Commercial diets could be formulated more accurately if, first, we knew the rate at which the pig deposits protein and energy in the carcass and second, we linked energy and amino acid levels in the diet to requirements based on lean and lipid rates of gain. This would result in the most efficient feeding programs, producing pork of high quality at the lowest possible price. This experiment was carried out to define the lean tissue and lipid growth curves of a common commercial genotype.

Peak protein deposition was found in barrows to be 150 g/d and occurred when the pig was between 43 and 52 kg bodyweight. In gilts, maximum protein deposition of 133 g/d occurred between 68 and 74 kg bodyweight. Barrows deposited protein at a greater rate than gilts until 87 kg bodyweight.