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Report no. 498

Abstract
The effect of having just the natural content of methionine in the feed was tested in two finisher herds.

The feed mixes were compared to a control mix, which had been added synthetic methionine to the present standard. The feed mixes contained no antibiotic growth promoters.

The chemical analyses of the feed showed good concord with the calculated content of nutrients with the exception of the content of lysine in the control feed in herd 1. Here the content of lysine was less than planned and 3% below the present standard.

Production value was calculated on the basis of the production results and is stated as gross margin per place unit per year using the same price for feed mixes.

There was interplay between herd and the effect of methionine, and the results have therefore been computed separately for each herd. The test revealed that it was impossible to prove a significant difference in production value between the two groups in any of the herds. In herd 1 there was a small positive effect on production value with a natural content of methionine, while the opposite was the case in herd 2. The small positive effect of natural methionine in herd 1 may be ascribed to the fact that the content of lysine was 3% below the standard in the control feed. Considering the relatively small movements in production value and the methionine standard being approx. 17% below the present standard, the test results indicate that the present methionine standard is a little on the large side.

However, the present methionine standard will not be changed on the basis of this test. Together with foreign test results, the results will be assessed in connection with an adjustment of the standard when the new feed assessment system is implemented.

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