Amino acid requirements of the breeding sow

Abstract

1. Two experiments, involving six lactating Landacre x (Landrace x Large White) sows were undertaken to study the lysine requirement of the lactating sow and to identify the second limiting amino acid by means of interpretation of plasma amino acid and blood urea levels.2. A basal diet composed mainly of equal amounts of ground barley and ground wheat supplemented with mineral and vitamin mixtures was used. This diet was supplemented with synthetic amino acids (lysine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine and isoleucine).3. Plasma amino acid and blood urea values showed a close agreement and indicated that lysine intake above 38.4 g/d was in excess of the requirement level.4. Plasma amino acid values suggested tryptophan to be the second limiting amino acid whereas blood urea values suggested threonine to be the second limiting amino acid.