In order to evaluate the effects of spray-dried plasma on performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion), growth, intestinal health (microflora colonization and intestinal wall morphology) of piglets fed equal amounts per day of feed, 24 piglets weaned at 28 days old were used in an experiment performed as a randomised block design with four treatments (diets with 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% inclusion of spray-dried plasma), six replicates and one animal per experimental unit. Significant differences were observed among treatments weight gain, feed conversion and numbers of E. coli colony forming-units (CFU). Pigletsfed diets with different levels of spray-dried plasma had higher weight gain, better feed conversion and lower amounts of E. coli CFU in the small intestine than animals fed diets without spray-dried plasma in the diets. No significant effect of the treatments on the intestinal wall morphology at day twelve after weaning was observed. In conclusion, the inclusion of 2.5% spray-dried plasma in the diets in creases weight gain, improves feed conversion and reduces the incidence of E. coli CFU in the small intestine of piglets weaned at 28 days of age reared under challenging conditions, however, no beneficial effect on the intestinal wall morphology was observed with the inclusion of spray dried plasma in the diets.
diarrhea; early weaning; Escherichia coli; nutritional enrichment; weaning age