Effects of rice feeding on growth performance and protein (amino acids) metabolism in weanling piglets

We investigated the effects of rice feeding on growth performance and protein (amino acids) metabolism of weanling piglets. In all, 16 weanling piglets with an average initial weight of 7.5 kg were divided into two groups. One group was fed a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet, and the other was fed a rice‐soybean meal diet, containing around 46% of corn or rice, respectively. A two‐week growth trial was conducted. The average daily gain (p = .025) and feed efficiency (p = .011) in rice‐fed piglets were significantly higher than those in corn‐fed piglets. Liver lysine‐ketoglutarate reductase activity tended to be lower (p = .073) in rice‐fed piglets than in corn‐fed piglets. Plasma urea nitrogen concentration in rice‐fed piglets was significantly lower than that in corn‐fed piglets. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly higher in rice‐fed piglets than in corn‐fed piglets. Plasma‐free valine, isoleucine, and tryptophan concentrations were significantly higher in rice‐fed piglets than in corn‐fed piglets. In contrast, plasma histidine concentration was significantly lower in rice‐fed piglets than in corn‐fed piglets. Overall, these results show that rice feeding improves the growth performance and affects the protein (amino acids) metabolism in weanling piglets.     

二次制粒工艺对断奶仔猪消化器官的影响

选用360头21日龄断奶仔猪,按饲喂试验日粮的制粒工艺、原料预处理不同,分成4个处理组,研究断奶仔猪采食二次制粒颗粒饲料对主要消化器官的影响。处理1组饲粮普通一次制粒并使用未膨化玉米及豆粕;处理2组饲粮一次制粒、使用膨化玉米及豆粕;处理3组采用二次制粒工艺、使用未膨化玉米及豆粕;处理4组二次制粒、使用膨化玉米及豆粕。主要消化器官统计结果(相对指标)显示:处理4组仔猪小肠重显著大于处理1和3组(P<0.05);小肠长度和空肠黏膜重指标,处理4组显著大于其他3个处理组。小肠形态测定结果显示:处理4组仔猪空肠绒毛高度显著大于其他3个处理组;空肠肠壁厚度指标,处理4组仔猪显著大于处理1组,而处理2组和3组之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。以上结果表明,在选择膨化玉米与膨化豆粕原料的基础上,采用二次制粒工艺,先将鱼粉与膨化玉米、膨化豆粕进行第一次高温制粒所生产的饲料,饲喂断奶仔猪有效促进小肠器官发育,从而改善生长性能。     

碎米替代玉米对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化及蛋白质代谢的影响

文章旨在研究日粮用碎米完全替代玉米对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化及蛋白质代谢的影响.试验将180头21?d断奶、平均体重为(6.48±0.04)kg的仔猪随机分为2组,每组5个重复,每个重复18头.两组断奶仔猪分别饲喂以45％玉米和碎米为主的日粮,试验共持续14?d.结果:与玉米组相比,碎米组仔猪断奶后8～14?d平均日...     

固态发酵菜籽粕对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫功能及消化酶活性的影响

本试验旨在研究用固态发酵菜籽粕替代部分豆粕对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫功能及消化酶活性的影响.试验选用1日龄爱拔益加肉仔鸡180羽,随机分为3组,每组6个重复,每个重复10羽,分别饲喂玉米-豆粕型基础饲粮(豆粕对照组)以及用未发酵菜籽粕(菜籽粕组)或固态发酵菜籽粕(发酵菜籽粕组)等氮替代基础饲粮中25％豆粕的饲粮.试验期6周.结果表明:发酵菜籽粕组较菜籽粕组可显著提高肉仔鸡全期的平均日增重(P＜0.05),而发酵菜籽粕组肉仔鸡平均日增重比豆粕对照组稍高,但差异不显著(P＞0.05).21日龄时,与豆粕对照组相比,发酵菜籽粕组显著提高了肉仔鸡的脾脏指数、胸腺指数及十二指肠、空肠、回肠和盲肠的蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性(P＜0.05);42日龄时,菜籽粕组较豆粕对照组显著提高了肉仔鸡的脾脏指数(P＜0.05),发酵菜籽粕组显著提高了十二指肠、空肠、回肠和盲肠的蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性(P＜0.05).由此可见,固态发酵菜籽粕等氮替代基础饲粮中25％的豆粕具有提高肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫功能和肠道消化酶活性的作用.     

