|
|
Improving Pig Performance in Low Protein Diets The effect of reducing the protein level in diets of growing
pigs has shown no major detrimental effect on growth performance or
nitrogen retention, while reducing nitrogen excretion, in experiments
where amino acids levels are equalized between treatments. In these
low-protein diets with supplemental amino acids there is a trend for
fatter carcasses. The author of this article indicates that the lowering
of crude protein levels is also accomplished by more efficient utilization
of energy, due to a significant reduction in heat production and energy
loss in urine. This results in a greater quantity of retained energy
in the low protein diets at identical digestible or metabolizable energy
intakes. The net energy system is able to take this effect into account.
The net energy values provided the closest estimate of the energy available
for maintenance and production. The superiority of the net energy system
for predicting performance and carcass quality has been confirmed when
low protein diets are fed. |
