Su A Lee, a Ph. D. student in the Stein lab, compares calcium digestibility and retention in in early, mid-, and late gestation sows fed diets without and with microbial phytate. Adapted from a presentation at the 2019 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 11-13.

Su A Lee, a Ph. D. student in the Stein lab, presents the findings of two experiments in which she compared inorganic calcium sources from different suppliers. In the first, she determined the STTD of calcium and the response to the addition of microbial phytase using three sources of calcium carbonate. In the second, she determined the STTD of calcium in three sources of dicalcium phosphate. Adapted from a presentation at the 2019 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 11-13.

Dr. Maryane Oliveira, a postdoctoral research associate in the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Lab, presents the results of a study that compared the relative bioavailability of valine in feed-grade L-valine and a 64.6% valine product produced by spray-drying fermentation biomass. Adapted from a presentation at the 2019 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 11-13.

It may not be practical to use the direct method to determine the digestibility of amino acids in cereal grains or in high-fiber or low-palatability ingredients, because the test ingredient cannot be fed as the sole source of amino acids for a long enough period of time to determine the digestibility. In these cases, the difference method can be used. In this presentation, Dr. Maryane Oliveira, a postdoctoral research associate in the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Lab, presents the results of an experiment that was designed to test the hypothesis that the direct method and the difference method yield the same values for SID of amino acids in cereal grains and fiber-rich ingredients. Adapted from a presentation at the 2019 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 11-13.

Charmaine Espinosa, a Ph. D. student in the Stein lab, presents the findings of two studies of the effects of copper supplementation on growing pigs. Although it is known that high levels of dietary copper can promote growth in pigs, the mechanism by which this occurs is not fully understood. In her research, Espinosa examined growth performance, endogenous loss of fat, and ATTD of fat in pigs fed diets with and without supplemental copper. Adapted from a presentation at the 2019 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 11-13.

Vanessa Lagos, a Ph. D. student in the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Lab, discusses her research on optimal calcium:phosphorus ratios to maximize growth performance and bone ash in 11-25kg pigs. Then, she examines the effect of dietary calcium on plasma calcium and expression of genes related to calcium absorption. Adapted from a presentation at the 2019 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 11-13.

Cristhiam Munoz, a master's student in the Stein Monogastric Nutrition group, gives an overview of the structure and functionality of the Swine Calorimetry Unit being developed at the University of Illinois Swine Research Center. The SCU is designed to determine net energy in group housed pigs and compare it with NE determined from individually housed pigs. Adapted from a poster presentation at the 2019 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 11-13.

Vanessa Lagos, a Ph. D. student in the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Lab, describes the interactions between calcium and phosphorus and their effect on growth performance and bone characteristics at 15 different STTD Ca : STTD P ratios. Adapted from a presentation at the 2018 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 12-14.

Dr. Maryane Oliveira, a postdoctoral research associate in the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Lab, presents the results of an experiment that was designed to determine whether crystalline amino acids could be fed to pigs during amino acid digestibility studies in order to ensure they meet their amino acid requirements without influencing the study results. Adapted from a presentation at the 2018 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 12-14.

Diego Rodriguez, a Master's student in the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Lab, discusses the results of his research into the effects of feeding either Dakota Gold DDGS or conventional DDGS, in meal or pelleted form, to pigs from wean to finish. Parameters measured include average daily gain, gain:feed ratio, final body weight, dressing percentage, backfat, and fat free lean. Adapted from a presentation at the 2018 ASAS Midwestern Section meeting, Omaha, NE, March 12-14.