Effects of cellulase supplementation to corn soybean meal‐based diet on the performance of sows and their piglets

A total of 15 primiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their litters were used in the current study to evaluate the efficacy of cellulase supplementation on the production performance of sows and piglets. Pigs were randomly allocated into one of three treatments with five replicates per treatment. The dietary treatments were as follows: (i) CON (corn‐soybean meal‐based control); (ii) EZ1 (CON + 0.05% cellulase); and (iii) EZ2 (CON + 0.10% cellulase). The supplementation of cellulase had no effect (P > 0.05) on body weight and feed intake of lactating sows. At weaning, back fat thickness loss decreased (P = 0.04) linearly in EZ1 and EZ2 treatments. The average daily gain (ADG) of piglets increased (linear P = 0.06, quadratic P = 0.04)) during days 14 to 21 as well as at days 21 to 25 (linear P = 0.03 and quadratic P = 0.01) with the increase in the level of supplemented enzyme. Dry matter and nitrogen digestibility increased (linear P = 0.01) in lactating sows fed EZ1 and EZ2 diet compared with CON. In conclusion, it is suggested that cellulase supplementation to corn‐soybean meal based diet exerts beneficial effects to sows in reducing their back fat thickness loss at weaning and also helps to improve nutrient digestibility. It also helped to improve the ADG of piglets.     

精胺对断奶仔猪生产性能和血清生化指标的影响

为了研究精胺对断奶仔猪生产性能和血清生化指标的影响,选用30头(21±2)d断奶的健康、体重相近的仔猪,随机分为5个处理组,每个处理6个重复,断奶当天起,分别每天口腔灌服0,300,600,900和1 200μmol的精胺,连续灌服3 d,试验期为14 d。结果表明:灌服900和1 200μmol的精胺,可显著提高仔猪的平均日采食量(P<0.05);在断奶后第7天,与对照组相比,灌服900和1 200μmol两组血清二胺氧化酶(DAO)活性分别降低了24.11%和23.17%(P<0.05),血清尿素氮含量分别增加了50.31%和49.69%(P<0.05);在断奶后第14天,与对照组相比,灌服900和1 200μmol两组DAO活性分别降低了16.80%和21.14%(P<0.05),而其他血液指标含量无显著差异(P>0.05)。     

仔猪补饲及不同类型的饲粮蛋白质对仔猪小肠粘膜形态结构的影响

试验研究了玉米—豆饼(CSM)、豆饼(SM)、乙醇处理豆饼(TSM)和乳蛋白(MP)等不同类型蛋白质对3周龄断奶仔猪小肠形态变化的影响。仔猪从7日龄起补饲,断奶后一部分仔猪换喂复合开食料(CS),其余仔猪饲料类型不变。试验至35日龄结束。结果表明,断奶导致绒毛变短(P<0.05),腺窝增深(P<0.05),绒毛/腺窝比下降(P<0.01),空肠上皮淋巴数增加(P<0.05),蔗糖酶活降低(P<0.01),血清脲氮上升(P<0.01)。断奶后肠道损伤程度与蛋白类型有关(P<0.01):豆饼引起的损伤程度最大,乳蛋白最小;玉米代替部分豆饼或用乙醇处理豆饼后可明显降低小肠粘膜损伤程度。断奶后换料组的粘膜损伤比相同料型组严重(P<0.01),但补饲豆饼组例外。十二指肠的绒毛萎缩(P>0.05)和腺窝增深(P<0.01)比空肠明显。断奶后第一周肠粘膜损伤最严重,第二周开始恢复。这些结果充分证明,仔猪对补饲及不同类型蛋白质的反应符合过敏理论。     

