Abstract
This feeding experiment with young pigs was conducted for 28 days to evaluate the growth effect of dietary diammonium citrate (DAC) by using three diets in which essential amino acids were supplied at the minimal requirement level for swine recommended by N.R.C. [12]. The three diets were: 1) diet restricted non-essential amino acids (basal diet); 2) basal diet plus 3.75% DAC (DAC diet); and 3) diet adjusted isonitrogenously to the DAC diet by natural feedstuffs (positive control diet). The average daily gain in the pigs given the DAC diet was greater than that in those fed the basal diet (P<0.05) and in those administered the positive control diet (P<0.10). The results indicate that the supplimentation of DAC can improve growth when non-essential amino acids are restricted in the basal diet under conditions of adequate essential amino acids and energy supply.
