The use of spray-dried porcine plasma in early-weaned pig diets

The objective of this work was to evaluate the spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in the diet of 21 day-weaned pig. One hundred and twenty piglets averaging 5.75 kg of initial weight were used to test the inclusion levels of 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5% of porcine plasma on phase 1 (from 0 to 14 days) and its effects on phase 2 (from 15 to 28 days). Except for the piglets in the control diet, all other animals were fed a starter diet with 2.5% of SDPP and 2.5% of spray-dried red blood cell (SDBC) during 15 to 28-day-post weaning period. The diet's were formulated to contain in the phases 1 and 2, respectively, 1.4 and 1.2% of lysine, .54 and .42% of methionine, and 15 and 8% of lactose. A randomized block design with five replications and six animals per experimental unit was used. Average daily feed intake increased linearly in the phases 1 and 2, with the increasing level of SDPP. For overall period (from 0 to 28 days), there was linear response of average daily feed intake to the SDPP levels in the phase 1. The SDPP stimulated higher daily feed intake during the two weeks after weaning. This effect was maintained during the second phase (15 to 28 days post weaning), when a combination of 2.5% SDPP and 2.5% SDBC was used.