不同粉碎粒度的豆粕对断奶仔猪生长性能和养分消化率的影响

本试验研究不同粉碎粒度的豆粕对断奶仔猪生长性能和养分消化率的影响,选用26～28日龄断奶(7.9±0.7)kg杜×长×大健康仔猪80头,按体重、性别相同原则随机分为4个处理,每处理设5个重复,每个重复4头猪。各个处理组采用相同的日粮组成,对照组饲喂含常规粉碎豆粕(目标粒径为750μm)的日粮,处理1、2、3分别饲喂含目标粒径为150、30、6μm豆粕的日粮。结果表明:使用粉碎粒度低于30μm豆粕的日粮提高了断奶仔猪日增重(P<0.05),明显提高采食量(P>0.05),降低饲料增重比(P<0.05),显著降低断奶仔猪的腹泻频率;使用粉碎粒度低于30μm豆粕的日粮提高断奶仔猪日粮氮、磷表观消化率(P<0.05),改善能量消化率(P=0.063)和有机物表观消化率(P=0.082),显著提高必需氨基酸的表观消化率(P<0.05)。粉碎粒度低于30μm的超微粉碎豆粕可显著提高断奶仔猪日粮蛋白质的消化效率,提高断奶仔猪的生长性能,改善了豆粕作为蛋白质营养源的生物适应性。     

Effects of xylanase supplementation on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,blood parameters,fecal microbiota,fecal score and fecal noxious gas emission of weaning pigs fed corn‐soybean meal‐based diet

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of xylanase supplementation on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, blood parameters, fecal microflora shedding, fecal score and fecal noxious gas emission of weaning pigs fed corn‐soybean meal based diet. A total of 150 weaning pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 7.85 ± 0.93 kg were randomly allocated to three treatments based on BW and sex (10 replicate pens with five pigs, two gilts and three barrows) were used in this 42‐day trial. Dietary treatments were: (1) CON, basal diet; (2) X1, basal diet +0.005% xylanase; (2) X2, basal diet +0.01% xylanase. The xylanase supplementation linearly increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG), and gain : feed ratio (G:F) from days 29 to 42 and the in overall period, dry matter, nitrogen and energy digestibility, and fecal Lactobacilli counts, and linearly decreased (P < 0.05) blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration, fecal NH₃ and H₂S emission. Additionally, at weeks 5 and 6, there was a linear decrease in fecal score with xylanase supplementation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of xylanase improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility, shifted microbiota by increasing fecal Lactobacillus counts, decreased BUN concentration, fecal score, and fecal NH₃ and H₂S emission in weaning pigs.     

Dietary levels of protein and free amino acids affect pancreatic proteases activities,amino acids transporters expression and serum amino acid concentrations in starter pigs

The dietary contents of crude protein and free amino acids (AA) may affect the protein digestion and AA absorption in pigs. Trypsin and chymotrypsin activities, AA serum concentrations and expression of AA transporters in the small intestine of pigs fed a low protein, AA‐supplemented (19.2%, LPAA) or a high protein (28.1%, HP), wheat‐soybean meal diet were measured in two 14‐d trials. The LPAA diet contained free L‐Lys, L‐Thr, DL‐Met, L‐Leu, L‐Ile, L‐Val, L‐His, L‐Trp and L‐Phe. All pigs were fed the same amount of feed (890 and 800 g/d for trial 1 and 2 respectively). In trial 1, samples of mucosa (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and digesta (duodenum and jejunum) were collected from 14 pigs (17.2 ± 0.4 kg); in trial 2, blood samples were collected from 12 pigs (12.7 ± 0.3 kg). The trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in both intestinal segments were higher in pigs fed the HP diet (p < 0.01). Trypsin activity was higher in jejunum than in duodenum regardless the dietary treatment (p < 0.05). Pigs fed the LPAA diet expressed more b^0,+AT in duodenum, B⁰AT1 in ileum (p < 0.05), and tended to express more y⁺LAT1 in duodenum (p = 0.10). In pigs fed the LPAA diet, the expression of b^0,+AT was higher in duodenum than in jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01), but no difference was observed in pigs fed the HP diet. Ileum had the lowest b^0,+AT expression regardless the diet. The serum concentrations of Lys, Thr and Met were higher in LPAA pigs while serum Arg was higher in HP pigs (p < 0.05). Serum concentrations of AA appear to reflect the AA absorption. In conclusion, these data indicate that the dietary protein contents affect the extent of protein digestion and that supplemental free AA may influence the intestinal site of AA release and absorption, which may impact their availability for growth of young pigs.     

