Many swine nutritionists are recommending the use of spray-dried animal plasma in diets for early weaned pigs. The spray-dried plasma is highly digestible; contains an amino acid profile that closely matches the young pig's requirements; may have a positive effe ct on the pig's immune system and allow for a greater use of soy protein in the diet of weaning pigs.

Research at the University of Missouri has been investigating other protein ingredients that could replace spray-dried plasma in w eaning pig diets. Replacing spray-dried plasma on an equal lysine basis with spray-dried poultry byproduct, or a 1:1 ratio of spray-drie d poultry byproduct and spray-dried wheat gluten, produced statistically similar weight gains, feed intakes and feed efficiencies. The key is to make sure the amino acid composition of the formulation is adjusted. However, in another experiment, spray-dried plasma w as replaced with menhaden fish meal on an equal lysine, methionine, crude protein and metabolizable energy basis. Pig performanc e declined as the menhaden fish meal replaced the spray-dried plasma protein source. The research demonstrates the importance o f spray-dried plasma in the diet of the very young pig.

Veum, T.L. and co-workers. 1996. Spray-dried poultry byproduct with or without wheat gluten replaces spray-dried animal prote in in weaning pig diets. J. Anim. Sci. 74:(supple 1):54.