Table 1.
The composition and nutrient levels of the experimental diets.
| Item | Phase I | Phase II |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient (%) | ||
| Corn | 56.7 | 61.4 |
| Soybean meal | 31.6 | 25.8 |
| Corn gluten meal | 3.9 | 4.6 |
| Rapeseed oil | 3.1 | 3.7 |
| Dicalcium phosphate | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| Limestone | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| DL-Methionine | 0.15 | 0.1 |
| L-lysine | 0.15 | 0.2 |
| Premix1 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Salt | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Nutrient composition, calculated | ||
| Metabolizable energy (kcal/kg) | 3,029 | 3,110 |
| Crude protein (%) | 22.01 | 20.01 |
| Lysine (%) | 1.16 | 1.07 |
| Arginine (%) | 1.35 | 1.21 |
| Methionine + cystine (%) | 0.87 | 0.78 |
| Calcium (%) | 1.01 | 0.92 |
| Total phosphorus (%) | 0.57 | 0.48 |
| Available phosphorus (%) | 0.45 | 0.40 |
The nutrient level of the diets was based on National Research Council recommendations.
1
Premix supplied the following per kilogram of diet: vitamin D3, 200 IU; vitamin A, 1500 IU; cobalamin, 0.01 mg; biotin, 0.15 mg; vitamin K3, 0.5 mg; folic acid, 0.55 mg; thiamine, 1.8 mg; pyridoxine, 3.5 mg; riboflavin, 3.6 mg; vitamin E, 10 mg; D-pantothenic acid, 10 mg; niacin, 35 mg; Se, 0.15 mg; I, 0.35 mg; Cu, 8 mg; Zn, 40 mg; Mn, 60 mg; Fe, 80 mg.