DETERMINATION OF THE METHIONINE REQUIREMENT OF GROWING PIGS USING SERUM FREE AMINO ACIDS

Abstract

Six littermate Yorkshire gilts averaging 18 kg body weight were fed a semipurified diet containing six graded levels of methionine during six 4-day feeding periods in a Latin square design. Serum methionine concentrations were determined at the end of each period. Plotting serum methionine concentration against dietary methionine intake showed the methionine requirement to be 0.46% of the diet; this estimate was substantiated by animal performance data.