Crude protein levels in the post-weaning diets and performance in piglets

Three crude protein levels were compared with weaning piglets (29 days of a ge), in the period from 0 to 15 days post-weaning. The treatments compared were: T1- control diet, 20% crude protein (CP); T2 - 18% CP diet; T3 - 16% CP diet. Diets were isolisinic, containing 1,15% total lysine. During the w eanling phase a pre-starter diet was fed to all piglets, from seventh day o f age. An 18% CP diet was fed to all piglets, from 16 to 36 days post-weani ng. The reduction of CP level in the diet to 18% or 16% did not affect (P>0 ,10) the performance of piglets in any of the studied periods and it decrea sed (P<0,01) the incidence and severity of diarrhea. It was concluded that the reduction in the crude protein level and in the proportion of soybean m eal on the diet for piglets weaned at 29 days, fortified with lysine, fed f or 15 days post-weaning, decrease the incidence and severity of diarrhea, a nd not decrease the performance.