NUTRITIVE REQUIREMENTS OF YOUNG PIGS

Abstract

Observations were made on 95 young pigs, weaned at 2 to 23 days of age and fed artificial diets, the most satisfactory of which, for growth, consisted of casein (24.0%), sucrose (62.5%), and lard (13.5%), supplemented with minerals and vits.; 157 cal. per kg. permitted optimum growth. A suitable mineral mixture was described. Vits. were furnished daily by 0.5 g. cod liver oil and 3 or more g. per kgm. yeast. When the quantity of yeast was reduced, impairment of growth followed. Animals receiving 1.5 to 0.1 g. yeast per kg. supplemented by thiamin gained an avg. of 93 g. daily; those given riboflavin also gained 108 g. daily; when nicotinic acid and thiamin were combined the gain was 160 g. daily; when all 3 vits. were furnished the gain was 237 g. When 3 or more g. of yeast were given, wt. gains averaged over 400 g. daily. The necessary growth factors seemed to be more readily available in yeast than in liver extract. No evidence was found that a concentrate of milk vits. contained growth factors not present in yeast.