The objectives of these studies were to investigate the effects of two special proteins, spray-dried plasma protein (SDPP), a high quality protein source, and Peptiva®, a mixture of peptides manufactured from marine products, on growth performance, nitrogen balance and enzyme and nutrient transporter mRNA expression in the brushborder membrane in weanling pigs. The results indicated that 6 % SDPP increased ADG and ADFI in the first 10 d after weaning (P < 0.05) without carry-over benefits in subsequent phases. There were potential additive effects of SDPP and Cu on growth promotion. Trends for interaction of diet and pen sanitation were observed for G:F with more pronounced response to SDPP (P = 0.07) and Cu (P = 0.11) supplementation in the sub-sanitary pens. In the duodenum, reduced crypt depth with Cu supplementation (P < 0.01) and a trend for greater villous length with SDPP supplementation (P = 0.09) were observed. Pigs reared in the sub-sanitary pens had lower ADG (P < 0.05) as well as shorter villous length and less crypt depth (P < 0.05) than those from sanitary pens. To investigate the potential impact of dietary proteins on gene expression in the intestine, 54 weanling pigs were fed either 6 % SDPP, 0.5 % Peptiva®, or soy control diets, and were killed 3 or 10 d after weaning. Northern blot results revealed significant diet by intestinal segment interactions (P < 0.05) for aminopeptidase A and aminopeptidase N. Aminopeptidase A was evenly distributed along the small intestine in the Peptiva® group, but decreased dramatically in the ileum in other groups. Aminopeptidase N increased from the proximal to the distal intestine in the soy protein and SDPP groups, whereas in the Peptiva® group, relative abundance was highest in the jejunum and lowest in the duodenum. Most of the enzyme and nutrient transporter mRNA abundance was observed in the distal segements of the small intestine and changed as the animals matured. Due to the low abundance of cytokine mRNA expression in the intestine, mRNA levels of cytokine were quantified by Real-Time PCR. The results indicated that the pigs fed the SDPP diet tended to have lower pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1-β and TNF-α compared to other treatments. Tumor necrosis factor--α and IL-10 mRNA abundance increased from the proximal to the distal intestine, and was higher (P < 0.05) in the ileum than in the duodenum and jejunum. The mRNA abundance of IL-1-β, IL-10, and TNF-α also increased as the animals matured (P < 0.01). In summary, SDPP increased growth performance of weanling pigs, which were associated with changes in intestinal morphology and function. Peptiva® influenced aminopeptidases distribution along the small intestine. The mRNA abundance for digestive enzymes, nutrient transporters, and cytokines were differentially regulated along the small intestine as pigs matured. / Ph. D.

O objetivo do experimento foi avaliar o efeito do plasma sanguíneo no desempenho e produtividade de marrãs e as implicações de seu uso sobre sua progênie. O experimento foi realizado em uma granja comercial, utilizando 56 fêmeas, de mesma ordem de parto, distribuídas em blocos ao acaso, para controlar diferenças iniciais de peso, com 4 tratamentos (0; 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0% de inclusão de plasma desidratado), 14 repetições, onde a unidade experimental foi uma porca. Após a parição, medidas como desempenho e produtividade da porca, número de leitões, peso ao desmame, intervalo desmame/estro e avaliação econômica foram analisadas. A segunda parte do experimento estudou as progênies. A distribuição dos leitões foi realizada de acordo com os mesmos tratamentos utilizados pelas porca. Depois de desmamados, aos 21 dias de idade, os leitões receberam uma dieta isoprotéica e isoenergética, com adição de plasma até 14 dias após o desmame. Nos leitões foram avaliadas características de desempenho, morfologia intestinal e avaliação econômica das rações. Quanto ao peso corporal das fêmeas, houve diferença entre os tratamentos (P=0,03). Para as variáveis consumo de ração, ganho de peso total, consumo de ração total e conversão alimentar total não houve diferença estatística (P>0,05). A variável retorno ao estro apresentou diferença significativa para o tratamento, havendo efeito quadrático (P=0,01). Não houve efeito significativo para peso corporal (P>0,05). Houve efeito no consumo de ração para a inclusão de níveis de plasma sobre o consumo (P< 0,001). Os resultados de peso leitões nascidos vivos, peso de leitões desmamados e média de peso de leitão não foram significativos (P>0,05). Entretanto, para a variável consumo de ração, foi observado um aumento linear (P=0,03). Já para os resultados morfológicos não houve efeito significativo sobre os períodos de coletas. Em conclusão, com a adição de 0 e 2,0% de plasma nas dietas de primíparas durante as fases de flushing, lactação e gestação, podemos diminuir o período de entrada ao estro, assim como aumentar o consumo das fêmeas durante a fase de lactação com a adição de 2,0%. Com a adição de 0,5% e 2,0% de plasma, é possível aumentar o número de leitões desmamados por fêmeas. Nas condições sanitárias em que foi realizado o experimento, leitões amamentados por marrãs suplementadas com plasma, assim como a adição de plasma em rações de leitões ao desmame não influenciou o desempenho e nem os parâmetros morfológicos. Para os resultados obtidos para a análise econômica, o melhor nível utilizado de inclusão de plasma foi o de 0,5%, por apresentar uma margem bruta maior comparada aos demais níveis, maior número de leitões desmamados assim como maior média de peso de leitões desmamados. Mais pesquisas sobre esse assunto são necessárias. / The objective of the trial was to evaluate the effect of plasma on the performance and productivity of gilts and the implications of its use on their progeny. The trial was conducted on a commercial farm, where 56 females were used of the same parturition order, distributed in a randomized block design with four treatments (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% inclusion of dehydrated plasma), and 14 replicates. The experimental unit is a gilt. After birth, measures such as performance and productivity of sows, number of piglets, weaning weight and weaning to estrus interval were analyzed. The second part of the experiment dealt with the progenies. The divisions of the pigs were maintained