[Spray-dried plasma in diets for weaned piglets: influence on growth and underlying mechanisms]

Spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) is a by-product of slaughter plants. The plasma obtained from slaughtered pigs or ruminants is spray-dried and used for the production of human foodstuffs and animal feeds. SDAP added to the diet of weaned piglets has considerable positive effects on the growth performance of piglets. In a meta-analysis, it was calculated from 68 comparisons between SDAP-containing diets and control diets that the SDAP-induced change in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the first 2 weeks after weaning was +26.8% and +24.5%, respectively. Two experiments demonstrated that dietary SDAP can reduce post-weaning diarrhoea. The aim of the research described in this thesis was to learn more about the mechanisms underlying the growth- and health-promoting properties of SDAP in the diet of weaned piglets. Results showed that dietary SDPP has positive effects on the post-weaning growth performance and health of piglets. These effects are more pronounced in piglets kept under suboptimal conditions and/or high infection pressure, and in piglets fed on diets lacking anti-microbial growth promoters. SDAP acts by influencing the gastrointestinal microflora: it appears to affect pathogenic bacteria rather than exert a general anti-bacterial effect leading to nutrient sparing, as has been described for anti-microbial growth promoters. SDAP has great potential as treatment for immuno-compromised mammals, such as neonates, and for animals in which antibiotic treatment is not possible, for instance when there is a ban against antibiotics or when multi-resistant bacteria are involved.