Growth performance of weanling pigs fed spray-dried animal plasma: a review

Spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP), mostly of porcine origin, is frequently u sed as an ingredient of weanling piglets diets in order to improve feed int ake and to reduce post-weaning diarrhoea. On the basis of 15 published stud ies it is concluded that dietary SDAP levels up to 6% increase both average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake (ADFI) in the first 2 weeks after weaning in a dose-dependent fashion. Up to 6% SDAP also reduces feed conversion ra tio (FCR). The positive effect of SDAP on ADG and ADFI is much more pronoun ced in the first than the second week after weaning. There is no positive c arry-over effect of SDAP feeding during the period of 2. weeks after weanin g on growth performance thereafter. SDAP is an expensive protein source and an economic evaluation should be made before including SDAP in weanling pi glets diets. Multiple regression analysis indicated that, apart from SDAP d ose, baseline growth rate is an important determinant of the effect of SDAP on ADG, with high baseline growth rate being associated with small effects of SDAP. It should be stressed that SDAP is a non-sterilised product that might spl ead certain diseases after feeding it to pigs. Porcine plasma has more beneficial effects than bovine plasma. Possible modes of action are d iscussed. It is suggested that, in addition to improving feed palatability, SDAP reduces post-weaning intestinal disease by preventing attachment of p athogens. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.