The effect of increasing dietary digestible lysine levels, based on the ideal protein concept, on performance and carcass characteristics of forty barrows with high genetic potential for lean gain averaging initial and final body weights of 30.02 ± 1.38 kg and 60.44 ± 1.81 kg, respectively, was evaluated in this experiment. The animals were assigned to a randomized blocks design, with four treatments, five replicates and two animals per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of a basal diet (18.08% of CP and 3,250 kcal of ME/kg) supplemented with increasing levels of HCL-L-lysine (0.80, 0.90, 1.00, and 1.10% of digestible lysine). The diets were supplemented with constant synthetic amino acids:lysine ratios based on the true digestibility. No treatment effects on feed intake, daily weight gain and plasma urea concentration were observed. Feed:gain ratio and digestible lysine intake increased linearly as the dietary digestible lysine levels increased. No significant treatment effects on percentages of water, protein and fat and carcass fat deposition were observed. It was observed increasing linear effect of treatments on carcass protein deposition. The 1.10% digestible lysine level, that corresponds to a digestible lysine intake of 21.94 g/day (3.43 g of Lys/Mcal of ME), resulted in the best performance and carcass characteristics of barrows with high genetic potential from 30 to 60 kg.
amino acids; carcass; genotype; growing phase; urea
