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The ability of growing pigs to control their protein intake when fed in different ways

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

I. Kyriazakis
Affiliation:
The Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
C.C. Emmans
Affiliation:
The Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
C.T. Whittemore
Affiliation:
The Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
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Extract

On a single feed an animal can increase its intake of a nutrient (eg. protein), as its ratio to energy is reduced, only by increasing its rate of energy intake. When given, as a choice, two feeds of a different protein but equal energy contents, it can vary its protein intake independently of Its energy intake by varying the proportion of each feed in its diet.

The experiment described here was designed to investigate the effect of feed protein content on the feed intake of young pigs and to test the proposition that young pigs, when given a choice between two feeds of different protein contents, a combination of which is non-limting, will select a diet which meets their protein requirements. In addition an investigation of the rules which govern the diet selection was carried out.

Four feeds (L, A, B and H) with similar energy contents (16.5 MJ DE per kg fresh feed) but different levels of crude protein (CP) were formulated and made into pellets. All feeds were intended to be non-limiting in vitamins and minerals.

Type
Aspects of Pig Behaviour and Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1988

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