Evaluation of the use of plasma in the feeding of sows

Author(s)

Bárbara Volpi de Freitas

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT)
• Defense date: 2016-08-26

Examining board members

Lúcio Francelino Araújo; Ricardo de Albuquerque; Fábio Enrique Lemos Budiño; Simone Maria Massami Kitamura Martins

• Advisor: Lúcio Francelino Araújo

Abstract

The objective of the trial was to evaluate the effect of plasma on the performance and productivity of gilts and the implications of its use on their progeny. The trial was conducted on a commercial farm, where 56 females were used of the same parturition order, distributed in a randomized block design with four treatments (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% inclusion of dehydrated plasma), and 14 replicates. The experimental unit is a gilt. After birth, measures such as performance and productivity of sows, number of piglets, weaning weight and weaning to estrus interval were analyzed. The second part of the experiment dealt with the progenies. The divisions of the pigs were maintained in accordance with the same treatments used with the gilts. Once weaned at 21 days of age, the piglets received a common diet with the same nutritional levels. Piglets were evaluated for performance characteristics, intestinal morphology and economic evaluation of sow\'s rations. Sow\'s body weight was significant (P=0.03). For the variables analyzed included feed intake, total weight gain, total feed intake and total feed conversion there was no statistical difference (P> 0.05). The variable return to estrus showed a significant difference to the treatment, with a quadratic effect (P = 0.01). There was no significant effect on body weight (P> 0.05). There was an effect on feed intake for the inclusion of plasma levels over consumption (P <0.001). Body weight did not have an effect on the plasma levels of inclusion in the feed across the phases evaluated. However, the inclusion levels effected feed intake in the phases (P>0.05). Mean piglet weight at birth, mean piglet weight at weaning, and mean piglet weight during the phase was not effected. Therefore, a linear effect was observed (P=0.03). As for the morphological results, there was no significant effect on the collection periods. In conclusion, with the addition of 0 and 2.0% of plasma in primiparous diets during the phases of flushing, lactation and gestation, we can reduce the period of entry to estrus, as well as increase the consumption of females during the lactation phase with the addition of 2.0%. With the addition of 0.5% and 2.0% plasma, it is possible to increase the number of piglets weaned by females. In the sanitary conditions in which the experiment was carried out, piglets fed with gilts supplemented with plasma, as well as the addition of plasma in feed of piglets at weaning did not influence the performance nor the morphological parameters. For the results obtained for the economic analysis, the best used level of inclusion of plasma was 0.5%, because it presented a gross margin greater compared to the other levels, a larger number of piglets weaned as well as a larger weight average of weaned piglets . More research on this subject is needed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/08076-6 - EVALUATION OF THE USE OF PLASMA IN FEED SOWS
• Grantee: Bárbara Volpi de Freitas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate