Effect of body weight and pig individuality on apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids and total nitrogen

Abstract

Six ileally cannulated pigs were used to estimate apparent ileal digestibilities of amino acids and total N of a rye-based diet (96 % rye) at two body weights (20.6 kg and 61.7 kg). On average, the digestibility coefficients were higher in growing pigs than in piglets, the difference being approximately 7 % (P<0.01). The digestibility of all individual amino acids was higher in growing pigs than in piglets except for methionine and phenylalanine. Of essential amino acids, the effect of body weight was significant (P<0.05) in arginine, leucine, lysine, threonine and valine. There was a significant effect (P<0.05) of pig individuality on the the digestibility of all amino acids except for glycine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and proline. It is concluded that the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids and total N increases with increased body weight and that the animals who digested protein well in an early age retained their ability during subsequent growth.