Effect of source of methionine in broken rice-soybean diet on production performance, blood chemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigs

This study was conducted to compare the effect of source of methionine (Met) in broken ricesoybean diet on performance, blood biochemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigs. Forty-eight male crossbreed pigs (BW 11 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly allocated to three groups with four replications in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were: (1) basal diet without methionine (Control; total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) 0.60%); (2) basal diet supplemented with dl-methionine (DLM) (TSAA 0.76%); and (3) basal diet supplemented with dl-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (LMA) (TSAA 0.76%). Supplementation with DLM and LMA improved growth performance of piglets and decreased blood urea nitrogen and increased serum albumin (P < 0.01). The population of Lactobacillus spp. in the caecum was decreased by both DLM and LMA supplementation (P < 0.05). Succinic acid concentration in the caecum of pigs fed the DLM diet was greater than that of LMA group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that LMA can be used as a good source of Met (88% bioefficacy, weight/weight) in broken rice-soybean diet, although the serum albumin and fermentation characteristics (succinic acid) in the gastrointestinal tract were different.