Growth Performance Of Early-weaned Pigs Research Articles

The Effects of a Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonist (GRA) on the Immune Function, Nutrient Digestibility, and Wean-to-Finish Growth Performance of Early-Weaned Pigs.

Simple SummaryEarly weaning is a common practice in modern swine production. Despite advantages, it exposes piglets to numerous stressors at an age when their digestive system is not fully developed. This exposure results in the hyper-activation of the immune system, which in turn reduces growth performance immediately following weaning. One common practice in the pig industry has been to use in-feed antibiotics to mitigate some of the negative effects of early weaning on the immune system and growth. However, recent concerns over antibiotic resistance have created a need for an alternative strategy. We previously have shown that a glucocorticoid-like compound can effectively improve growth performance of newly weaned pigs by regulating their immune response. In the present study, we evaluated the viability of this treatment as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics by directly comparing the effects of the two treatments on measures of immune function, nutrient digestibility, short-term growth and long-term growth. We found that treatment with glucocorticoid-like compounds reduces inflammation, improves nutrient digestibility and enhances short term growth. These effects in turn lead to long-term body weight superiority that is comparable to antibiotic treatment. In conclusion, treating early weaned pigs with glucocorticoid-like compounds is a suitable alternative to the use of in-feed antibiotics.This study assessed the viability of glucocorticoid receptor agonist (GRA) treatment as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics (ANT) in wean-to-finish pigs. A total of 209 piglets were assigned to eight treatments based on a factorial arrangement, with GRA (+ vs. −; dexamethasone, 0.2 mg/kg body weight, BW), ANT (+ vs. −; 110 mg/kg in-feed Tylosin) and sex (gilt vs. barrow) as the main factors. The serial slaughter technique and serial blood collection were performed on 115 pigs during the first week post-weaning to collect blood, tissue and ileal digesta samples. Fecal samples were collected to determine energy digestibility. In comparison to ANT, GRA more effectively improved the measures of systemic inflammation, protein utilization and recovery-associated biomarkers (p ≤ 0.05). Relative to the control group, GRA treatment improved (p ≤ 0.03) dietary nutrient digestibility relative to control pigs, which was comparable to ANT effects. Relative to the control group, all groups had a higher ADG and BW during the starter phase (p < 0.01). Similar to the ANT group, GRA improved the gain-to-feed ratio relative to the control group during the starter phase. Relative to control pigs, overall BW was higher in GRA and ANT pigs during the grow-to-finish phase (p < 0.01). Collectively, these results suggest that GRA injection improves the growth performance of newly weaned pigs by reducing weaning-induced inflammation and improving nutrient digestibility. GRA can be used as an alternative to in-feed ANT to mitigate the effects of weaning stress on pigs.

228 Replacement of Zinc Oxide with Encapsulated Zinc Oxide on Growth Performance in Early-Weaned Pigs.

228 Replacement of Zinc Oxide with Encapsulated Zinc Oxide on Growth Performance in Early-Weaned Pigs.

EGF and EGFR: Promising targets for modulating inflammation and mucosal healing therapy in IBD

Crohn’s disease is a major type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This disease may be associated with an inability of the intestinal mucosa to protect itself from luminal challenges or defective epithelial repair following intestinal injury. Mucosal healing relies on coordinated events consisting of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) restitution, proliferation and differentiation. From our previous work leading to epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhancing growth performance in early-weaned pigs, we recently addressed potential in vivo mechanisms of EGF in enhancing intestine development and reducing inflammation. The mechanisms underlying the EGF-mediated protective effects were investigated by gene expression, enzyme activity, and histomorphology analyses. Further evidence linking EGFR and GLP2R to downstream signaling pathways to enhance the expression of protective luminal factors such as KGF and Muc2 was demonstrated. The multi-faceted network effect of EGFR signaling allows this receptor and its prototypical ligand, EGF, to emerge as promising targets for mucosal healing therapy.

