the diet of pigs on kThr seems to be associated with fiber content of WS; it was not related to increased endogenous ileal AA losses at the distal ileum. The impact of dietary AA source on the use of ileal digestible Lys and Thr for PD, or other body functions, is substantial and should be considered in the formulation of pig diets. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms contributing to substantial dietary effects on Thr use for PD.