Aspects of nucleotide nutrition in pigs

A series of studies was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of supplementing dietary nucleotides in weaning pig diets. The first study was designed to measure the concentration of nucleotides in the colostrum and milk of sows. The concentrations of 5'AMP, 5 'CMP, 5'GMP, and 5'IMP change during the initial week post-partum, but during the last two weeks of a 4-wk lactation period, the concentration is relatively constant. In the second study, two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of adding nucleosides to starter diets for weaning pigs. In Exp. 1, pigs allotted to Treatment 1 were fed a corn casein lactose-based basal diet. Pigs allotted to Treatments 2 and 3 were fed the basal diet supplemented with nucleosides in amounts that correspond to 30% and 150% of the quantities found in sow milk on d-14 of lactation, respectively. Exp. 2 was an in-vitro study that was conducted to determine the antimicrobial and probiotic properties of nucleosides. In the third study, two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of adding nucleotides to starter diets for weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, pigs were allotted to two treatment groups. Pigs allotted to Treatment 1 were fed a conventional starter diet. Pigs allotted to Treatment 2 were fed Diet 1 supplemented with nucleotides in amounts that correspond to 100% of the quantities found in sow milk (DM-basis) on d-14 of lactation. Exp. 2 was an in-vitro study that was conducted to determine the antimicrobial and probiotic properties of nucleotides. The results indicate that nucleotide supplementation during the immediate post-weaning period positively influence gastrointestinal morphology and microflora by increasing ileal VH and VH:LPD, and decreasing Cl. perfringens count in-vitro. In the final study, the AID and SID coefficients of AA and CP in yeast extract and SDPP by weanling pigs were measured using the difference method. The results indicate that the AID for CP and all AA with the exception of Cys and Ser are similar between yeast extract and SDPP. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...