Effects of a functional protein on growth performance of nursery pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of a functional protein (FXP; Ani-Tek Group, LLC, Shelbina, MO) on growth performance of nursery pigs. A total of 840 pigs (PIC 337 × Camborough), initially 5.5 kg, were used with 28 pigs per pen and a total of 15 replicates per treatment. There were two treatments, which consisted of a control diet and the control diet with added FXP. The experimental diets were corn, soybean meal, and whey permeate-based and contained 3,000 mg/kg added Zn. The inclusion of FXP was 0.3% of the diet. Experimental diets were fed for 23 d, followed by a common corn and soybean meal-based diet from d 23 to 48. Pigs were weighed and feed disappearance measured to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. There was no evidence (P > 0.10) for treatment × experiment interactions, thus data was combined for statistical analysis using the MIXED procedure of SAS. From d 0 to 23, pigs fed diets containing FXP had higher (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and BW and a tendency (P = 0.053) for improved G:F. During the common period (d 23 to 48), pigs previously fed FXP had a tendency (P < 0.10) for higher ADG and ADFI. Overall (d 0 to 48), pigs that received FXP had higher (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, BW, and a tendency (P = 0.055) for improved G:F. In conclusion, the inclusion of the functional protein improved growth performance of nursery pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]