Question: I was curious of the effects of not meeting the required amount of the daily lysine requirements in a pigs diet. Currently I am feeding 3lbs of 16% with 9 grams of paylean, 2oz fat, 1/2lb of beet pulp, and 1/4 lb of oat groats 2 times a day. Assuming a pig requires 25 grams of lysine a day I think I am only feeding around 24 grams. (5.5lbs feed X 453.59 grams/lb X .0085 lysine%=21.20 .5lbs of paylean X 453.59 grams/lb X .015 lysine%=3.40) I was also wanting to know if during the growing stage if I am not meeting the required lysine level besides poor growth rate would the pigs have a tendency to get tighter when in the last 30 days I start to push more feed and put them on paylean will there be a increased risk of making the pigs tighter due to adding so much muscle on so fast since they were not getting the appropriat lysine levels to develop muscle early on.

Answer: Thank you for your e-mail and for choosing HONOR Show Chow showpig products.

24 grams/day lysine is close enough to meet their daily requirements. When the daily lysine needs are not met, the pig looses muscle. The pigs metabolism begins to break down muscle in order to meet the daily requirements for amino acids.

I do not believe the pig will get tight if it was fed a lysine deficient diet and then fed Paylean. The pig may become tight moving due to joints problems if it was not 100% structurally correct. But, just the Paylean after a deficient diet would not do that.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist