Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Amino Acid Utilization in Sows
Nutrition UpdateVolume 14 No.3, February 2004
Within an animal’s body, protein is continuously turned over and catabolized. Amino acids need to be supplied for maintenance, growth and reproduction in pigs. The amounts of the dietary amino acids to support reproduction is reasonably well understood, however the ideal amino acid profiles for breeding pigs are less well known due to the complex interactions between nutrient metabolism and reproduction in breeding animals. A recent paper by Kim and Easter (2003) reviewed the current information regarding amino acid metabolism for sows.
Ongoing genetic selection program continually challenge nutritionists to reevaluate the amino acid requirements for sows. Ideal dietary amino acid profiles for gestating and lactating sows are being developed and further refined.
Evidence suggests that the ideal amino acid for sows is dynamic rather than fixed and changes with gestation and lactation. There are several factors that affect the ideal amino acid profile during gestation and lactation and these need to be determined for the specific genetic line of sow that is being fed. These factors include the age of the sow, the genetic line, and the stage of gestation or lactation. Understanding how these factors affect the amino acid needs of the sow will allow for more precise development of amino acid profiles for sows.
New feeding programs may be necessary within a herd to effectively use the amino acid profile for sows under commercial production conditions. One suggestion is to separate sows into groups based on their maturity or body condition at farrowing can greatly assist in the utilization of the dynamic amino acid profile for lactating sows in a commercial herd.
Phase feeding programs during the different stages of gestation can assist helping the feeding program meet the changes needs of the sows and more closely provide the required amino acids for the sows.
By understanding the biology and metabolism of the sow, a feeding program can be designed based on a relevant amino acid profile for a sow herd. This will help the producer to improve the overall efficiency of the swine herd and ensure that dietary nutrients are used where they are needed the most, in animal metabolism and not excreted in the manure.
Reference: Kim and Easter. 2003. Chapter 12. in Amino Acids in Animal
Nutrition. 2nd ed. CAB International.
Prepared by: Ian R. Seddon, Ph.D.
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