SUCROSE AS AN ENERGY-SOURCE FOR GROWING PIGS - ENERGY-UTILIZATION FOR PROTEIN DEPOSITION

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of sucrose as an energy source on energy utilization and protein retention by growing pigs. Growing pigs (20 to 50 kg live weight) were restrictively fed (three times maintenance) either a control wheat-based diet (14 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg), a sucrose-based diet (15 MJ DE per kg) or a wheat-based diet made iso-energetic with the sucrose diet by the addition of oil. Net energy (NE) content of the diet, energy utilization, protein and fat deposition were measured. Both the sucrose- and the iso-energetic wheat-based diets improved energy utilization and increased NE retention. They also increased fat deposition (P < 0.05) but had no effect on protein deposition (P > 0.05) compared with the wheat-based control. Increased DE utilization in the sucrose-based diet appeared due to (i) lower dietary fibre, (ii) a better balance of amino acids, or possibly due to (iii) increased fat synthesis due to sucrose metabolism. The lack of effect of sucrose on protein deposition appeared due to either (i) an increased amino acid requirement as a result of the higher NE content of the diet or (ii) preferential use of sucrose for fat deposition.