Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate and creatine effects on growth and plasma metabolites of nursery pigs.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary ornithine α-ketoglutarate (OKG) and creatine monohydrate on growth performance and plasma metabolites of nursery pigs. In each experiment, treatments were replicated with four to five pens of four to six pigs each. Each experiment lasted from 3 to 4 wk and Phase I (1.6% Lys) and Phase II (1.3 to 1.5% Lys) diets were fed for 9 to 16 d each. In Exp. 1, pigs (4.7 kg and 15 d of age) were fed diets containing 0,.10, or.75% OKG. Daily gain during a 13-d Phase I period and ADFI during Phase I and overall (29 d) were increased (P .10) by diet. In Exp. 2, pigs (7.1 kg and 23 d of age) were fed 0 or .50% OKG during Phase I only. During Phase I, II, and overall, ADG and ADFI were not affected (P >.10) by OKG supplementation, but gain:feed was decreased during Phase I (P .10) by OKG supplementation in this experiment. In Exp. 3, pigs (5.8 kg and 20 d of age) were fed diets containing 0,.10, or .50% creatine. Creatine tended to linearly decrease ADG (P =.11) and plasma albumin (P =.12) and PUN (P .10) plasma NEFA, glucose, or urea N concentrations. Creatine added to the nursery diet increased (P <.02) ADFI and decreased (P <.10) gain:feed during Phase II and overall. Creatine in the nursery diet also increased (P <.01) PUN, but it did not affect plasma glucose or NEFA concentrations. Creatine and OKG have variable effects on growth performance and plasma metabolites of nursery pigs.