Fifty crossbred primiparous sows averaging weight of 210.3 ± 22.5 kg were used to evaluate the total lysine levels (0.95, 1.03, 1.10, 1.18 and 1.25%) in the diet, during lactation (17.69±1.17 days). A randomized blocks design with five treatments and ten replicates the sow as the experimental unit was used. During the experimental period, the sows were daily fed 4.3 kg of diet. Lysine intake increased linearly, in response to the dietary lysine levels. The productive and reproductive parameters of the sows were not influenced by the dietary lysine levels. Piglet weight gain did not change with the sow lysine intake. It was concluded that the total lysine level correspondent to a daily intake of 40.47 g met the lysine requirements of lactating primiparous sows.
litter; primiparous sows; reproduction; lysine; lactation