Growth performance of early-weaned pigs is enhanced by feeding epidermal growth factor-expressing Lactococcus lactis fermentation product

We have previously generated epidermal growth factor expressing Lactococcus lactis (EGF-LL) using bioengineering approach, and shown that feeding newly-weaned piglets EGF-LL improves digestive function. To address concerns over the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO), the objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of feeding the EGF-LL fermentation product, after removal of the genetically modified EGF-LL, on growth performance and intestine development of newly-weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty newly-weaned piglets were fed ad libitum according to a 2-phase feeding program. Four pens were assigned to each of three treatments: (1) complete EGF-LL fermentation product (Ferm), (2) supernatant of EGF-LL fermentation product, after removal of EGF-LL (Supern), or (3) blank M17GE media (Control). EGF-LL or its fermented supernatant was administrated to piglets in the first 3 weeks post-weaning; their growth performance was monitored throughout treatment, and for the following week. Daily body weight gain (254.8g vs. 200.5g) and Gain:Feed (0.541kg/kg vs. 0.454kg/kg) of pigs on the Supern group were significantly improved compared to that of Control, although no difference was observed between the Ferm and Control pigs. Intestinal sucrase activity was increased in Supern- compared to Control group (166.3±62.1 vs. 81.4±56.5nmol glucose released/mg protein; P<0.05). The lack of growth response with Ferm pigs may be attributed to an overload of bacteria (daily dose included 4.56×1010CFU/kg BW/day EGF-LL). These results suggest that GMO-free EGF-LL fermentation product is effective in increasing growth performance of early-weaned piglets.

Epidermal growth factor-expressing Lactococcus lactis enhances growth performance of early-weaned pigs fed diets devoid of blood plasma

The effect of supplementing Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) that was engineered to express epidermal growth factor (EGF-LL) to early-weaned pigs fed diets with typical levels of blood plasma (5%) or diets without blood plasma [blood plasma was substituted with soybean (Glycine max) meal and fish meal, based on amino acid supply] was examined. A total of 108 weaned piglets (19-26 d of age; mean initial BW 6.58 kg; 9 pigs per pen) were fed ad libitum according to a 2-phase feeding program without growth promoters. Three pens were assigned to each of 4 treatments: i) blood plasma-containing diet with blank bacterial growth medium (BP-Con), ii) blood plasma-containing diet with fermented EGF-LL (BP-EGF), iii) blood plasma-free diet with blank bacterial growth medium (BPF-Con), and iv) blood plasma-free diet with fermented EGF-LL (BPF-EGF). The amount of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was determined in the fermentation product and pigs were allotted 60 μg EGF/kg BW/d for 3 wk postweaning. There were no differences in overall growth performance between BP-Con and BP-EGF pigs and no differences in overall growth performance between LoCon and BPF-EGF pigs. Pigs fed BPF-EGF showed increased daily BW gain (410 vs. 260 g/d; P < 0.01) and gain:feed (0.67 vs. 0.58; P < 0.05) compared to BPF-Con pigs in wk 3 postweaning; this was comparable to values for the BP-Con group (400 g/d and 0.64). These results indicate that supplementation with EGF-LL can be effective in enhancing the performance of early-weaned piglets fed a low complexity diet and reduces the need for feeding high-quality animal proteins and antibiotics.

Effect of B-vitamin supplementation on nursery pig growth performance (2002)

A 35-d growth assay was conducted to determine the effect of added dietary B-vitamins on growth performance of nursery pigs (12.9 lb initial BW). The basal diet (Phase I, 1.5% lysine; Phase II, 1.3% lysine) was formulated to contain no added Bvitamins. The other treatment diets were formed by adding a B-vitamin premix (biotin, folacin, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, B6, and B12) to the basal diet with the vitamins added at 1, 2, or 4 times NRC (1998) recommendations. In phase I (d 0 to 14) and for the overall trial, pigs fed increasing Bvitamins had increased (linear, P<0.04) ADFI and improved (quadratic, P<0.04) feed efficiency. Feed efficiency was best for pigs fed the diet with B-vitamins added at the NRC requirement. There was no effect of B-vitamin level (P>0.09) on growth performance in phase II (d 14 to 35). These results suggest that B-vitamin supplementation is necessary to maximize growth performance of earlyweaned pigs; however, typical margins of safety for B-vitamins can be lowered without affecting growth performance.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 14, 2002

Effects of Replacing Spray Dried Plasma Protein With Spray Dried Porcine Intestine Hydrolysate on Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids and Growth Performance in Early-Weaned Pigs

