Improved understanding of nitrogen (N) nutrition for growing pigs to increase flexibility in feed formulation, reduce N losses into the environment and improve gut health

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The Canadian pork industry provides a source of high quality protein and other nutrients for human health, while contributing annually more than $9B to the Canadian economy and more than $3B to the international trade balance. For the pork industry to remain globally competitive feed costs and nutrient losses into the environment need to be addressed. These two aspects of pork production are closely associated with protein (amino acids and nitrogen) utilization in growing pigs. The overall aim of this project is to better understand nitrogen (N) utilization in growing pigs, and to more accurately define the response of growing pigs to dietary N and amino acid intake. With increased availability of purified amino acids, usage of conventional protein sources in pig diets is reduced, lowering N losses into the environment and dietary protein and N content. The latter may limit N intake for endogenous production of amino acids by pigs themselves and, therefore, productivity of pigs. Also, long-term consequences of feeding pigs temporarily below requirements for amino acids and N needs better understanding. Modern pigs with high (muscle) growth potentials are more likely to demonstrate complete compensatory growth following a period of amino acid intake restriction. Compensatory growth may be explored to (1) increase the efficiency of amino acid and N utilization, (2) improve gut health in young growing pigs that are susceptible to harmful protein fermentation in the gut, and (3) reduce feeding costs by reducing the intake of expensive protein in young growing pigs. These concepts will be explored in nutrient metabolism studies. Novel feeding strategies will then be evaluated in growth performance studies, in which production and nutrient utilization efficiencies, as well as carcass and meat quality characteristics are evaluated. This information will allow us to further optimize practical feeding strategies, to reduce feed costs, improve gut health and nutrient utilization efficiencies in growing pigs. Feed protein represents more than 25% of feed costs. A mere 1% reduction in feed costs represents more than $20,000,000 per year for the Canadian pork industry.