Original research article
Energy Balance Estimated from Individual Measurements of Body Weight and Backfat Thickness of Heavy Pigs of Four Genetic Lines Fed Different Diets
2013, 78 (3) p. 221-224
Giacomo Cesaro, Luigi Gallo, Luca Carraro, Franco Tagliapietra, Lutz Bünger, Stefano Schiavon
Abstract
Pigs of four genetic lines (GL): Anas (A), DanBred (D), Goland (G) and Topigs received either a conventional (140 g CP/kg and 46 g lysine/kg CP; C-CP) or a low protein diet (106 g CP/kg and 46 g lysine/kg CP; L-CP). Body weight (BW) and backfat depth (P2) were individually measured at the start and the end of two growing periods and individual feed intake (FI) was recorded daily. Body protein and lipid mass at the start and at the end of each period were estimated from BW and P2, and hence protein (Pr) and lipid (Lr) retention were computed. Energy requirement for maintenance (MEm), and growth (MEg) were estimated according to National Research Council guidelines, while ME intake (MEI) was computed from measured FI and ME content of the diets. The MEI/(MEm + MEg) ratio was used as index of efficiency. Differences among GL (P
Keywords
heavy pig, genetic line, growth performance, low-protein diets
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