Three hundred-six sows were used to evaluate effects of the interrelationship among valine, isoleucine, and leucine on sow and litter performance. Eight dietary treatments
were arranged as a 2x2x2 factorial with two levels of valine (.80 and 1.20%), isoleucine (.68 and 1.08%), and leucine (1.57 and 1.97%). Litter weaning weight, litter
weight gain from d 2 to weaning, and sow
backfat loss increased as dietary valine increased but were not affected by dietary
isoleucine or leucine. Increasing dietary
valine, isoleucine, or leucine did not affect
milk fat, DM, CP, or lactose. These results
confirm the importance of dietary valine for
increased litter weaning weight, independent
of either additional dietary isoleucine or
leucine.
