New test to improve feed for pig industry
Story Added : 04th May 2011
Department of Agriculture and Food WA principal researcher, Jae Kim, said the tool, which is expected to be developed by June this year, could also be applied for the broiler/layer industry.
Dr Kim said the instrument will allow producers to check the lysine quality in soybean meal - an important ingredient in the diet of young pigs.
“Lysine is the most important essential amino acid in pig nutrition,” he said.
“A deficient or short supply of lysine hinders the utilisation of other amino acids needed for the efficient production of pigs, so it is important for producers to be able to precisely estimate the biologically available lysine in pig diets.”
Lysine is susceptible to heat damage during the processing and storage of foods.
Damaged lysine can be digested and absorbed in the small intestine, but it cannot be used for body protein synthesis and muscle growth.
Two hundred soybean meal samples are currently being collected from around the world to quantify the variability of reactive lysine content in soybean meal.
“This data will be used to develop a computerised screening tool for the rapid screening of reactive lysine content in soybean meal,” Dr Kim said.
“Importantly, it will also be used for precise design of diets for monogastric animals such as pigs, and it could lead to the possibility of trading soybean meal based on protein quality in the future.”
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