Effects of Low Crude Protein Diets Supplemented with Synthetic Amino Acids on Growth Performance and Blood Biochemical Profile of Growing 20–50 kg Cross-bred (Yorkshire×Zovawk) Pigs

Abstract

The study was carried out during April–June, 2024 in the livestock farm of the College of Veterinary science and Animal Husbandry, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, to investigate the effect of low crude protein diets supplemented with synthetic amino acids on performance of growing cross-bred (Yorkshire×Zovawk) pigs. Twenty cross-bred pigs of similar age (3–4 months) and average body weight (20–23 kg) were taken for the study period of 60 days and were randomly allocated into 4 groups each with 5 animals. Standard grower ration was prepared as per National Research Council . All the animals were fed isocaloric diet with different protein level with or without amino acid supplementation. The diet was prepared for 20–50 kg bwt pigs in which Group-1 was control group and fed standard grower ration having 18% of crude protein (CP). The rest three groups were fed 15% CP i.e. 3% unit reduction of standard CP level. Group-2 was fed without synthetic amino acids while there was lysine supplementation in Group-3 and there was supplementation of the Lysine, methionine and threonine in Group-4 as per the requirement. During the whole feeding trial of 60 days there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in average dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio among the different treatment groups. A digestibility trial was also conducted which revealed that digestibility coefficient of dry matter, CP, crude fibre, ether extract and nitrogen free extract was not significantly differed (p>0.05) among different treatment groups.  Blood biochemical parameters analysis revealed that serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol and SGOT value was within normal range and no significant difference (p>0.05) were observed among the treatment groups. It was concluded that the reduction of dietary protein by 3% unit of feeding standard in the diet of growing cross-bred (Yorkshire×Zovawk) did not have any adverse effect on the growth performance, nutrient utilization and blood biochemical profile of the pigs.