Effects of low protein diets with amino acids supplementation on biochemical and faeces parameters in weaned piglets

Abstract

Article Details: Received: 2019-09-19 | Accepted: 2019-10-01 | Available online: 2019-09-30

https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2019.22.03.71-75

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of a  low-protein diet supplemented with crystalline amino acids on the biochemical parameters in the blood serum, and the indicators of fermentation in the faeces in 12 crossbred piglets. The weaned piglets (at 28 days of age) were divided into two groups with 6 piglets each. The control diet contained 195 g/kg crude protein and the experimental diet contained 167 g/kg. The experimental diet was supplemented with lysine, methionine and threonine to achieve a more ideal amino acid pattern. The blood collections from the sinus ophthalmicus for the determination of the biochemical parameters were performed 2 times at 2 weekly intervals in both groups. The faeces were taken from the rectum at the end of the study period. The decrease in the dietary crude protein content of the experimental group was manifested by a significant decrease of the blood urea level (3.77 mmol/l average concentration) compared to the control group (4.97 mmol/l average concentration) (P <0.001). The serum concentrations of other components showed no significant statistical changes between the control and experimental groups. The results of the fermentation process analysis indicated that the acetate and the butyrate concentration decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group (P <0.05; 0.01, respectively). The decrease crude protein intake in the experimental group revealed significant lover levels of ammonia (P <0.001) and crude protein (P <0.01) compared to the control group.

Keywords: pigs, amino acids, proteins, metabolism, fermentation

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