285 Spray dried plasma compared to alternative specialty proteins in weanling pig diets

Abstract

Spray dried plasma (SDP) is a specialty protein source used in pig diets because of its beneficial effects on postweaning performance and survival. The objective was to evaluate effects of specialty proteins including enzyme treated soybean meal (ESM), activated plasma protein (APP), spray dried egg from hyper-immunized hens (Egg), or a combination of APP, ESM, and fish meal compared with bovine SDP in diets on weaned pig performance. Pigs (n = 300) were weaned in 2 groups at 21 ± 2 d of age (6.3 ± 0.5 kg initial BW) and allotted to pens within weaning group and balanced by weight, gender, and litter to provide 10 replications per treatment (4–6 pigs/pen). The nursery was not cleaned between groups creating a stress environment. Diets contained 20% SBM and 20.6% dried whey, were non-pelleted, non-medicated and formulated to contain 3.4 Mcal ME/kg and 1.45% SID lysine. Diets were fed for 14 d after weaning. Specialty proteins used in diets 2–6 replaced soy protein concentrate (SPC) on an equal lysine basis, as shown below. Analysis of variance included effect of diet, weaning group, and the covariance of initial BW. No pigs died during the experiment. Pigs fed diet 6 with SDP had greater (P < 0.05) final BW, ADG, ADFI and G:F compared with all other diets. Pigs fed diets with other specialty proteins (diets 2–5) did not differ (P > 0.10) in performance compared with SPC (diet 1). Conclusion: Under conditions of this experiment, none of the specialty proteins were an effective replacement for SDP.