FERMENTED WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE FED TO WEANED PIGLETS

Abstract

A 6-wk feeding trial was conducted with whey protein concentrate (WPC) to compare its feeding value when unfermented (U), fermented (F) or fermented and neutralized whey protein concentrate (FN) when added to diets of piglets weaned at 3–4 wk of age. The different WPC were incorporated at the rate of 33.9%, on a dry matter basis, in isonitrogenous and isocaloric corn-soybean meal diets. The 84 crossbred piglets used in this trial were penned on slatted floors, in groups of four, and fed the diets as slurries twice daily. Piglets fed U and F grew faster than piglets fed FN. They also had higher dry matter intake, less diarrhea and tended to have better feed to gain ratios. The amount of sodium hydroxide needed for the neutralization of FN might have been responsible for the lower performance observed with this product. Although piglets fed F had looser feces than those fed U, little difference, if any, in growth or other performance parameters was observed between the two groups. Mortality rate was 11% for piglets fed FN, 7% for those fed F, but was nil for piglets fed U; necroscopied piglets had colibacillosis. Results indicated no advantage for weaned piglets of reducing the lactose level of whey protein concentrate by fermentation following ultrafiltration. Key words: Piglets, whey protein, fermentation, growth, diarrhea