A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dried skim milk (LDP) in weaning diets containing different levels of high-protein soybean meal (PCS), for piglets weaned at 21 days of age. Five diets were compared, from weaning to 14 days post-weaning: T1 - basal diet, soybean meal (FS) as the main protein source; T2 and T4 - replacement of 30 and 50%, respectively, FS from basal diet by PCS; T3 and T5 - replacement of 30 and 50%, of FS from basal diet by PCS and 20% by LDP, respectively. The partial replacement of FS by PCS or LDP did not affect the performance neither the body composition or deposition tissues ratios of piglets in anyone of the evaluated period. The mucous membrane height and villus height at 14 days post-weaning were not affected by the protein source of the diet, but crypt depth was reduced by PCS, regardless of diet supplementation with LDP. The protein source did not affect performance neither body composition of piglets, but PCS provided a reduction of morphologic changes of the intestinal mucous membrane, signed by the reduction of the crypt depth.
dried skim milk; high-protein soybean meal; nursery phase; source of protein; piglets; weaning
