Nutritional Value of Opaque−2 Corn for Swine

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted with weanling pigs to compare the nutritional value of opaque-2 corn with a normal hybrid corn. Similar rates of gain, feed conversions and plasma lysine concentrations were obtained when pigs were fed opaque-2 corn or normal corn supplemented with lysine and tryptophan in combination, but not singly, suggesting that the beneficial effects of opaque-2 corn for swine are primarily due to its higher content of both lysine and tryptophan. Significantly improved gains and feed conversions were obtained when opaque-2 corn was substituted for normal corn on an equal weight basis at suboptimal levels of dietary protein, and comparable gains and feed conversions were obtained with the 2 corns when the diets were made isonitrogenous by adjusting corn and soybean meal. Opaque-2 corn was preferred over a normal corn-soybean meal diet of equal dietary protein level when both were offered simultaneously.