Effects of Replacing Spray Dried Plasma Protein With Spray Dried Porcine Intestine Hydrolysate on Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids and Growth Performance in Early-Weaned Pigs

Supplemental Fermented Milk Increases Growth Performance of Early-Weaned Pigs

Supplemental Fermented Milk Increases Growth Performance of Early-Weaned Pigs

Limb injuries, immune response and growth performance of early-weaned pigs in different housing systems

AbstractThe welfare of early-weaned pigs in different housing systems was examined using a range of indicators. Three replicates of 20 pigs were weaned at 6·4 kg live weight into either: (a) deep-straw; (b) Straw-Flow®; (c) large flatdeck; (d) small flatdeck. A kenneled lying area was provided in (a) and (b). The floor in (c) and (d) was expanded metal. Stocking densities were 0·23 m2 per pig in (a), (b) and (c) and 0·17 m2 per pig in (d). After 4 to 5 weeks (19·6 kg live weight), 16 pigs from each pen were moved into Straw-Flow grower pens (0·68 m2 per pig) and observed until slaughter at 90·6 kg. The remaining pigs were grouped together to examine the effects of mixing. At weaning, 24·1% of pigs had foot injuries. Pigs with foot injuries recovered quickly on deep-straw but the injuries increased in flatdecks immediately after weaning (Straw-Flow was intermediate). Injuries were more persistent in the small flatdeck. Deep-straw prevented adventitious bursitis of the hock. After 1 month in the grower pens, there was no residual treatment effect. Antibody response was examined by immune challenge with keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Immunoglobulin (Ig) response was greater in straw pens. Pigs mixed at 20 kg showed a decreased immune response to KLH challenge. Growth and food intake showed no treatment effects; food conversion ratio was poorer in (c) than in (b) or (d).

Extrusion Processing of Low-Inhibitor Soybeans Improves Growth Performance of Early-Weaned Pigs

Extrusion Processing of Low-Inhibitor Soybeans Improves Growth Performance of Early-Weaned Pigs

The Effects of Increasing Zinc Oxide on Growth Performance of Weanling Pigs1,2

We conducted an experiment to determine the effects of increasing dietary ZnO on growth performance of early-weaned pigs. Four hundred and twenty weanling pigs (initially 4.45kg and 13 d of age) were used in a 28-d growth trial. Zinc oxide replaced cornstarch in the control diet to provide 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000ppm of Zn. Increasing Zn increased (linear, P<0.01) ADG, ADFI, and gain:feed ratio (G:F) from d 0 to 14 after weaning. During d 14 to 28, increasing Zn increased ADG (maximum observed in pigs fed 2000ppm Zn; quadratic, P<0.01) and ADFI (linear, P<0.05). For the entire trial (d 0 to 28), increasing Zn increased ADG (quadratic, P<0.11) and ADFI (linear, P<0.03). These results indicate that feeding a dietary regimen of 3000 to 4000ppm of Zn from 4 to 7kg and 2000ppm of Zn from 7 to 11kg improves growth performance of weanling pigs.

Effects of spray-dried egg albumin on growth performance of early-weaned pigs (1998)

Effects of spray-dried egg albumin on growth performance of early-weaned pigs (1998)

Evaluation of potato proteins on the growth performance of early-weaned pigs.