膨化与加酶玉米对断奶仔猪生长性能和肠黏膜形态的影响

通过2个饲养试验，研究了膨化及加酶处理玉米对断奶仔猪的生长性能和肠黏膜形态的影响。试验一分别用普通玉米、膨化玉米、普通玉米加酶及膨化玉米加酶为主要能量原料的饲料饲喂仔猪做4种处理，每个处理6个重复，定时记录体质量和耗料量．计算日增重、日采食量和料肉比。结果表明，膨化和加酶玉米均可提高日增重，降低料肉比。试验二分别用普通玉米、膨化玉米、普通玉米加酶及膨化玉米加酶为主要能量原料的饲料饲喂仔猪做4种处理，每个处理6个重复，分别在断奶后第14天和第28天各屠宰1头公猪。取十二指肠、空肠前、中、后段以及回肠做组织切片，观察其黏膜厚度、绒毛高度、隐窝深度和绒毛宽度。结果表明，断奶后14d，与普通玉米组相比，膨化玉米组和加酶玉米组都显著提高了十二指肠的绒毛高度，二者共同处理组使十二指肠的绒毛高度极显著提高；2种处理组都显著降低了空肠中段的隐窝深度；显著增加了十二指肠、空肠前段、后段和回肠的黏膜厚度。断奶后28d，2种处理组都显著增加了十二指肠的黏膜厚度。     

植物小肽替代鱼粉对断奶仔猪生长性能、腹泻率及肠道发育的影响

试验旨在研究植物小肽对断奶仔猪生长性能、腹泻率及肠道发育的影响。选择体重为9.56 kg左右的35日龄健康杜长大三元杂种断奶仔猪120头,按照体重相似的原则随机分为2个处理,每个处理设6个重复,每个重复10头仔猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(含2.5%鱼粉),试验组添加2%植物小肽(替代基础饲粮中2.5%鱼粉)。试验期28 d。结果表明,植物小肽组仔猪日增重和日采食量分别比对照组提高5.88%(P<0.05)和2.67%(P<0.05),料重比显著降低2.74%(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,植物小肽组仔猪十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度显著提高(P<0.05),十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度显著降低(P<0.05),十二指肠和空肠的绒腺比(V/C)也显著提高(P<0.05)。综合来看,断奶仔猪饲粮中2%植物小肽替代2.5%鱼粉促进了仔猪肠道发育,提高了生长性能。     

发酵豆粕中大分子蛋白质和肽含量对仔猪小肠绒毛结构的影响

本试验旨在研究豆粕中大分子蛋白质和肽含量对仔猪小肠绒毛结构的影响。采用凝胶过滤色谱技术分析豆粕中大分子蛋白质和肽含量。选取40头断奶仔猪,随机分成4个处理:去皮豆粕处理、发酵豆粕C处理、发酵豆粕E处理和动物蛋白处理。试验期5周。结果表明:去皮豆粕中大分子蛋白质含量约占80%,发酵豆粕中约占50%,甚至降至24%;发酵豆粕中肽含量约占19%,去皮豆粕中仅有2.7%。与去皮豆粕处理相比,发酵豆粕C处理十二指肠绒毛高度显著提高(P0.05),发酵豆粕E、发酵豆粕C处理十二指肠、空肠隐窝深度显著下降(P0.05),发酵豆粕E、发酵豆粕C处理十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度/隐窝深度均显著升高(P0.05)。由此可见,豆粕中大分子蛋白质含量与小肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度呈负相关;发酵豆粕能够在断奶仔猪饲料中使用,并且有效改善断奶仔猪小肠绒毛结构。     

Effect of fermented blood cells on growth performance and intestinal characteristics of weaned piglets

The increase in feed costs has led feeder to replace protein source. Blood meal can be used in piglet diets instead of fish meal (FM). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fermented blood cells (FBCs) on the growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets. One hundred eighty 28‐day‐old piglets were assigned and were divided into 4 groups (9 L per groups and 5 pigs per litters) randomly. The piglets were fed one of four experimental diets, fish meal, blood cells (BCs), liquid‐state fermented blood cells (LFBCs) or solid‐state fermented blood cells (SFBCs) respectively. The dietary with LFBCs and SFBCs increased the average daily gain and feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) (p < .05). In duodenum, LFBC group increased the villous height (p < .05). The SFBC and LFBC group significantly increased the villous height (p < .05) in the jejunum. Fermented blood cells exhibit a positive regulatory function on the intestinal tract and modulate intestinal microflora. Compared with the fish meal group, the CAT, GSH‐PX and SOD activity, and MDA level was no significant differences in jejunum and plasma of weaned piglets (p > .05). LFBCs and SFBCs significantly increased the bifidobacteria and lactobacillus number in the caecum (p < .05). Dietary LFBCs increased the expression of ZO‐1 mRNA in the jejunal of weaned piglets (p < .05). In conclusion, dietary with fermented blood cells in weaned piglets had improved growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets.     

