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Comparative Performances of Baby Pigs Fed Infant and Baby Pig Diets¹

Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames³

Two experiments involving 136 pigs were conducted to compare the relative value of commercially available human infant milk formulas and previously tested baby pig diets as measured by rate of gain and feed conversion.

The one- to 5-week gains and feed conversion were quite satisfactory for the pigs receiving formulas containing milk as the source of protein when the protein levels were approximately 2.7 to 3.4% of the liquid diet (20 Cal. per fluid ounce). The feeding of formulas containing 1.7 and 1.6% protein and 3.4 and 3.5% fat, respectively, resulted in less rapid growth and required more dry matter per pound of gain as compared to the baby pig diets or the infant formulas containing 2.7% protein and 2.8% fat. The feeding of formulas containing soya protein at 3.2 and 3.1% resulted in lowered rate of gains and increased feed required per pound of gain, which is a reflection of the baby pig's inability to adequately utilize soya protein. The baby pig shows promise as a test animal in biologically evaluating human infant diets, however these data need to be corroborated with carefully controlled clinical studies and general observations with the human infant.

² Department of Statistics.

³ Department of Animal Husbandry.

Manuscript received 24 October 1958.