Model meals satisfy market needs

摘要

Most pig models are developed around the 4 main principles of describing the animals' response to dietary nutrients, the partition of these nutrients within the body, the characterisation of the pig itself and the nature of the diet. Ba-sically, mostassume a partitioning of feed nu-trients for the separate functions of body maintenance and growth. The first priority of the finishing pig must be to maintain itself so it stays alive. This maintenance may account for up to 40% of the energy consumed and 10% of the amino acid intake. It diverts nutrients from growth unnecessarily unless minimised by ideal conditions of environ-ment and management. For example, the energy needed for maintenance is increased by about 4% for every 1-degree C that the animal is kept below its optimum temperature.