蛋白酶解物对早期断奶仔猪肠黏膜形态和生长性能的影响

本文旨在研究自制蛋白酶解物对早期断奶仔猪生长性能的影响。选用40头健康杜×长×大三元杂交商品仔猪(约3.5 kg/头),随机分为5个处理组(1个对照组,4个试验组),每个处理组设4个重复,每重复2头。对照组添加1.5%血浆蛋白粉,试验1~4组分别添加2%玉米蛋白粉酶解物(HCPP)、豆粕酶解物(HSM)、鱼粉酶解物(HFM)和酵母酶解物(HY)。仔猪14日龄断奶,预试期2 d,正试期14 d。试验测定了早期断奶仔猪生长性能和肠黏膜形态。结果表明:日粮中添加2%酵母酶解物通过保护小肠黏膜的正常形态结构,能有效地提高早期断奶仔猪平均日增重(24.64%,P<0.05)和日采食量(7.80%),并改善饲料转化率(13.68%)。     

Effects of sodium butyrate on growth performance,haematological and immunological characteristics of weanling piglets

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) on growth, haematological and immunological characteristics in weanling pigs. A total of 100 male piglets (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) with a body weight of 8.0 ± 0.2 kg weaned at the age of 28 days were randomly assigned to two treatments with five replicates and 10 pigs per replicate. Piglets received a basal diet (control group) or diets supplemented with 1000 mg/kg SB. The feeding trial lasted for 21 days. The results showed that dietary SB significantly decreased (p < 0.05) diarrhoea incidence of weaned piglets, but did not affect (p > 0.05) the average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed to gain (F/G). Furthermore, piglets fed dietary SB had higher (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of glucose and triglycerides and lower (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of urea nitrogen, cortisol, D‐lactic acid and diamine oxidase when compared with the control group. However, dietary SB did not affect concentrations of serum albumin, total protein, insulin and glucagon (p > 0.05). There were no significant (p > 0.05) treatment effects on serum IgA and IgM, whereas serum IgG concentration and IgA+ cell count in jejunum from pigs fed SB were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in those given the basal diet. In conclusion, the present study indicated that dietary SB significantly decreased diarrhoea incidence of weaned piglets and increased the efficiency of nitrogen utilization. Also, dietary SB could regulate and enhance the immune function of piglets by increasing the serum IgG concentration and IgA+ cell count in jejunum. Our results suggest that SB may reduce some of the adverse effects of weaning stress and play an important role in maintaining the integrity of intestinal mucosa.     

膨化与加酶玉米对断奶仔猪血液指标及胰腺和肠道淀粉酶活性的影响

选择96头断奶仔猪，随机分为4组，每组6个重复，每个重复4头仔猪，分别饲喂普通玉米、膨化玉米、普通玉米加酶及膨化玉米加酶为主要能量原料的饲料，研究了膨化与加酶玉米对断奶仔猪血液指标以及胰腺组织和小肠内容物淀粉酶活性的影响。结果表明，膨化和加酶处理玉米以及二者互作对断奶仔猪血清葡萄糖和尿素氮浓度均无显著影响。膨化和加酶处理均可显著提高仔猪断奶14d时十二指肠和空肠内容物的淀粉酶活力。对断奶28d时胰腺和小肠各段内容物淀粉酶活性均无影响；在整个试验期，未见到膨化和加酶处理的互作。     

Effects of different fermented soy protein and apparent ileal digestible lysine levels on weaning pigs fed fermented soy protein‐amended diets

