Protein Requirements of Suckling Age Pigs1

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Abstract
Thirty-nine pigs weaned at 3 weeks of age were used to obtain further information on the protein requirement for growth of pigs during the period of 3- to 8-weeks of age. No significant difference resulted in rate of gain of the pigs due to the use of rations containing approximately 16, 20, 24 and 28% of protein. There was a definite trend toward more efficient utilization of feed for gain as the level of dietary protein increased. Nitrogen balance studies were conducted to determine the influence of level of dietary protein upon N retention by pigs fed 16, 20, 24 and 28% protein diets during the period from 3- to 8-weeks of age. A highly significant difference (P< 0.01) resulted in the percentage of absorbed nitrogen retained due to protein level. Likewise, there was also a highly significant difference in amount of N retained per unit of metabolic size (Wkg0.75) due to protein level with significantly less N being retained by the pigs fed the 16% protein diet than by the pigs fed diets containing any of the other levels of protein. It appears that the percentage of dietary protein required to promote acceptable gains in 3- to 8-week old pigs is somewhat less than that required to promote satisfactory N retention. It is suggested that pigs weaned at 3 weeks of age require at least 20% of dietary protein of high quality to promote maximum nitrogen retention, during the early stages of the subsequent growth period.

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