Effect of Various Levels of Dietary Lysine on Certain Blood Phenomena, Muscle Development, and Muscle-Protein Biological Value of Growing Swine

The effects produced by dietary lysine supplemented to a corn-peanut oil meal ration at graded level on muscle development, muscle protein biological value, and various blood phenomena of growing swine has been studied. Weanling pigs averaging 30 lb. body weight were divided into four lots and fed the basal ration supplemented at levels of 0.0, 0.3, 0.6, or 0.9% with 95% L-lysine monochloride, respectively. Data were presented which demonstrate that average daily gain and feed efficiency improved with lysine supplementation. Blood analysis showed that pigs receiving the lysine deficient rations were characterized by lowered hemoglobin and hematocrit values, hypoproteinemia accompanied by hypoalbuminemia, and increased levels of alpha and gamma-globulin. Albumin and alpha-globulin were observed to become oriented into gradient patterns with respect to the lysine level in the later bleeding periods. Beta-globulin showed little change. Sedimentation rate decreased with age but at a faster rate in the pigs fed the higher levels of lysine.