We conducted five experiments to evaluate conventional and low-glycoalkaloid potato protein (CPP and LGPP, respectively) in diets for early-weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, 150 weanling pigs (initially 4.4 +/- .9 kg and 15.5 +/- 2 d of age) were fed either a control diet containing 3% spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) or diets with additional SDAP (2.5 or 5% added; 5.5 or 8% total) or CPP (2.6% or 5.1%) substituted on a total lysine basis. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, increasing SDAP increased (linear, P < .05) ADG and ADFI, whereas increasing CCP had no effect on growth performance. In Exp. 2, 180 weanling pigs (initially 5.9 +/- 1.2 kg and 20 +/- 2 d of age) were fed diets containing a LGPP replacing 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the 7% dietary SDAP on a digestible lysine basis. From d 0 to 7 after weaning, increasing LGPP increased and then returned to control levels ADG and ADFI (quadratic, P < .01) and gain:feed ratio (quadratic, P < .05). In Exp. 3, 175 weanling pigs (initially 5.5 +/- 1.1 kg and 20 +/- 3 d of age) were fed either a control diet containing 20% dried whey, 17.5% dried skim milk, and 4% select menhaden fish meal (SMFM) or diets consisting of lactose and either 3.5 and 7.0% SDAP or 4.0 and 8.0% LGPP added at the expense of dried skim milk on a digestible lysine basis. From d 0 to 7 after weaning, ADG and ADFI increased (linear, P < .05) with increasing SDAP. With increasing LGPP, ADG and ADFI increased and then decreased (quadratic, P < .10 and P < .05, respectively). Gain:feed ratio (G/F) was not affected by SDAP and was improved (linear, P < .05) for pigs fed increasing LGPP. In Exp. 4, 270 weanling pigs (initially 6.2 +/- 1.6 kg and 20 +/- 3 d of age) were used to compare three diets that contained either 2.5% spray-dried blood meal (SDBM), 4.8% SMFM, or 3.92% CPP; test feedstuffs were substituted on a total lysine basis and diets were fed from d 7 to 28 after weaning. Pigs fed CPP had decreased (P < .05) ADG and G/F compared with those fed the other protein sources. In Exp. 5, 255 weanling pigs (initially 5.3 +/- 1.2 kg and 17 +/- 2 d of age), were used to compare five diets that contained either 2.5% SDBM, 5.51% SMFM, 4.17% CPP, 4.17% LGPP or 8.34% LGPP; feedstuffs were substituted on a digestible lysine basis and diets were fed from d 7 to 28 after weaning. No differences (P > .10) were observed in growth performance among pigs fed any of the protein sources within the experiment. However, pigs fed the LGPP had numerically greater ADG and better G/F than those fed CPP. In conclusion, these results suggest that LGPP can be an effective replacement for a portion of the SDAP in diets for weanling pigs.

The effects of extrusion processing of carbohydrate sources on weanling pig performance.

Three experiments were conducted to study the effects of extrusion processing on growth performance of weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 350 weanling pigs (initially 4.4 +/- 1.0 kg BW and 10 +/- 2 d of age) were used to study the effects of various carbohydrate sources (corn, cornstarch, broken rice, wheat flour, and grain sorghum), with or without moist extrusion processing, on growth performance in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. No carbohydrate source x extrusion processing interactions were observed (P > .10). Growth performance was not affected by extrusion processing; however, pigs fed corn had poorer growth performance (P < .05) than those fed other carbohydrate sources. In Exp. 2, 360 weanling pigs (initially 5.0 +/- .5 kg BW and 10 +/- 2 d of age) were used to determine the interactive effects of ingredient processing and diet complexity on growth performance. Three processing combinations were used with either a simple or complex diet formulation in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The three processing conditions were 1) pelleted only (control); 2) corn that was moist-extruded and then the complete diet was pelleted (extruded); or 3) the complete diet was expanded and then pelleted (expanded). Pigs fed extruded diets had a greater improvement in ADG as diet complexity increased than those fed other diets (processing x diet complexity interaction, P < .10). Pigs fed moist-extruded corn had the best growth performance (P < .01). In Exp. 3, 210 weanling pigs (initially 6.8 +/- 1.5 kg BW and 21 +/- 2 d of age) were fed pelleted diets containing nonextruded corn (14.5% gelatinization; control) or corn extruded to provide 38.7, 52.7, 64.4, or 89.3% gelatinization. Average daily gain and ADFI decreased and then increased (P < .05), but apparent digestibility of DM, CP, and energy (P < .01) increased and then decreased with increasing gelatinization. These results indicate that moist extrusion processing of carbohydrate sources has variable effects on growth performance of early-weaned pigs and that the degree of gelatinization does not seem to be a major factor in explaining this variation.

