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Evaluation of bovine plasma in early nursery pig diets
Eight hundred and two barrows and gilts (5.48 ± 0.57 kg) were used to evaluate the use of bovine plasma in early nursery phases. Treatments included a bovine plasma ration (4% in phase 1 ration and 2% in phase 2 ration) and a negative control diet with no animal plasma protein. Pigs were started on experimental rations on the day of weaning (~21 d of age) and arrival to the facility (d 0). A three-phase nursery program was utilized, and diet changes occurred at 7, 20, and 39 days post-wean. Pigs were penned in blocks of either 24 or 25 pigs/pen with a computerized feed system delivering feed to single-sided feeders. There were a total of 24 replications per treatment group. Treatment diets were fed until d 20, at which point all pigs were fed a common nursery 3 diet. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements. Treatments were equalized across gender, and data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS with pen as the experimental unit and treatment as a fixed effect. There was a tendency for an improvement in ADG (P = 0.07) when pigs were fed plasma during the first 7 days. From d 7 to 20, ADG was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in pigs fed plasma. While G:F was not significantly different (P = 0.28), increased intake resulted in a heavier (P = 0.04) pig at d 20 when plasma was included in the diet. From d 20 to d 39, a common nursery diet was fed, and ADG and G:F were no longer significantly different based on treatment. Overall (d 0 to 39), there was a significant increase (P = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively) in ADG when pigs were fed plasma from d 0 to 20. Based on the results of this study, pigs that were fed plasma from d 0 to 20 have a higher ADG.
Table 1. Evaluation of bovine plasma in early nursery diets |
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Trt 1 |
Trt 2 |
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Item |
Plasma |
Control |
SEM |
Probability, P = |
|
d 0 to 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
ADG, kg |
0.12 |
0.10 |
0.01 |
0.07 |
|
G:F |
0.84 |
0.74 |
0.04 |
0.09 |
|
d 7 to 20 |
|
|
|
|
|
ADG, kg |
0.38 |
0.35 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
|
G:F |
0.88 |
0.87 |
0.01 |
0.28 |
|
d 0 to 39 |
|
|
|
|
|
ADG, kg |
0.45 |
0.43 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
|
G:F |
1.35 |
1.34 |
0.01 |
0.83 |
|
Final Wt, d 39 |
22.76 |
22.19 |
0.25 |
0.11 |
|
Keywords: nursery, pigs, plasma