Potassium, Protein and Basic Amino Acid Relationships in Swine

Abstract

Pigs fed diets containing 7.6 to 20% protein responded to potassium supplementation by increased weight gain and efficiency of feed conversion, but in no case was the performance obtained equal to that of pigs fed adequate protein. Supplementation with 1% potassium acetate was more effective than 2%. The concentration of potassium in the diet was directly reflected in the potassium content of the blood plasma and skeletal muscle, but not in the kidney or liver tissues. Supplementation of corn-soybean meal diets with 0.2%) or 0.3% lysine improved the performance of pigs fed protein levels of 7.6 to 24%. Concentration of free basic amino acids increased with age of the animal and protein content of the aiet. Supplementation of the diet with potassium reduced the free basic amino acids of the blood plasma, skeletal muscle and kidney tissue. This reduction was greatest for lysine and least for histidine. Supplemental lysine increased the lysine level of blood plasma to a greater extent in low-protein than in high-protein diets. The concentration of lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and histidine in the blood plasma was related to the concentration of these amino acids in the diets. Copyright © 1966. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1966 by American Society of Animal Science