title: Dietary and plasma branched-chain amino acids in relation to tryptophan: effect on voluntary feed intake and lactation metabolism in the primiparous sow.
abstract: Seventy-six gravid gilts of different genotypes, Yorkshire x Duroc (YD) and Pig Improvement Company (PIC), were used in two trials to test the effect of decreasing the dietary ratio of tryptophan: branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on feed intake, plasma metabolites, and body weight change during a 4-wk lactation period. The dietary ratio of tryptophan: BCAA was .063 in the Control and .041 in the experimental diet (BC). Gilts were fed 1.8 kg/d from d 107 of gestation until farrowing and given ad libitum access to feed during lactation. Feed consumption was measured daily. Body weights and preprandial blood samples were taken on d 107 of gestation and on d 1, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum. Plasma glucose, NEFA, urea nitrogen, ammonia, N tau-methylhistidine, and alpha-amino nitrogen were measured. The plasma tryptophan:BCAA ratio was higher (P < .05) on d 1 postpartum than on d 107 of gestation and d 7 postpartum in the Control group. Dietary addition of BCAA (BC) reduced (P < .06) the plasma tryptophan: BCAA ratio during the early postpartum period compared with the Control group but did not affect the other plasma metabolites measured. Feed intake was lower (P < .08) between d 6 and 12 of lactation in sows fed the BC diet. Regression of d-1 plasma NEFA concentration on d-1 postpartum feed intake was significant (r2 = .41; P < .05). The PIC sows showed a tendency for positive lactation body weight response to the BC diet (P = .2), whereas the response of YD sows was not significant (P < .8).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Easter
mesh_terms: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D000641:Ammonia; D014364:Tryptophan