Valine (Val) is an essential amino acid for pigs, and it is also a branched-chain amino acid with important biological functions. An in-depth understanding of the requirement of Valine for pigs at different stages is of great significance to the nutritional research and production of pigs.
Why Is Valine Important For Pigs?
Along with lysine, threonine, methionine and tryptophan, Valine is an indispensable nutrient for pigs. Val supplementation significantly improved pig performance when dietary protein levels were reduced by more than 3 percent . Animals cannot synthesize Val and must obtain sufficient it from the diet to meet their needs. In addition to being used for protein synthesis, It is essential for animal growth and reproduction. It can be oxidized to supply energy during special physiological periods; it can regulate the protein turnover of skeletal muscle; it can improve the lactation performance of sows; it can affect the immune response of pigs.
Valine Function For Pigs At Different Stages
1. lactating sows
Valine is of great significance for improving the lactation performance of sows. Valine is the fifth limiting amino acid for pigs. It is of great importance for the growth and development of mammary glands. The addition to the diet of lactating sows can increase the plasma alanine concentration first and then decrease it. This suggests that high concentrations of Valine can stimulate the production of alanine. It fulfills the demand for glucose in the mammary gland tissue, thereby increasing the sow's milk production.
2. weaned piglets
Early weaning can cause problems such as stunted growth. Adding amino acids and other nutrients to the feed can alleviate the weaning stress of piglets to a certain extent. Valine has physiological functions such as oxidative energy supply, promoting protein synthesis, and promoting gluconeogenesis. It can improve the survival rate of weaned piglets and promote the growth and development of weaned piglets.
Summary
In the increasingly competitive feed industry, reducing production costs through technical means is one of the main concerns of enterprises. Lack of Valine in the diet can seriously affect the growth performance of pigs. In production, rational use can improve enterprise benefits. Feed-grade Valine can be added to meet pigs' needs while reducing adverse effects on pigs and the environment when formulating low-protein diets.