Increasing dietary valine-to-lysine ratio for lactating sows had no effect on Utterperformance or sow tissue mobilisation

摘要

The correct ratio between lysine (Lys) and other essential amino acids is needed for optimal utilisation of dietary protein. The effects of the dietary valine to lysine ratio (Val:Lys) for lactating sows on litter growth and sow body mobilisation is equivocal (e.g. Richert et al. 1996; Gaines et al. 2006), however these studies were conducted in sows suckling around 10 piglets. Given the hyperprolificacy of modern sow genotypes with added demands for higher milk production, the hypothesis tested in the current study was that increasing the dietary VahLys ratio would improve litter growth and reduce sow tissue mobilisation.