THE LYSINE REQUIREMENT OF THE PIG FROM TWO TO SIX WEEKS OF AGE

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Abstract
In recent years a great deal of emphasis and attention has been focussed on weaning of pigs at an early age. From the nutritional point of view, at least, it has been made abundantly clear that this can be done successfully. However, information is still lacking on many of the minimum nutrient requirements of the very young pig. All available evidence indicates that the requirement for protein and/or amino acids is greatest during the early stages of growth. For example, Reber et al. 1953 employed a vitamin-extracted casein as the sole source of protein and reported that a ration containing 41% crude protein produced maximum weight gains and feed efficiency for the very young pig; whereas a 20% protein diet appeared to be adequate for pigs eight weeks of age. Sewell et al. 1953a, using a vitamin-extracted caesein and an isolated soybean protein, reported that 32% protein promoted the fastest gains and the most efficient feed utilization, but diets containing 24 and 28% protein gave satisfactory results. Becker et al. 1954 using the equal-feed technique, found that the pig from 1 to 4 weeks of age required 22% of milk protein; whereas the pig from 5 to 9 weeks of age performed as satisfactorily on 12% of milk protein as on higher levels. Employing the method used by Harte and Travers (1947) and Mitchell (1950), Becker et al. 1954 estimated that lysine supplied at levels of 1.42 and 0.72% of the diet was adequate for pigs 1 to 4 weeks