Relationship between mineral and protein deposition in restricted and realimented pigs

Abstract

Mineral retention and its relation to protein deposition was measured in 54 crossbreed pigs allocated to a control and two restricted (up to 50 or 80 kg BW) groups. Control pigs were continuously fed a basal diet (B) and restricted pigs, diet B mixed with 20% grass meal. During re-alimentation, previously restricted pigs were fed diet B up to 105 kg. The animals were slaughtered at 25, 50, 80 and 105 kg BW. The previously restricted pigs showed a compensatory response with regard to protein as well as P, Ca and Mg deposition. The reaction in both protein and minerals depended on the duration of previous restriction and was full only in the pigs restricted to 50 kg BW. According to an allometric equation, the mineral content increased faster ("b">1) than protein. Compensatory mineral gains in the body were closely related to protein gain and the daily mineral/protein deposition ratio was the same in all treatments.