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of different fermented soybean proteins and the apparent ileal digestible lysine levels on weaning pigs fed fermented soy protein (FSP)‐amended diets. In Exp. 1, 70 crossed piglets (6.25 ± 0.40 kg) were used in a 5‐week trial to evaluate two different FSP. In Exp. 2, 20 weaning barrows (6.15 ± 0.45 kg) were used in a metabolism trial to determine the effects of the apparent ileal digestible (1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5%) lysine levels in weaning pigs fed FSP (5%) diet. In Exp. 1, pigs fed the diet containing Lactobacillus spp. FSP showed higher nitrogen (N) digestibility (P < 0.05), lower blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels (P < 0.05) than those fed the Aspergillus oryzae FSP diet. In Exp. 2, increasing dietary lysine levels increased the average daily gain, apparent dry matter, N digestibility, N retention and essential amino acids in the current study (P < 0.05), with the 1.5% showing the highest value. In conclusion, pigs fed Lactobacillus spp. FSP had a higher N digestibility than those fed A. oryzae FSP. The optimal apparent ileal digestibility lysine level in fermented soy protein diets (3550 kcal/kg metabolizable energy) for maximizing growth performance and N utilization in the first 7 days (6.25 kg) was 1.5%.     

Effects of different sources of protein on the growth performance,blood chemistry and polypeptide profiles in the gastrointestinal tract digesta of newly weaned piglets

To determine the effects of different sources of protein on the growth performance of newly weaned piglets, 72 newly weaned piglets were randomly assigned to three groups fed different diets (soya bean, casein and dried distillers' grain with solubles (DDGS) feeds). Casein and DDGS feeds consisted of soya bean feed in which 5% of the CP was replaced with casein‐ or DDGS‐derived CP respectively. Blood and chyme samples were collected from each piglet 2 h post‐feeding on days 0 and 28 of the feeding period. The DDGS feed decreased DMI (p = 0.024) and increased FCR (p = 0.025) due to lower nitrogen utilization (p = 0.078) than those of other feeds. Total amino acid content in chyme demonstrated that casein feed digested rapidly in the duodenum (p = 0.005), whereas DDGS feed was digested primarily in the distal jejunum (p = 0.003) and ileocecum (p = 0.002). However, polypeptide profiles in chyme exhibited a pattern different from those of amino acids. There were no differences in the polypeptide profiles in the stomachs of piglets fed soya bean or casein feeds (p > 0.05), but soya bean group had greater amounts of small polypeptides (mass under m/z 3000 Da) in the duodenum (p = 0.052) than other groups. In contrast, the DDGS feed group had more large polypeptides (m/z 3000–4000 Da) in the stomach than the other groups (p < 0.001). In addition, 10 pairs of polypeptides with matching masses were identified in the plasma and digesta, indicating that polypeptides may have been transported across the intestinal epithelial cells and into the blood. Taken together, substitution of 5% of the CP in soya bean meal‐based feed with DDGS‐derived CP decreased the growth performance of newly weaned piglets due to poor digestibility and N utilization of DDGS feed, as well as untimely digestion of casein feed.     

The effect of dietary spray-dried porcine plasma on clinical response in weaned piglets challenged with a pathogenic Escherichia coli.

Weaned piglets were used to determine the effect of dietary spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on the clinical response to an infection with a pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) O139:K82 LT(-). The piglets were divided into two groups of 10 animals each. One group was fed the control diet containing soybean(meal) plus whey powder. The test piglets were fed a diet with 8% SDPP. Piglets were orally infected with the challenge strain on days 6 and 7 after weaning. The experimental period lasted 14 days after which the piglets were euthanised and necropsied. Faecal samples were collected daily for bacteriological analysis. Segments of jejunum, caecum and rectum were removed for bacteriological analysis post mortem. Feed intake and weight gain, faecal and condition scores and body temperature were measured daily. In the control and SDPP groups, 6 and 7 piglets died from diarrhoea. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) were substantially higher in the SDPP group than in the control group. SDPP-fed piglets generally had a more favourable faecal score and a healthier appearance than did the control piglets. The faecal excretion of E. coli O139:K82 was similar for control and test piglets. There were no diet effects on the E. coli O139:K82 counts at different sites of the intestine. In this experiment, the inclusion of SDPP at an economically acceptable percentage in the diet could not prevent piglet losses due to challenge with a pathogenic E. coli, but improvements of ADG, ADFI and faecal and condition scores were achieved.