Experimental Procedures
The products that were evaluated were used in two of the three nursery phases. Dietary lysine levels of 1.60, 1.45 and 1.30% were fed for each of three phases (10, 14 and 14-day period), respectively (Table 1). The Biopeptide protein (UP 1672) was added at dietary levels of 6.00, 4.00, 2.00, and 0.00% and replaced plasma protein on a lysine basis in phase 1 and 2. During phase 3 (24 to 35 day) all pigs were fed the same diet in order to evaluate the effects when a corn soybean meal (C-SBM) diet was offered. Diet compositions are presented in Table 1.
A total of 344 crossbred pigs were weaned at 14 to 21-day of age at an average 12.3 lb body weight. The study was conducted at three universities (Michigan State, Ohio State, and Purdue), each having different facilities, management and environmental conditions. Pigs were allotted by weight, sex and litter to a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design in a total of 16 replicates. Pigs at each institution were housed in environmentally controlled nurseries and all pigs had ad libitum access to their treatment diets and water. All diets were mixed at each institution.
Statistical analysis were conducted using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS (1985), with the pen mean used as the experimental unit. Regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the Biopeptide (UP 1672) protein source and growth performance. Both linear and quadradic effects were tested.