Effects of different fat sources on growth performance of early-weaned pigs (1998)

One hundred and eighty weanling pigs (initially 14.6 lb and 21 ± 2 d of age) were used in a 35 d growth trial to evaluate different dietary fat sources. Treatments consisted of a control diet (no added fat) or diets with 5% added fish oil, soybean oil, choice white grease, or a combination of 2.5% fish oil and 2.5% choice white grease. The diets were fed in two phases (d 0 to 14 and d 14 to 35 after weaning). Diets were fed in a meal form and formulated to a similar lysine:calorie ratio. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, pigs fed either soybean oil or fish oil had improved ADG and F/G compared to pigs fed the control diet, with those fed choice white grease or the blend of choice white grease and fish oil having intermediate performance. From d 14 to 35 and for the cumulative period (d 0 to 35) after weaning, neither added fat nor source affected ADG; however, F/G was improved for pigs fed any of the fat sources compared with those fed the control diet. These results suggest that adding 5% fat to the diet from d 0 to 35 .after weaning improved F/G approximately 8%. Fish oil, soybean oil, and choice white grease appear to be similar in their value as fat sources for weanling pigs.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 19, 1998

Effects of the interrelationship between zinc oxide and copper sulfate on growth performance of early-weaned pigs.

We conducted four experiments to examine the effects of adding zinc oxide (ZnO) and(or) copper sulfate (CuSO4) to diets for weanling pigs. In Exp. 1 and 2, weanling pigs (initially 5.3 kg and 19 +/- 2 d of age) were fed diets containing 250 ppm of added Cu (CuSO4) and either 110 or 3,110 ppm of added. Zn (ZnO). No differences (P > .10) were observed in either experiment for ADG, ADFI, or feed efficiency (G:F). In Exp. 3,240 pigs (initially 4.45 kg and 15 +/- 2 d of age) were used to determine the interactive effects of added dietary ZnO and(or) CuSO4. Dietary treatments were in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement; Zn (165 or 3,000 ppm) and Cu (16.5 or 250 ppm) were the main effects. Pigs were fed a high nutrient dense diet from d 0 to 14 after weaning and a less complex diet from d 14 to 28 after weaning, both containing the same mineral fortifications. From d 0 to 14, pigs fed 3,000 ppm Zn, with or without 250 ppm Cu, had improved ADG (P < .01) compared with pigs fed the control (16.5 ppm Cu and 165 ppm Zn) or diets with only added Cu. From d 14 to 28, pigs fed the diet containing 3,000 ppm added Zn, without 250 ppm Cu, had greater ADG than pigs fed the other diets (Zn x Cu interaction, P < .01). In Exp. 4, 264 pigs (initially 4.17 kg and 12 +/- 3 d of age) were fed a high nutrient dense diet supplemented with 3,000 ppm of Zn (ZnO) from d 0 to 14 after weaning. On d 14, pigs were switched to the diets containing experimental mineral levels identical to those of Exp. 3. From d 14 to 28 after weaning, added Zn improved ADG but not when the diet contained 250 ppm Cu (Zn x Cu interaction, P < .05). Feeding 3,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO is a viable means of improving nursery pig performance, but additive responses to growth-promotant levels of CuSO4 (250 ppm Cu) were not observed.

Effects of alternative soy sources on growth performance in early-weaned pigs (1994)

A total of 144 pigs (initial body wt of 10.4 lb) was used in a 56-d growth assay to determine the effects of different soybean preparations on growth performance and cost of gain in nursery pigs. Experimental diets were fed in three phases from d 0 to 35 postweaning (Le., d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 35). Treatments were a soybean meal-based regimen; a dry-extruded whole soybeans (mill-run) regimen; and a specially processed soy products regimen (Le., soy isolate in Phase I, soy concentrate in Phase 11, and extruded soy flour in Phase Ill). All diets were formulated to 1. 55, 1. 25, and 1.15% lysine for Phases I, 11, and III, respectively. Fat additions to the soybean meal and specialty soy product treatments were 2, 2, and 3%, for Phases I, 11, and III, respectively. The diets with extruded soybeans had more total fat (2.5, 3.8, and 4.8% greater percentage ether extract in Phases I, 11, and III, respectively) than the soybean meal-based control. On d 35 postweaning, the pigs were switched to the same soybean meal-based grower diet (.9% lysine) for a period of 3 wk. During Phase I (d 0 to 7 postweaning), pigs fed soybean meal gained 25% less and were 22% less efficient than those fed extruded soybeans and the specially processed soy products. Average daily feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment; however, pigs fed the specially processed soy product had the greatest ADG of any treatment, and numerically, the best efficiencies of gain. No statistical differences were found for ADG, ADFI, or F/G among treatments from d 7 to 21, 21 to 35, or 35 to 56 of the experiment. Thus, overall (from d 0 to 56 postweaning), pigs fed the various soybean protein sources had similar growth performance. However, overall costs per pound of gain were $.33, $.34, and $.42 for pigs fed extruded soybeans, soybean meal, and the specialty soy products, respectively. In conclusion, although the specially processed soy products regimen (Le., soy isolate) supported the greatest growth performance immediately after weaning (d 0 to 7), the best cost of gain was achieved by feeding extruded soybeans. However, the additional fat provided by extruded soybeans did not influence pig performance in this experiment.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 17, 1994

