Lysine Supplementation of Corn-Soybean Meal Swine Diet

An experiment using 1,200 gilts was conducted to determine the effects of increasing L-lysine HCL in corn-soybean meal diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics. The dietary treatments consisted of a control diet with added levels of L-lysine HCL (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 pounds per ton) by replacing the lysine provided by soybean meal. The results indicated that increasing L-lysine HCL above 3 pounds per ton decreased average daily gain and increased feed per gain, backfat was increased and the fat-free-lean index decreased with increasing L-lysine HCL in the diet, with the greatest effect above three pounds per ton. These results indicate that no more than three pounds per ton (0.15%) of L-lysine HCL should be added to corn-soybean meal diets for growing-finishing pigs to avoid deficiencies of other amino acids that may limit growth performance.

De La Llata, M., and co-workers. 2000. Effects of increasing L-lysine HCL in corn-soybean meal diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing gilts. Kansas State University Swine Day Proceedings, p87-91.