The Quantitative Threonine Requirement of the Suckling Pig

Abstract

Suckling pigs were fed simulated milk diets containing approximately 25% protein on a dry matter basis. Dietary nitrogen was supplied by isolated soybean (“alpha”) protein, crystalline amino acids and ammonium citrate (dibasic). Growth and feed efficiency were used as criteria in studying the effects of adding various levels of DL-threonine to this diet over a three-week period. The data suggest that the L-threonine requirement is approximately 0.9%. This is equivalent to 3.6% of the dietary protein.