Preprint Article Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Plasma Functional Proteins: A Sustainable Solution to Reduce Postweaning Diarrhea Without Compromising Piglet Growth

Javier Polo
* ORCID logo ,
Yanbin Shen
,
Laia Blavi
,
Laia Sobrevia
,
Simon Tibble
,
Joe Crenshaw
ORCID logo ,
Núria Tous
ORCID logo ,
David Torrallardona
ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 29 October 2024 / Approved: 29 October 2024 / Online: 30 October 2024 (09:55:15 CET)

How to cite: Polo, J.; Shen, Y.; Blavi, L.; Sobrevia, L.; Tibble, S.; Crenshaw, J.; Tous, N.; Torrallardona, D. Plasma Functional Proteins: A Sustainable Solution to Reduce Postweaning Diarrhea Without Compromising Piglet Growth. Preprints 2024, 2024102352. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.2352.v1 Polo, J.; Shen, Y.; Blavi, L.; Sobrevia, L.; Tibble, S.; Crenshaw, J.; Tous, N.; Torrallardona, D. Plasma Functional Proteins: A Sustainable Solution to Reduce Postweaning Diarrhea Without Compromising Piglet Growth. Preprints 2024, 2024102352. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.2352.v1

Abstract

These studies address the challenge of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets, a common and costly health issue exacerbated by the recent European Union ban on therapeutic zinc oxide. The research evaluates whether spray-dried plasma (SDP), a sustainable and highly digestible protein source, can mitigate PWD without compromising piglet growth. Two concurrent studies were conducted on farms using either low-protein or normal-protein diets, with SDP included in varying phases of early piglet feeding. Diets with SDP improved growth rates and feed intake during critical post-weaning phases, particularly under normal protein levels and enhanced feed efficiency and reduced medication needs, indicating its potential to support piglet health while reducing dependency on pharmaceutical interventions. In conclusion, SDP in post-weaning diets helps balance growth and health, even when using low protein diets and offers a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional methods for managing PWD. This work highlights the role of SDP in promoting a circular economy by upcycling animal by-products and aligning with environmentally friendly farming practices.

Keywords

Low protein diets; Nursery diets; Spray-dried plasma; Zinc Oxide alternative; Sustainable pig farming; Circular economy; Feed efficiency

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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