Effects of dietary protein sources on ileal digestibility and growth performance for early-weaned pigs

Two experiments were conducted to compare the ileal digestibilities and gro wth performance as affected by major protein sources in early-weaned pigs. In Expt 1, 30 early-weaned (EW) pigs (10 days old and 3.13+/-0.07 kg BW) we re given a terminal ileum exteriorization and additional 30 conventionally- weaned (CW) pigs (21 days old and 6.26+/-0.17 kg BW) were fitted with simpl e ileal T-cannula. Dietary treatments consisted of five protein sources: so ybean meal (SBM), dried skim milk (DSM), isolated soy protein (ISP), spray- dried plasma protein (SDPP), and wheat gluten (WG). In Expt 2, 150 pigs (22 days old and 6.70+/-0.18 kg BW) were employed for a feeding trial. Basal d iet was formulated to contain 40% of DSM for days 0-7, 20% for days 7-21, a nd DSM was substituted for the protein sources used in Expt 1. The apparent ileal digestibilities of most essential amino acids differed (P < 0.05) be tween weaning ages. Lysine digestibilities of SBM- or DSM-based diets were lower (P < 0.05) in EW pigs than in CW pigs. During the first week post-wea ning, the ADG and ADFI of pigs fed a diet containing SDPP were higher (P < 0.05) than that of pigs fed diets containing other protein sources. During days 8-21 post-weaning, a diet based on SBM showed the lowest ADG and ADFI as compared to other treatments. In conclusion, SDPP and WG appear to be ex cellent alternative protein sources for the early-weaned pigs. (C) 1999 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.