Caloric Requirements of Early Weaned Pigs Fed Cord-Soybean Meal-Based Diets

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Abstract
Pigs weaned at 21 d of age and averaging 5.7 kg in weight were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 3,106, 3,300, 3,520 or 3,740 kcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg. Caloric levels were adjusted in the respective diets by the addition of Solka-floc or corn oil (1.12, 6.22 and 11.27% corn oil for the three higher energy diets, respectively). Constant ratios of calorie:protein, calorie: lysine and calorie:S bearing amino acid levels were maintained. A significant quadratic effect of treatment on gains was observed, with gains increasing until energy density reached the 3,520 kcal level. Average daily feed intake was lowest for pigs fed the 3,106 kcal diet and highest for those fed the 3,300 kcal diet, but decreased as energy increased from 3,300 kcal to 3,740 kcal. Feed to gain ratios improved linearly as caloric density increased, with the greatest improvement occurring between the 3,300 and 3,520 kcal levels. Comparing all treatments, the kcal of ME required per gram of gain were similar and ranged from 5.2 to 5.7. These data indicate that the caloric requirements for maximum gains and feed efficiencies in young pigs are higher than currently recommended, particularly for pigs weighing 10 to 20 kg. For a diet containing 3,520 kcal ME/kg, 20% crude protein supplied solely by corn and soybean meal appears to be as acceptable as a higher crude protein level containing supplemental lysine and methionine. Copyright © 1982. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1982 by American Society of Animal Science

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