Assessment of a Marine-Based Hydrolyzed Protein Source and Spray-Dried Plasma Protein as Supplements in the Diet of Early Weaned Pigs12

Two experiments (140 pigs in Exp. 1; 120 pigs in Exp. 2) evaluated a marine-based hydrolyzed protein source, (Peptiva Vitech Bio-Chem, San Fernando, CA) as a replacement for spray dried plasma protein (SDPP) in phase I weanling pig diets. Pigs (19 ± 4 d of age) were fed diets with protein supply based mainly on soy protein, or similar diets supplemented with SDPP or Peptiva after weaning for 7 to 10 d. The SDPP and Peptiva were supplemented at 3 and 6%, respectively, in Exp.1 and 1.5 and 3% in Exp. 2. In Exp. 1, pigs fed diets with SDPP had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI compared with pigs fed the control diets in phase I without carry-over benefits in subsequent phases. Pigs fed Peptiva had similar ADG as pigs fed the control diet. In Exp. 2, growth performance was not affected by diet (P > 0.05). A third experiment using 48 pigs investigated supplementation of SDPP or Peptiva in phase I diets on diet digestibility and N balance. Results indicated that 6% dietary inclusion of either specialty protein had no impact on N retention, digestibility, or protein biological value (P = 0.22 to 0.39) when compared with the control diet. Alteration in diet digestibility is not an important contributing factor to improved growth performance when SDPP is supplemented in phase I pig diets. The hydrolyzed protein source was acceptable as a general protein supplement, but did not elicit phase I growth stimulation typically observed with SDPP.