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The measurement of ileal digestibility of amino acids is recognized to be a valid tool for the estimation of availability of amino acids. One of the techniques used to obtain this measure - ileal rectal anastomosis - has, however, received a lot of criticism since it has been claimed that the removal of the colon from the active digestive tract leads to the development of a colon-like microflora in the ileum (Köhler et al, 1991). The aim of this experiment was to evaluate if the possible development of microflora affected the ileal digestibility results obtained.

The efficient production of the weaner pig requires accurate knowledge of its amino acid requirements. This is particularly relevant today as it is increasingly important to reduce nitrogenous waste from pigs. During the past decade formulations for feeds were based on the ideal protein profile of the lean tissue of pigs in which the sulphur amino acid requirements were assessed as the combination of total sulphur amino acids rather than through their individual amino acids, methionine and cystine (Agricultural Research Council, 1981). Today, this concept is challenged. The effect of the changing cystine demand in the weaner pig on the total ileal digestible sulphur amino acid (IDSAA) requirements and hence methionine levels requires study. The objective of this experiment was to understand the requirements and relationship between true ileal digestible cystine and methionine to lysine ratio in the ideal protein content of food to achieve efficient production in the young pig.