With the objective to evaluate the inclusion of spray dry blood plasma in diets for piglets weaned at 21 days of age (5.9 ± 0.40 kg initial BW), a total of 112 animals were allotted to completely randomize block design with four treatment and seven replications with four animals per experimental unit, in three subsequent periods: from 21 to 28 days (period 1), from 29 to 35days (period 2), from 36 to 42 days (period 3). The piglets were maintained in the experiment from 43 to 56 days (period 4) fed conventional nurse diet. The treatments consisted of inclusion levels of 0.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0% of spray dry blood plasma in the period 1, 0.0; 2.8; 4.2 and 5.6% in the period 2 and 0.0; 2.0; 3.0 and 4.0% in the period 3. The average daily weight gain (ADWG) increased in a quadratic form up to the estimate inclusion levels of 4.3, 2.5 and 1.3 of spray dry blood plasma in the diet, in the periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively. No significant effect was observed for the inclusion levels of spray dry blood plasma on daily feed intake and ADWG in the period 4. The inclusion levels of spray dry blood plasma in diets for pigs weaned at 21 days of age should be 4.3 for the first week, 2.5 for the second and 1.3% for the third week post weaning.
alternative feedstuff; feeding management; post weaning; initial phase
