Effect of dietary energy and weaning weight on nitrogen balance and energy metabolizability of piglets

Authors

  • Marcia de Souza Vieira Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil
  • Marcelo Luiz Somensi Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • Anna Mikaela Batista Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil
  • Victoria Yasmin Domingues Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v19e-49548

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary metabolizable energy (ME; 3.40, 3.60, or 3.80 Mcal/kg) and weaning weight (WW; 4.5 ± 0.4 and 6.7 ± 0.5 kg) on nitrogen balance (NB) and gross energy metabolizability in weanling piglets. In total, 32 barrow piglets were individually housed in metabolic cages for 28 d in a 2x3 factorial arrangement with five barrows per treatment. Only light and 3.80 ME and heavy and 3.40 ME/kg treatments had six barrows per treatment each. The diets were formulated to maintain a constant nutrient to ME ratio. Nitrogen balance was evaluated in three periods through total collection of feces and urine. Heavy piglets had 14% greater N intake, absorption, and retention in starter and total periods (P<0.05). The increasing in the levels of dietary ME linearly augmented N intake, absorption, and retention during starter and total periods (P<0.05). The dietary ME levels linearly increased energy metabolizability in all periods (P<0.05). In conclusion, heavy weaned piglets had better efficiency in nitrogen retention. Besides, increasing dietary ME levels can improve the N retention and the metabolizability of dietary energy.

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Published

2018-10-02

Issue

Vol. 19 (2018): Continuous publication

Section

ANIMAL SCIENCE

License

Copyright (c) 2018 CIÊNCIA ANIMAL BRASILEIRA (Brazilian Animal Science)

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How to Cite

VIEIRA, M. DE S. et al. Effect of dietary energy and weaning weight on nitrogen balance and energy metabolizability of piglets. Brazilian Animal Science/ Ciência Animal Brasileira, v. 19, p. 1–10, 2 Oct.2018.