Effect of Low- and High-Sulfur-Containing Amino Acid Inclusion in Diets Fed to Primiparous Sows in Late Gestation on Pre-Partum Nitrogen Retention and Offspring Pre- and Post-Weaning Growth Performance

2024

Impact of Sulfur Amino Acids in Diets for Pregnant Sows

Sample size: 27 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Cristhiam Jhoseph Munoz Alfonso, Lee-Anne Huber, Crystal L. Levesque

Primary Institution: Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Canada; Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, USA

Hypothesis

Does the inclusion of low and high levels of sulfur-containing amino acids in the diets of pregnant sows affect nitrogen retention and offspring growth performance?

Conclusion

Higher levels of sulfur-containing amino acids in the sows' diet improved nitrogen retention but did not enhance the growth performance of the piglets.

Supporting Evidence

Higher sulfur amino acid levels in the diet led to increased nitrogen retention in late gestation.
Post-weaning growth performance of the offspring was not influenced by maternal dietary treatment.
The sow can regulate nutrient transfer to the litter even with suboptimal diets.
Excessive sulfur amino acid levels may not provide additional benefits for growth.