The experiment was conduced to determine the requirements of digestible methionine + cystine of barrows with high potential genetic for lean meat deposition from 60 to 95 kg. Seventy hybrid commercial barrows with the same genetic pattern, with initial average weight of 60.00 ± 1.13 kg, were allotted to a randomized experimental blocks design with five digestible methionine and cystine levels (0.440; 0.464; 0.488; 0.512 and 0.536%), corresponding, respectively, to 55.0; 58.0; 61.0, 64.0 and 67.0% of methionine and cystine: digestible lysine in the diet, seven replicates and two animals by experimental unity. The experimental diets and the water were ad libitum supplied until the end of experimental period when the animals reached an average weight of 94.95 ± 0.50 kg. The digestible methionine and cystine levels of ration influenced the daily weight gain that linearly increased up to the level of 0.536 %, and feed:gain and lean meat amount, which improved by a quadratic way up to the levels of 0.506 and 0.507%, respectively. The digestible methionine and cystine intake linearly increased with the increase digestible methionine and cystine levels in the diet. There was no effect of the digestible methionine and cystine levels on feed intake, backfat thickness, carcass yield and percentage lean meat in the carcass. Barrows from 60 to 95 kg with high potential genetic for lean meat deposition in the carcass requiring 0.507% digestible methionine and cystine, corresponding to digestible methionine and cystine:digestible lysine in the ration of 63.0% for a better feed:gain and lean meat amount in the carcass.
carcass; finishing; performance; nutrition; sulphurous amino acids
