A REVIEW OF CURRENT AMINO-ACID ESTIMATES FOR SWINE .1.

Amino acid nutrition for optimum lean tissue deposition is determined by genetic potential, gender, health status, environment, and interact ions with other nutrients. Ultimately, genotype establishes the upper potential for lean accretion. Amino acid requirements are then determi ned for maintenance and growth rate within a genotype and gender. Unde r commercial conditions however, environmental and health constraints interact with amino acid requirements for optimum lean tissue accretio n. This article focuses on characterizing amino acid requirements for lean tissue accretion and the factors that influence these estimates. Part I examines how amino acid requirements are determined, the use of growth models to characterize amino acid requirements, and the factor s that influence the dietary requirement for lysine in grower-finisher pigs.