Effects of Aminogut and Diet Formulation Approach on Growth Performance in Nursery Pigs

Diets containing animal protein sources have more glutamine than plant protein-based diets. AminoGut (Ajinomoto Heartland, Inc., Chicago, IL) is a product containing glutamine and glutamate. This study was conducted to determine the effects of protein source and AminoGut (Gln+Glu) on growth performance in nursery pigs from 5 to 27 kg. A total of 1,134 pigs (PIC 337×1050, 5.3±0.08 kg) were used in a 52-d trial. Pens were assigned to treatments in a randomized complete block based on initial BW (7 pens/treatment). Treatments were a 2×3 factorial with 2 protein sources [animal (2.5% fish meal and 4% bovine blood plasma (d 0-10) and 5% fish meal (d 10-24)) vs. plant (6.5% (d 0-10) and 5% (d 10-24) fermented soy protein)] and 3 Gln+Glu durations (0, 10, and 24 d). Diets also contained 18% (d 0-10) and 25% (d 10-24) soybean meal. Gln+Glu addition was 0.8% from d 0-10 and 0.6% from d 10-24. From d 24-52, pigs were fed a common diet. Statistical analysis was performed using PROC GLIMMIX (SAS^®). From d 0-10, pigs fed animal protein-based diets had marginally significant greater ADG (P=0.074) and increased G:F (P=0.016) compared to pigs fed plant-based diets; however, after d 10, no evidence of differences was observed between pigs fed different protein sources. From d 10-24, pigs fed Gln+Glu had increased ADG (P=0.019) and G:F (P=0.001). From d 0-24, pigs fed Gln+Glu had marginally significant improvement in ADG (P=0.059) and increased G:F (P=0.010) compared to pigs not fed Gln+Glu. From d 24-52, pigs previously fed Gln+Glu for 10 d had marginally significant improvement in G:F (P=0.057) compared to pigs not fed Gln+Glu or fed Gln+Glu for 24 d. Overall (d 0-52), there was no evidence of differences in growth performance due to Gln+Glu. In conclusion, feeding Gln+Glu for 10 d post-weaning improved growth performance until d 24, but there was no carryover effect when a common diet was fed and dietary protein source did not influence the response to Gln+Glu. Further research should evaluate Gln+Glu supplementation for a longer duration.

	Protein source				Gln+Glu duration, d
	Plant	Animal	SEM		0	10	24	SEM
d 0 to 24
ADG, g	235	241	3.67		230x	238xy	246y	4.49
G:F	0.691	0.700	0.006		0.677a	0.698b	0.711b	0.008
d 0 to 52
ADG, g	403	410	3.95		399	411	409	4.71
G:F	0.669	0.671	0.003		0.665	0.674	0.669	0.004
x,y = P<0.05; a,b = P<0.01

See more of: Nonruminant Nutrition VII: Feed Additives/Ingredients
See more of: Nonruminant Nutrition

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