136 Optimum Concentration of Spray Dried Plasma for Maximized Growth Performance, Improved Intestinal Health, and Reduced Inflammation in Weaned Pigs Housed in a Challenged Environment

Abstract This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that greater inclusion of spray dried plasma (SDP) in diets improves growth performance, intestinal morphology, and reduces inflammation in weaned pigs. Four-hundred weaned pigs (body weight: 6.05 ± 0.80 kg) were allotted to a randomized complete block design with 5 diets and 2 blocks (16 pens/diet; 5 pigs/pen). Pens were not cleaned between groups to create a sanitation challenge. Phase-1 diets containing 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8% SDP were formulated. One pig per pen was sacrificed on d 14 and samples of intestinal tissue and mucosa were collected. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS and linear, quadratic, and cubic contrast statements were used. During phase-1, ADG, ADFI, G:F, and body weight of pigs on d 14 increased (linear, P < 0.05) with increasing levels of SDP in the diet (Table 1). Villus width in the jejunum of pigs on d 14 tended to increase (linear, P < 0.10) with increasing inclusion of SDP (Table 2), and villus height:crypt depth tended to increase (quadratic, P < 0.10) with the greatest value observed for pigs fed a diet with 8% SDP. Secretory immunoglobulin A in the jejunal mucosa was decreased when 4 or 8% SDP was included in the diet (cubic, P < 0.05). Interleukin- (IL-) 2 (quadratic, P < 0.10) and IL-18 (cubic, P < 0.10) in the jejunal mucosa tended to decrease at 8% inclusion of SDP and IL-8 (linear, P < 0.10) tended to increase as SDP inclusion increased in the diet. In conclusion, the optimal inclusion of SDP in diets for weanling pigs was 8% as indicated by improvements in growth performance, but the collective intestinal morphology and health data do not result in a clearly conclusive optimum concentration in SDP.