PSIV-3 Comparison of nursery pig feed programs with or without spray dried plasma

Abstract The objective was to determine if a 3-phase feed program (CON) without spray-dried bovine plasma (SDP) using a budgeted amount of phase 1 diet (2.3 kg/pig), followed by phase 2 diet offered to d 21 post-weaning results in similar pig performance and economics compared to a 3-phase program (SDP) using 5% SDP in phase 1 diet provided d 0-14, 1.25% SDP in phase 2 diet offered d 14-21 post-weaning, with both programs using a common phase 3 diet without SDP offered d 21-48 post-weaning. Female weaned pigs (18–21 d of age; 5.02 ± 0.07 kg initial BW) were randomly allotted by BW to pens in 2 rooms to provide 23–24 pigs/pen (666 total pigs) and 14 pens/feed program. Pen data was analyzed using a randomized complete block design for effects of room and feed program using the covariance of initial BW. By d 14 pigs fed program SDP had higher (P < 0.01) ADG (159 vs 111 g/d), GF (0.85 vs 0.54), BW (7.3 vs 6.6 kg) and tended (P = 0.06) to have lower ADFI (191 vs 205 g/d) compared to CON program. By d 48 pigs fed SDP program had higher (P < 0.05) final BW (25.2 vs 24.2 kg), GF (0.60 vs 0.57) and tended (P = 0.09) to have higher ADG than CON program. Pig mortality and culls did not differ (P > 0.10) between feed programs. Assuming $4.40 kg BW, income and feed cost/pig was higher (P < 0.05) for SDP vs CON program with a value over cost advantage (P = 0.12) of $2.95/pig fed SDP. In conclusion lower cost feed programs without SDP can result in less income due to reduced final BW and GF by the end of the nursery.