Effect of source of methionine in broken rice-soybean diet on production performance, blood chemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigs

This study was conducted to compare the effect of source of methionine (Met) in broken rice-soybean diet on performance, blood biochemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigs. Forty-eight male crossbreed pigs (BW 11 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly allocated to three groups with four replications in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were: (1) basal diet without methionine (Control; total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) 0.60%); (2) basal diet supplemented with dl-methionine (DLM) (TSAA 0.76%); and (3) basal diet supplemented with dl-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (LMA) (TSAA 0.76%). Supplementation with DLM and LMA improved growth performance of piglets and decreased blood urea nitrogen and increased serum albumin (P < 0.01). The population of Lactobacillus spp. in the caecum was decreased by both DLM and LMA supplementation (P < 0.05). Succinic acid concentration in the caecum of pigs fed the DLM diet was greater than that of LMA group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that LMA can be used as a good source of Met (88% bioefficacy, weight/weight) in broken rice-soybean diet, although the serum albumin and fermentation characteristics (succinic acid) in the gastrointestinal tract were different.