Interrelationship between hypersensitivity to soybean proteins and growth performance in early-weaned pigs

The objective of this growth trial was to determine the interrelationship between immunological criteria, gut morphology, and performance of starter pigs fed soybean proteins processed by different methods. One hundred twenty-five pigs were orally infused with 6 g/d of either dried skim milk, soybean meal (48% CP), soy protein concentrate, extruded soy protein concentrate, or experimental soy protein concentrate from 7 to 11 d of age and then fed a diet containing the same protein sources from weaning (d 21) to 35 d of age. All pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal diet containing 10% dried whey, 1.25% lysine, and 3% soybean oil for the remaining 21 d of the experiment. Xylose absorption and anti-soy immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were measured on d 6 postweaning, and skin-fold thickness after intradermal injection of protein extracts was measured on d 7 postweaning. A total of 25 pigs (five pigs/treatment) was euthanatized on d 7 postweaning. Villus height and crypt depth from duodenum samples were measured. These measurements were obtained to elucidate a relationship between the hypersensitivity responses to soybean products and growth performance of baby pigs. Pigs fed diets containing soybean meal had a lower (P less than .05) rate of gain (d 0 to 14) and villus height, higher (P less than .01) serum anti-soy IgG titers, and increased skin-fold thickness (d 6 and 7 postweaning) after intradermal injection compared with those fed dried skim milk. Pigs fed other soy proteins also had lower ADG from d 0 to 14 postweaning; however, pigs fed moist extruded soy protein concentrate tended (P less than .09) to have higher ADG and improved feed utilization when compared with pigs fed soybean meal (d 0 to 14).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interrelationship between hypersensitivity to soybean proteins and growth performance in early-weaned pigs (1990)

One hundred twenty-five pigs were orally infused with 6 g/d of either dried skim milk, soybean meal (48% CP), soy protein concentrate, extruded soy protein concentrate, or experimental soy protein concentrate from 7 to 11 d of age and then fed a diet containing the corresponding protein sources from weaning (d 21) to 35 d of age. All pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal diet containing 10% dried whey, 1.25% lysine, and 3% soybean oil for the remaining 21 d of the experiment. Skin-fold thickness following intradermal injection of protein extracts, xylose absorption, and anti-soy immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were measured on d 6 postweaning. A total of 25 pigs (five pigs/treatment) was euthanized on d 7 postweaning. Villus height and crypt depth from duodenum samples were measured. These measurements were obtained to elucidate a relationship between the hypersensitivity responses to soybean products and growth performance of baby pigs. Pigs fed diets containing soybean meal had a lower rate of gain (ADG), lower villus height, higher serum anti-soy IgG titers, and increased skin-fold thickness following intradermal injection compared to those fed dried skim milk. Pigs fed other soy proteins also had lower ADG from d 0 to 14 postweaning; however, pigs fed moist-extruded soy protein concentrate tended to have higher ADG and improved feed utilization when compared to those pigs fed soybean meal. Skin-fold thickness and antisoy IgG titers were negatively correlated with ADG at d 14 postweaning. Results indicate that a model including skin-fold thickness and anti-soy IgG titers provided a good estimate of nursery pig growth performance (R2=.33). Villus height was related to ADG at d 14 postweaning (R2=.40). A combination of skin-fold thickness, anti-soy IgG titers, xylose absorption, villus height, and crypt depth provided the best estimate of growth performance (R2=.65) for early-weaned pigs.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1990