Effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig performance

A total of 180 nursery pigs (PIC 1050, initially 14.2 lb and 28 d of age) were used in a 24-d study to evaluate the effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig performance. PEP-NS is a combination of porcine intestinal mucosa and by-products of corn wetmilling. There were 5 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment. There were 6 dietary treatments: a negative control containing no specialty proteins, the negative control diet with 3, 6, 9, or 12% PEP-NS, or the negative control with 6% select menhaden fish meal (SMFM). The diet with 6% SMFM contained the same amount of soybean meal as the diet with 6% PEP-NS. A common pretest diet was fed in pellet form for the first 7 d post weaning. Experimental diets were fed in meal form from d 0 to 14, and a common diet was fed from d 14 to 24. From d 0 to 14, increasing PEP-NS increased (quadratic, P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and F/G, with the greatest response observed in pigs fed 9% PEP-NS. There were no differences (P > 0.10) between pigs fed 6% PEP-NS or 6% SMFM. When pigs were fed a common diet from d 14 to 24, there were no differences in performance between treatments. Overall, from d 0 to 24, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS had improved (quadratic; P < 0.01) ADG and F/G, with the greatest improvement seen as PEP-NS increased from 3 to 6%. These results suggest that feeding 6% to 9% PEP-NS in Phase 2 nursery pig diets is suitable replacement for 6% SMFM.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 18, 2010


Introduction
Previous research conducted at Kansas State University (Myers et al., 2010 5 ) found that diets containing Peptone products can be used as specialty protein sources to replace select menhaden fish meal in Phase 2 nursery pig diets.Previously tested mucosal products have utilized either enzymatically processed vegetable proteins or soy proteins as carriers.A new and more economical mucosal product, PEP-NS, has recently been developed.It uses by-products from corn wet-milling as its carrier.Despite the different carrier, PEP-NS has shown similar results to those of previously tested mucosal products, PEP2+ and Peptone 50 (Myers et al., 2010 5 ).Because PEP-NS is a relatively new mucosal product, little is known about the ideal dietary level to optimize growth performance.Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig performance.

Procedures
The Kansas State University (K-State) International Animal Care and Use Committee approved the protocol used in this experiment.The study was conducted at the K-State Segregated Early Weaning Facility in Manhattan, KS.
Diets were formulated with NRC (19986 ) values for the SMFM and values provided by the manufacturer for the PEP-NS (Table 1).Samples of the SMFM and PEP-NS were collected and analyzed for amino acid profile, and values were similar to formulated values.
A total of 180 nursery pigs (PIC 1050, initially 14.2 lb and 28 d of age) were used in a 24-d study to evaluate the effects of SMFM and PEP-NS on nursery pig performance.After arrival at the nursery facility, pigs were fed a common pretest diet (Table 2) for the first 7 d after weaning.Pigs were then allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments.There were 5 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment.Pigs were provided ad libitum access to feed and water via a 4-hole dry self-feeder and a cup waterer in each pen (4 × 4 ft).
The 6 dietary treatments included: negative control containing no specialty protein products, the negative control diet with 3, 6, 9, or 12% PEP-NS, or the negative control with 6% SMFM (Table 3).Treatment diets were fed in meal form from d 0 to 14. From d 14 to 24, all pigs were fed a common diet.Average daily gain, ADFI, and F/G were determined by weighing pigs and measuring feed disappearance on d 0, 7, 14, and 24.
Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with pen as the experimental unit.Analysis of variance was performed using the MIXED procedure in SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC).Contrast statements used were: (1) linear and quadratic effects of increasing PEP-NS, and (2) 6% PEP-NS vs 6% SMFM.

Results and Discussion
From d 0 to 14, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS had improved (quadratic; P< 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and F/G, with the greatest improvement observed in pigs fed 9% PEP-NS.There were no differences observed between pigs fed the diet with 6% SMFM and 6% PEP-NS.From d 14 to 24, there were no differences in ADG, ADFI, or F/G observed in pigs previously fed increasing PEP-NS.
Overall, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS had improved (quadratic; P < 0.01) ADG and F/G, with the greatest improvement observed in pigs fed 6% PEP-NS.Additionally, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS tended to have increased (P < 0.10) ADFI.There were no differences observed between pigs fed 6% PEP-NS and those fed 6% SMFM.
These results suggest that 6 to 9% PEP-NS is a suitable replacement for fish meal in Phase 2 nursery pig diets.The greatest improvement in ADG, feed intake, and F/G were seen as PEP-NS increased from 0 to 6% in the diet.

Table 3 .
Effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig performance 1