EFFECT OF SPRAY-DRIED PORCINE PLASMA-PROTEIN ON FEED-INTAKE GROWTH-RATE, AND EFFICIENCY OF GAIN IN MICE

One hundred eight mice were weaned at 21 +/- 1 d and allotted to four dietary treatments: 1) control, 2) control + 4% spray-dried porcine pl asma protein (SDPP), 3) control + 8% SDPP, and 4) control + 12% SDPP. Daily gain for males increased with increasing SDPP during wk 1 (P < . 01), wk 2 (P < .01), and for the entire 3 wk (P < .01). Daily gain inc reased quadratically with increasing SDPP for females during wk 1 (P < .05). During the 3rd wk, ADG decreased for females with increasing SD PP (P < .05). Daily feed intake increased Linearly (P < .01) with incr easing SDPP in all periods. Gain-to-feed ratio (G/F) increased with in creasing SDPP during wk 1 (P < .01) and for the first 2 wk (P < .05). During wk 3, G/F decreased with increasing SDPP level (P < .01). Gain- to-feed ratio of females responded quadratically to increasing SDPP du ring wk 1 (P < .05), whereas G/F of males increased linearly with incr easing SDPP level. Gain-to-feed ratio for the entire trial was unaffec ted by treatment among females (P = .82) but increased linearly with i ncreasing SDPP levels among males (P < .01). Liver weight increased qu adratically with increasing SDPP levels for males (P < .05) and female s (P < .05). Treatment effect on liver weight per kilogram BW.75 appro ached significance (P < .10) in females. Male liver weight/100 g BW an d liver weight per kilogram BW.75 responded quadratically to increasin g SDPP levels (P < .05). Gonadal fat pad weights were unaffected by tr eatment. We conclude that mice respond to dietary inclusion of SDPP wi th increases in ADFI, ADG, and G/F during the period immediately after weaning and may, therefore, serve as appropriate models for pig respo nses to SDPP.