A Very Low CP Level Reduced Diarrhoea and Productivity in Weaner Pigs but No Differences between Post-Weaning Diets Including Soybean Meal or Soy Protein Concentrate Were Found

摘要

Diarrhoea is a challenge after weaning in pigs, and medicinal zinc oxide has been used to decrease this problem. Additionally, soy protein concentrate improves protein digestion and thereby increases growth compared to soybean meal. The aim was to test the effect of different low-protein diets on diarrhoea and productivity. This study demonstrates that a diet with very low-protein levels supplemented with amino acids decreases diarrhoea similar to zinc oxide, but also limits growth performance. Moreover, the study found no effect of low-protein diets with different protein sources. Based on these results, there is potential in feeding extremely low-protein diets to weaned pigs as a tool to decrease diarrhoea and thereby antibiotics usage. Additionally, this study presents an opportunity to use both soy protein concentrate and soybean meal as the main protein source, without affecting pig health and productivity.