ABSTRACT
Protein is one of the major components of the pig’s body. In terms of dry matter, protein makes up the largest percentage of the pig’s body at birth; however, the protein accretion slows down and the fat accretion accelerates as the pig grows. While pigs can store fat in their cells as triacylglycerides, protein cannot be stored in the body. The amount of protein in the pig’s body is the net balance between protein synthesis and protein degradation. Protein turnover may be fast, as short as few seconds, or slow, as long as several days, depending on the types of protein in the body. The pig gains body protein when the rate of protein synthesis exceeds the rate of protein degradation, but loses body protein in the opposite scenario.
