THE EFFECT OF SPRAY-DRIED PORCINE PLASMA ON GROWTH-PERFORMANCE IN THE EARLY-WEANED PIG

A total of 904 weanling pigs were used to investigate the effects of 1) spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP), 2) blends of SDPP and spray-dried blood meal (SDBM), and 3) added dietary methionine in a SDPP-based diet on starter pig performance. In Exp. 1, 534 weanling pigs (initially 6.4 kg and 21 +/- 2 d of age) were used to determine the effects of either 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10% SDPP and lactose as a replacement for dried skim milk in the Phase I diet (d 0 to 14 postweaning). All pigs were fed the same diet from d 14 to 28 postweaning. Average daily gain from d 0 to 14 increased (linear, P < .01) with increasing SDPP. From d 14 to 28, ADG decreased (linear, P < .03) as level of SDPP fed during Phase I increased. However, for d 0 to 28, ADG was increased (linear, P < .01) with increasing SDPP in the Phase I diet. Feed intake increased with increasing SDPP from d 0 to 14 and d 0 to 28 (quadratic, P < .04 and P < .08, respectively); however, gain/feed (G/F) was not affected. In Exp 2, 298 weanling pigs (initially 5.5 kg and 19 +/- 2 d of age) were used to determine the effects of replacing SDPP with SDBM in the Phase I diet. Pigs were fed either a diet containing 10% SDPP or diets with SDBM replacing 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the lysine provided by the SDPP. Maximum (quadratic, P < .06) ADG was observed in pigs fed the diet that contained 75 and 25% of the lysine provided by SDPP and SDBM, respectively. In Exp 3, 72 weanling pigs (initially 5.7 kg and 21 +/- 3 d of age) were used to determine the influence of added methionine in diets containing spray-dried blood products. Pigs were fed one of two diets containing 20% dried whey, 7.5% SDPP, and 1.75% SDBM with or without .10% DL-methionine (.39 vs .29% total methionine). Pigs fed added methionine had improved (P < .05) ADG (d 0 to 7) and G/F(d 0 to 21). These experiments indicate that up to 10% SDPP can be added to the Phase I diet and that a blend of SDPP and SDBM (7.5:1.63%, respectively) improves growth performance compared with either protein source alone. However, to maximize pig growth performance, diets containing spray-dried blood products may require supplemental methionine.