Effect of dietary protein and lysine fluctuations in the absence and presence of ractopamine on performance and carcass quality of late-finishing pigs.

Two experiments with finishing pigs were conducted to evaluate the effects of fluctuating dietary CP levels and ractopamine on performance and carcass traits. In Exp. 1, a total of 408 finishing pigs (mixed sex) were assigned to 1 of 4 protein regimens. Average initial and final BW were 89 and 123 kg, respectively. Pigs on treatments 1 to 4 were fed 16, 11, 16, and 13% CP from wk 0 to 2, respectively. From wk 2 to 5, the pigs on regimens 1 to 4 were then fed 15, 18.33, 18, and 20% CP, respectively, with regimens 3 and 4 also containing supplemental ractopamine (9.9 mg/kg) from wk 2 to 5. Overall (wk 0 to 5), BW gain, G:F, loin depth, percentage of lean, and dressing percentage were improved (P < 0.05) in pigs on regimens 3 and 4 compared with those on regimens 1 and 2. No statistically significant overall (wk 0 to 5) protein sequence regimen differences occurred between the standard regimens (1 and 3) and the low-high CP regimens (2 and 4). Experiment 2 involved 172 finishing pigs (mixed sex) in 2 protein regimens. Average initial and final BW were 91 and 136 kg, respectively. The diets consisted of 1) a control (16% CP from d 0 to 14, 18% CP + 4.95 mg of ractopamine/kg from d 14 to 24, and 18% CP + 9.9 mg of ractopamine/kg from d 24 to 35; 2) a low-high CP regimen (12.5% CP from d 0 to 14, 20.33% CP + 4.95 mg of ractopamine/kg from d 14 to 24, and 20.33% CP + 9.9 mg of ractopamine/kg from d 24 to 35. From d 0 to 14, pigs fed the low CP diet (12.5% CP) had reduced (P < 0.05) BW gain and G:F compared with those fed the control diet (16% CP). In contrast, from d 14 to 35, pigs on the low-high regimen had improved (P < 0.08) BW gain and G:F compared with pigs on the control regimen. Despite the wide dietary CP fluctuations for pigs in Exp. 2, performance and carcass traits were similar for both regimens over the 35-d test period. These data indicate that pigs fed deficient levels of CP and Lys for 14 d, followed by increased levels of CP and Lys during a subsequent 21-d period can recover and achieve growth performance and carcass merit equal to that achieved with a conventional protein feeding regimen.