AMINO ACID SUPPLEMENTATION OF AMMONIATED MUSTARD MEAL FOR USE IN SWINE FEEDS

Abstract

Ammoniated mustard meal (MM) was prepared in a pilot plant by expelling and hexane-extracting brown mustard seed (Brassica juncea (L.) Coss.) and applying steam, ammonia and water in the desolventizer. Barley-wheat (2:1)-based diets containing MM (16.8%) or MM + lysine (0.20%) or MM + lysine + isoleucine (0.1%) were compared to similar diets containing soybean meal (15.3%) or canola meal (21.6%). Each diet was fed to eight crossbred barows between 24 and 52 kg liveweight. Chemical scores indicated that the unsupplemented MM diet was first- and second-limiting in lysine and isoleucine, respectively. Compared to the unsupplemented MM diet, supplemental lysine significantly improved the feed:gain ratio (2.80 vs. 2.51) while adding both lysine and isoleucine improved daily gain (574 vs. 684 g/day). Lysine and isoleucine supplementation resulted in significant increases in serum concentrations of these amino acids, confirming observations made regarding gains and feed:gain ratio. The isoleucine deficiency associated with MM-supplemented diets may be nutritionally important only in the early part of the grower phase. However, lysine supplementation appears to be necessary throughout the grower period. Key words: Mustard meal, ammoniation, feeding trial, serum amino acids, lysine, isoleucine