Sulfur amino acid requirement of the finishing pig

Abstract

A growth and two nitrogen retention studies were conducted to determine the sulfur amino acid requirement of the finishing pig. Adding 0.10% DL-methionine to a 9.0% protein semi-purified basal diet containing 0.14% total sulfur amino acids significantly (P<.05) increased nitrogen retention, but further additions of DL-methionine had no beneficial effect. Daily gain was not significantly affected by adding DL-methionine to the basal diet, suggesting that the finishing pig has a lower sulfur amino acid requirement for daily gain than is essential for maximum nitrogen retention. These results suggest that the sulfur amino acid requirement of the finishing pig fed a 9.0% protein diet does not exceed 0.24% of the diet.