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The effects of reduced protein diet supplemented with arginine plus glutamine–glutamate on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, blood metabolites, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen utilization in nursery pigs

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of reducing crude protein (CP) and supplementing arginine plus glutamine-glutamate (AGG) on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, blood metabolites, amino acid profiles, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen (N) utilization in nursery pigs. METHODS: A total of 200 entire male and female piglets weaned at 20 d of age (4.8±0.58 kg) were allotted to 5 diets in a randomized block design: 22.5%, 21.0%, 19.5%, or 18.0% CP, and 18.0% CP supplemented with 5 g/kg L-arginine and 10 g/kg L-glutamine+glutamate. Pigs were fed in two phases (20-32 and 32-44 d of age) over a 24-d period. RESULTS: Reducing dietary CP linearly decreased feed efficiency, with the lowest performance observed in pigs fed the 18.0% CP diet with AGG. Serum urea N and gamma-glutamyl transferase increased linearly with dietary CP level. Plasma arginine and ornithine were elevated by supplementation. Methionine, threonine, and valine were highest in pigs fed the 18.0% CP diets. In contrast, phenylalanine and tyrosine declined with reduced CP. Diarrhea incidence and fecal scores were greater in pigs fed the 22.5% CP, with each 1% CP increase raising diarrhea incidence by 3.55% points. Digestibility of protein and energy improved with increasing dietary CP, and pigs fed 22.5% CP showed the greatest N absorption but also higher fecal N excretion. CONCLUSION: Collectively, results indicate that reducing dietary CP from 22.5% to 18.0% compromises growth and nutrient digestibility, even when supplemented with arginine and glutamine-glutamate, but lowers diarrhea incidence and N output. These findings highlight trade-offs between growth efficiency, gut health, and environmental sustainability in nursery pig nutrition.

Source: Animal Bioscience

DOI: 10.5713/ab.250702

Authors: Lucas Medina Teixeira, Jansller Luiz Genova, Fernanda Fialho Abranches, Gabriel Cipriano Rocha

Institution: Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Language: English

Topic: Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $700