Effects of dietary crude protein level and sugar beet pulp inclusion on nitrogen excretion patterns in grower and finisher pigs

Diets with high and low protein content and with or without sugar beet pulp (SBP) were tested in grower and finisher pigs; SBP replaced wheat in grower and barley in finisher pig diets. Urinary N was lowered (P < 0.05) and faecal N not affected (P > 0.10) by low-protein diets. In grower pigs, SBP lowered urinary N (P < 0.05) and interacted with dietary protein (P < 0.10). In finisher pigs, SBP did not affect N excretion patterns (P > 0.10). Reduced dietary protein consistently reduced urinary N excretion, whereas effects of SBP inclusion were dependent on dietary protein content or replaced cereal grain.