The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of amino acid supplementation for the reduction of crude protein (CP) in diets for piglets weaned at 21 days of age on performance and morphophysiological parameters of 126 piglets with an initial weight of 6.05±0.35kg. The animals were divided into a randomized block experimental design with six treatments (24.0, 23.0, 22.0, 21.0, 20.0, 19.0% CP), seven replicates and three animals per experimental unit. It was found that there was no significant effect of reducing crude protein in the diet on the piglets' average daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion (FC). It was also found that the reduction of protein did not influence the pH of the stomach, however, the pH of the duodenum decreased with the reduction of CP. The relative weights of the spleen, liver and villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were not affected, whereas pancreatic weight decreased with the reduction of crude protein in diets.
essential amino acids; diarrhea; ideal protein; swine; weaning
