Replacing skimmed milk powder by oat protein concentrate in milk replacers for piglets

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted with 24- to 72-h-old male piglets. In exp. 1, 24 piglets were assigned to three dietary treatments. In the control diet, 100% of the dietary protein originated from low-heat skimmed milk powder. In the other diets, either 25 or 50% of the milk proteins were replaced by oat protein concentrate. In exp. 2, eight piglets were assigned to each of two diets where 100% of the dietary protein originated from skimmed milk powder and 50% of the milk proteins were replaced by oat protein concentrate. In exp. 1, dry matter intake was not affected by treatments while body weight gain declined and feed to gain ratio increased significantly (P < 0.05) when oat protein concentrate replaced 50% of the milk proteins. Similar observations were made in exp. 2 regarding dry matter intake, body weight gain and feed gain ratio although digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen was the same (P > 0.05) for both the oat and milk protein treatments. Oat protein concentrate can thus replace up to 50% of milk proteins without apparent detrimental effect on dry matter intake and N digestibility; however, growth rate will be reduced. Key words: Piglets, artificial rearing, milk replacer, skimmed milk powder, oat protein concentrate, digestibility