It was evaluatedthe effects of metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible lysine (dLYS) densitieson performance and body composition of weaned piglets. The study used 114 pigletsweaned at 7.4 ± 0.80 kg, out of which 108 were allotted in the nurseryand 6 were slaughtered on the weaning day to determine comparative data of bodychemical composition. Six nutrients densities were stipulated from a previousstudy based on the highest nitrogen retention, maintaining the following ME:LYSrelationship in the experimental diets: 3,390:1.291; 3,450:1.409; 3,650:1.411;3,780:1.461; 3,940:1.507; and 4,109 kcal/kg ME:1.564% dLYS. The experimentaldiets were offered for 13 days when the piglets reached 12.986 ± 1.449kg of body weight. The probable residual effects of nutritional density on thesubsequent performance of the piglets were evaluated. At the end of initialphase 1, six piglets from each density were slaughtered to determine their chemicalcomposition in body fractions and empty body. There was no significant influenceof nutritional levels on the performance of the piglets at the end of the evaluation.The results of food conversion and body composition confirm the level indicatedin the previous study, 4 g dLYS/Mcal of ME. The increase of energy and lysinedensities confirms the need for a correct relationship among both of them toassure better performance of the piglets at the beginning of the growing phase.
