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Report no. 846


09.07.2009
Daka Porcine Plasma and zinc for weaners

Abstract

The addition of Daka Porcine Plasma or 2,500 ppm zinc prescribed by the vet significantly increased the pigs’ production value. The highest production value (+9%) was obtained by adding both Daka Porcine Plasma and 2,500 ppm zinc to diet 1 (the diet given the first 14 days post-weaning). A significant positive effect was obtained on daily gain and feed intake before intermediate weighing (10 days post-weaning) when blood plasma was added, regardless of whether 2,500 ppm zinc was added. After intermediate weighing, when all the pigs were given the control feed, a significant positive effect was obtained on feed intake when plasma had been added to diet 1. Regardless of the addition of Daka Porcine Plasma, the addition of 2,500 ppm zinc to the feed had a significant positive effect on daily gain, feed conversion and feed intake before intermediate weighing and a significant positive effect on feed intake and feed conversion after intermediate weighing.

The aim of the trial was to investigate the effect of adding 2,500 ppm zinc and 5% Daka Porcine Plasma to diet 1 for pigs with a weaning weight below 9 kg. The trial was designed as a two-factor trial with zinc and blood plasma as the two factors.

Group

1

2

3

4

Diet 1

Control

Control + 2,500 ppm zinc (ZnO)

Daka Porcine Plasma (5%)

Daka Porcine Plasma (5%) + 2,500 ppm zinc (ZnO)

Diet 2

Control

Control

Control

Control
The feed for this trial was produced at a commercial feedstuff factory. Daka requested that the temperature of the feed be below 77°C to ensure that blood plasma was not destroyed by the heat impact during pelleting. The temperature of the finished product before cooling averaged 70.5°C at the first production and 72.5°C at the second production.

There were no differences between the groups in the number of dead and culled pigs. Mortality averaged 0.3% and 5.7% of the pigs were transferred to a hospital pen. During the first ten days post-weaning, significantly more pigs were treated for diarrhoea in the control group than in groups 2-4. There were no differences between groups 2-4 in the number of treatments for diarrhoea.

Overall, the trial demonstrated that the addition of 2,500 ppm zinc and/or 5% Daka Porcine Plasma to diet 1 increased the production value when calculated with the same feed prices. The improved production results obtained when plasma alone was added did not correspond to the excess price of the feed.

Danish Pig Production has asked the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration whether the production method used ensures that the blood product contains no virus. The inquiry is currently being reviewed by the Veterinary and Food Administration.

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ppm
En forkortelse af Parts per million (fx er 1 ppm er lig med 0,000001). En måleenhed som fx svarer til indhold af et stof i mg/kg af varen.
DAKA
DAKA er en sammenslutning af de vestdanske andelsejede kødfoderfabrikker. DAKA forarbejder affald fra slagterierne og selvdøde dyr.
Plasma
En letflydende væske - fx blod eller muskelplasma.
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