R. Bras. Zootec.14/abr/2026;55:e20250107.
Supplementation of functional amino acids and minerals in diets for growing-finishing pigs
Lucas Medina Teixeira
, Francisco Carlos de Oliveira Silva
, Marcio de Souza Duarte
, Alysson Saraiva
, Maykelly da Silva Gomes
, Marcos Elias Duarte
, Gabriel Cipriano Rocha
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of functional amino acid and mineral supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of finishing pigs. One hundred and twenty castrated male pigs with an initial weight of 59.7 ± 2.7 kg were used, distributed into four dietary treatments: control; amino acids, control + 0.5% Arg and 0.5% Leu; minerals, control + 0.1% Cr and 0.05% MgO, and amino acids + minerals. From 127 to 159 days of age, pigs fed the amino acid diet had greater average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.015), while those fed the amino acid + mineral diet showed improved feed conversion ratio (FCR; P<0.001) compared with the control diet. Across the entire experimental period (98 to 159 days), amino acid supplementation increased ADG (P = 0.043), whereas amino acid and amino acid + mineral diets improved FCR (P = 0.029). However, pigs fed the amino acid + mineral diet had lower ADG compared with pigs fed the amino acid diet. Carcass traits were largely unaffected, but pigs fed the amino acid + mineral diet had reduced backfat thickness (P = 0.015). Meat quality was influenced by amino acid supplementation, with reduced thawing loss (P = 0.001) and total water loss (P = 0.041). Regarding the fatty acid profile, amino acid and mineral diets increased oleic acid concentrations (P = 0.021), and mineral supplementation increased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA; P = 0.047). In summary, amino acid supplementation improved growth performance, water-holding capacity, and oleic acid concentration, whereas mineral supplementation increased the concentration of oleic acid and MUFA. The combination of amino acids and minerals improved FCR and reduced backfat thickness, but this was accompanied by lower ADG, indicating a lack of consistent synergistic benefits.