Influence of dietary lysine and energy intakes on body protein deposition and lysine utilization in the growing pig.

A serial slaughter study was conducted to determine the effects of true ileally digestible lysine (IDLys) intake and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) on whole-body protein deposition (PD) and dietary lysine utilization in pigs between 45 and 75 kg live weight (LW). Conventional N balances were determined at the start and end of the serial slaughter study. Semisynthetic diets based on casein and cornstarch provided protein-bound lysine to support protein depositions of approximately 70% (Lys70%, IDLys 11.1 g/d) or 90% (Lys90%, IDLys 13.2 g/d) of a determined maximum PD. During the serial slaughter study and at Lys70%, pigs were fed one of six levels of MEI ranging from 14.1 to 23.5 MJ/d; at Lys90%, pigs were fed one of seven levels of MEI ranging from 15.6 to 26.4 MJ/d. The serial slaughter study and N balances indicated that MEI and IDLys had independent effects on PD and lysine utilization. Lysine utilization (calculated as the fraction of absorbed available lysine, over and above maintenance lysine requirements, that was retained in body protein) and PD increased with increasing MEI until plateau values were reached. At the plateaus, PD was determined by lysine intake. When lysine intake determined PD, lysine utilization did not decline (P > 0.10) with increasing lysine intake. Based on the N balance study, there was no effect (P > 0.1) of LW on lysine utilization. The marginal efficiency of using absorbed available lysine for PD was 0.75 and was not affected by LW, MEI, or IDLys.