Metabolizable energy,nitrogen balance,and ileal digestibility of amino acids in quality protein maize for pigs

Background：To compare the nutritional value and digestibility of five quality protein maize（QPM） hybrids to that of white and yellow maize,two experiments were carried out in growing pigs.In experiment 1,the energy metabolizability and the nitrogen balance of growing pigs fed one of five QPM hybrid diets were compared against those of pigs fed white or yellow maize.In experiment 2,the apparent and standardized ileal digestibility（AID and SID,respectively） of proteins and amino acids from the five QPM hybrids were compared against those obtained from pigs fed white and yellow maize.In both experiments,the comparisons were conducted using contrasts.Results：The dry matter and nitrogen intakes were higher in the pigs fed the QPM hybrids（P 〈 0.05） than in the pigs fed white or yellow maize.Energy digestibility（P 〈 0.001） and metabolizability（P 〈 0.01） were higher in the pigs fed the white and yellow maize diets than in those fed the QPM diets.The AID of lysine was higher（P〈 0.01） in the QPM diets than in the white and yellow maize.The AIDs of leucine,isoleucine,valine,phenylalanine,and methionine were lower in the QPM diets than those of maize（white and yellow）（all P 〈 0.05）.Maize（white and yellow） had greater SIDs of leucine,isoleucine,valine,phenylalanine,glutamic acid,serine,alanine,tyrosine,and proline（P 〈 0.05）.Conclusions：Based on these results,it was concluded that QPM had a lower metabolizable energy content and a higher amount of digestible lysine than normal maize.

Estimate of Amino Acid Balance in Nutrition

A new chemical index-imbalance degree (IBD), was proposed on the basis of cluster analysis in multivariate statistical analysis to estimate the extent of amino acid balance in protein. The range of IBD is between 0 and 1, successively corresponding to complete balance and entire imbalance for the amino acid profile of a sample. The amino acid increment model of IBD belongs to an asymmetrical maximum-type, and there is a high correlation between IBD and coefficient of variation (CV). The nutritional value of individual feed can be ranked and clustered according to its IBD; and by calculating the IBD of amixed sample with two or more feedstuffs, it is Possible theoretically to predict whether a synergetic. pheno men on exists and when an optimal mutual complement can happen. If the conceptive frame of IBD extended, it can be used to study the balance of nutrients besides amino acids, and is helpful to realize the automatic distinction and selection in diet formulating.

Effects of reducing dietary protein on the expression of nutrition sensing genes(amino acid transporters) in weaned piglets

The effects of crude protein（CP） levels in the diet on the m RNA expression of amino acid（AA） transporters were studied in a 45-d trial. Eighteen piglets with an initial body weight（BW） of 9.57 kg were assigned to three groups（14%, 17%, and 20% CP in the diet） in a completely randomized design（six replicates per treatment）. Diets were supplemented with crystalline AA to achieve equal standardized ileal digestible contents of Lys, Met plus Cys, Thr, and Trp, and were provided ad libitum. After 45 d, all piglets were slaughtered to collect small intestine samples. Compared with the values in the 14% CP group, the expressions of ASCT2, 4F2 hc, and ATB0 m RNA in the jejunum were increased by 23.00%, 12.00%, 6.00% and 48.00%, 47.00%, 56.00% in the 17% and 20% CP groups, respectively. These results indicate that a 14% CP diet supplemented with crystalline AA may not transport enough AA into the body and maintain growth performance of piglets. However, a reduction of dietary 17% CP may reduce the excretion of nitrogen into the environment while supporting the development of piglets. Therefore, the 17% CP level is more suitable than 14% CP level.