Effects of branched-chain amino acids to lysine ratios in corn distillers dried grains with solubles containing diets on growth performance, plasma nitrogen profile, carcass traits, and economic analysis in growing-finishing pigs

Jinsu Hong; David Clizer; Paul Cline; Ryan Samuel

doi:10.1093/tas/txad066

Effects of branched-chain amino acids to lysine ratios in corn distillers dried grains with solubles containing diets on growth performance, plasma nitrogen profile, carcass traits, and economic analysis in growing-finishing pigs

Transl Anim Sci. 2023 Jun 27;7(1):txad066. doi: 10.1093/tas/txad066. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Jinsu Hong¹, David Clizer², Paul Cline², Ryan Samuel¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
² Christensen Farms, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085, USA.

Abstract

A study was conducted to identify the effects of standardized ileal digestible (SID) branched-chain amino acids (BCAA):lysine (Lys) ratios on the growth performance, plasma nitrogen (N) profile, carcass traits, and economic analysis of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with high corn distillers dried grains with solubles (cDDGS) inclusions. A total of 1,140 pigs (initial body weight [BW] = 28.7 ± 2.0 kg) were housed in 45 pens of 25 or 26 pigs and fed one of five diets in a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets were fed in four phases based on BW. Dietary treatments were a corn-soybean meal (SBM) based diet (PC), a corn-SBM-cDDGS-based diet (NC) with SID BCAA:Lys ratio of PIC (2020) recommendation and NC diets with SID BCAA:Lys ratios targeted for the 73% SID Val:Lys, 60% SID Ile:Lys, and 144% SID Leu:Lys during the growing phases (25 to 80 kg, Grow), targeted for the 78% SID Val:Lys, 70% SID Ile:Lys, and 160% to 170% SID Leu:Lys during the finishing phases (80 to 120 kg, finish), and both during the growing and finishing phases (Grow-Finish). One pig from each pen was bled at the end of 7 and 13 wk. After the 11-wk-feeding trial, pigs were sent to a commercial abattoir to investigate carcass traits. Pigs fed the Finish diet had a greater overall average daily gain (P < 0.05) than pigs fed the other cDDGS diets. Dietary treatments did not affect the hot carcass weight. However, feeding the Finish diet increased (P < 0.05) the iodine value of pork belly samples and decreased (P < 0.05) carcass yield. The plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentration at the end of the growing phase and plasma concentrations of Leu and Val were greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the Finish diet compared to the other cDDGS diets. Feeding pigs the cDDGS diets with different BCAA:Lys ratios had no difference in income over feed cost and income over feed and facility costs compared to the corn-SBM diet. Therefore, feeding pigs cDDGS diets with SID BCAA:Lys ratios adjusted for the previously determined finishing phase (from 80 to 120 kg of BW) recommendations by SBM inclusion supported growth performance and economic benefits equal to the corn-SBM diet.

Keywords: branched-chain amino acids; carcass traits; corn distillers dried grains with solubles, economic analysis; growing–finishing pigs; growth performance.