Protein levels in diets for European pigs in the tropics. 1. The effect of methionine supplementation on the protein requirement of growing pigs

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-eight Landrace and Large White pigs were allocated on the basis of sex, litter origin and initial weight to one of 16 treatments, made up of four basal 16, 18, 20 and 22% protein diets, each supplemented with either 0-00, 0-10, 0-15 or 0-20 % synthetic DL-methionine, at a common digestible energy level of 3740 kcal/kg. Pigs were reared between 8 and 50 kg live weight. Growth rate of pigs and efficiency of feed conversion were significantly improved as the protein levels were increased up to the 20 % protein level, optimal performance being on the 20 % protein diet, with added 0-15% methionine, giving a total methio-nine+cystine level of 0-65% and a lysine level of 1-07%. Addition of synthetic methionine to the diets resulted in significant improvement in the rate and efficiency of gain only at the 16 and 18% protein levels. Carcass leanness and fatness increased and decreased respectively over the whole range of protein levels. Graded addition of DLmethionine within each protein level did not influence carcass characteristics. Nitrogen retention showed optimal utilization of dietary nitrogen to be at the 18% protein level, with a total dietary methionine + cystine level of 0-61 %, which was at variance with the levels indicated by both growth and feed efficiency.

Methionine requirements of weanling European pigs given cassava flour/soya bean meal diets

“…Recently, however, Le Dividich and Canope (1978) reported much lower protein requirements for pigs reared in the tropics than obtained by the above workers. Fetuga et al (1975a and b) in agreement with Le Dividich and Canope (1978) suggested that the higher protein levels required were essentially due to a need to offset a deficiency of methionine and lysine in the food. The formulation of low cost but efficient diets for pigs reared under a tropical fPresent address: Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.…”

“…It has been established that pig performance in terms of rate and efficiency of gain, and quality of the carcass, is closely related to the intake of particular nutrients, especially protein and energy (Cooke, Lodge and Lewis, 1972;O'Grady and Bowland, 1972;Fetuga et al, 1975a and b). This study clearly demonstrated that methionine deficiency in the diet of pigs will cause an 'amino acid imbalance' and depression of daily feed consumption, hence a decreased intake of essential nutrients with consequent adverse effects on daily live-weight gain, efficiency of food conversion and quality of the carcass.…”

“…The vitamin-mineral premix was a Pfizer livestock feed product supplying vitamins, macro-and micro-minerals, as specified by Fetuga et al (1975a). The vitamin-mineral premix was a Pfizer livestock feed product supplying vitamins, macro-and micro-minerals, as specified by Fetuga et al (1975a).…”

The value of palm kernel meal in finishing diets for pigs: 1. The effect of varying the proportion of protein contribution from blood meal and palm kernel meal on the performance and carcass quality of finishing pigs

“…They were slaughtered the following day, dressed and separated into two halves. The right sides were immediately dissected into lean bone and fat plus skin while the left halves were chilled for 24 h after which conventional carcass data were taken as described in detail by Fetuga, Babatunde & Oyenuga (1975a).…”

Preliminary investigation of the crossing of bambara nut (<i>Vigna subterranea</i> [L.] Verdc.)

“…Dry seeds are roasted and eaten as a nutritionally balanced snack, while ground dry seeds are used to prepare many form of dishes such as Moi-moi, which is made from a steamed paste (Okpuzor et al, 2009). Bambara nut seed can be processed to make bread (Fetuga et al, 1975) and into vegetable milk similar to that made from soybean (Brough et al, 1993). The paste can be fried in oil and be served as snack with porridge at breakfast.…”