in accordance with the same treatments used with the gilts. Once weaned at 21 days of age, the piglets received a common diet with the same nutritional levels. Piglets were evaluated for performance characteristics, intestinal morphology and economic evaluation of sow\'s rations. Sow\'s body weight was significant (P=0.03). For the variables analyzed included feed intake, total weight gain, total feed intake and total feed conversion there was no statistical difference (P> 0.05). The variable return to estrus showed a significant difference to the treatment, with a quadratic effect (P = 0.01). There was no significant effect on body weight (P> 0.05). There was an effect on feed intake for the inclusion of plasma levels over consumption (P <0.001). Body weight did not have an effect on the plasma levels of inclusion in the feed across the phases evaluated. However, the inclusion levels effected feed intake in the phases (P>0.05). Mean piglet weight at birth, mean piglet weight at weaning, and mean piglet weight during the phase was not effected. Therefore, a linear effect was observed (P=0.03). As for the morphological results, there was no significant effect on the collection periods. In conclusion, with the addition of 0 and 2.0% of plasma in primiparous diets during the phases of flushing, lactation and gestation, we can reduce the period of entry to estrus, as well as increase the consumption of females during the lactation phase with the addition of 2.0%. With the addition of 0.5% and 2.0% plasma, it is possible to increase the number of piglets weaned by females. In the sanitary conditions in which the experiment was carried out, piglets fed with gilts supplemented with plasma, as well as the addition of plasma in feed of piglets at weaning did not influence the performance nor the morphological parameters. For the results obtained for the economic analysis, the best used level of inclusion of plasma was 0.5%, because it presented a gross margin greater compared to the other levels, a larger number of piglets weaned as well as a larger weight average of weaned piglets . More research on this subject is needed.

O objetivo do experimento foi avaliar o efeito do plasma sanguíneo no desempenho e produtividade de marrãs e as implicações de seu uso sobre sua progênie. O experimento foi realizado em uma granja comercial, utilizando 56 fêmeas, de mesma ordem de parto, distribuídas em blocos ao acaso, para controlar diferenças iniciais de peso, com 4 tratamentos (0; 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0% de inclusão de plasma desidratado), 14 repetições, onde a unidade experimental foi uma porca. Após a parição, medidas como desempenho e produtividade da porca, número de leitões, peso ao desmame, intervalo desmame/estro e avaliação econômica foram analisadas. A segunda parte do experimento estudou as progênies. A distribuição dos leitões foi realizada de acordo com os mesmos tratamentos utilizados pelas porca. Depois de desmamados, aos 21 dias de idade, os leitões receberam uma dieta isoprotéica e isoenergética, com adição de plasma até 14 dias após o desmame. Nos leitões foram avaliadas características de desempenho, morfologia intestinal e avaliação econômica das rações. Quanto ao peso corporal das fêmeas, houve diferença entre os tratamentos (P=0,03). Para as variáveis consumo de ração, ganho de peso total, consumo de ração total e conversão alimentar total não houve diferença estatística (P>0,05). A variável retorno ao estro apresentou diferença significativa para o tratamento, havendo efeito quadrático (P=0,01). Não houve efeito significativo para peso corporal (P>0,05). Houve efeito no consumo de ração para a inclusão de níveis de plasma sobre o consumo (P< 0,001). Os resultados de peso leitões nascidos vivos, peso de leitões desmamados e média de peso de leitão não foram significativos (P>0,05). Entretanto, para a variável consumo de ração, foi observado um aumento linear (P=0,03). Já para os resultados morfológicos não houve efeito significativo sobre os períodos de coletas. Em conclusão, com a adição de 0 e 2,0% de plasma nas dietas de primíparas durante as fases de flushing, lactação e gestação, podemos diminuir o período de entrada ao estro, assim como aumentar o consumo das fêmeas durante a fase de lactação com a adição de 2,0%. Com a adição de 0,5% e 2,0% de plasma, é possível aumentar o número de leitões desmamados por fêmeas. Nas condições sanitárias em que foi realizado o experimento, leitões amamentados por marrãs suplementadas com plasma, assim como a adição de plasma em rações de leitões ao desmame não influenciou o desempenho e nem os parâmetros morfológicos. Para os resultados obtidos para a análise econômica, o melhor nível utilizado de inclusão de plasma foi o de 0,5%, por apresentar uma margem bruta maior comparada aos demais níveis, maior número de leitões desmamados assim como maior média de peso de leitões desmamados. Mais pesquisas sobre esse assunto são necessárias. / The objective of the trial was to evaluate the effect of plasma on the performance and productivity of gilts and the implications of its use on their progeny. The trial was conducted on a commercial farm, where 56 females were used of the same parturition order, distributed in a randomized block design with four treatments (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% inclusion of dehydrated plasma), and 14 replicates. The experimental unit is a gilt. After birth, measures such as performance and productivity of sows, number of piglets, weaning weight and weaning to estrus interval were analyzed. The second part of the experiment dealt with the progenies. The divisions of the pigs were maintained in accordance with the same treatments used with the gilts. Once weaned at 21 days of age, the piglets received a common diet with the same nutritional levels. Piglets were evaluated for performance characteristics, intestinal morphology and economic evaluation of sow\'s rations. Sow\'s body weight was significant (P=0.03). For the variables analyzed included feed intake, total weight gain, total feed intake and total feed conversion there was no statistical difference (P> 0.05). The variable return to estrus showed a significant difference to the treatment, with a quadratic effect (P = 0.01). There was no significant effect on body weight (P> 0.05). There was an effect on feed intake for the inclusion of plasma levels over consumption (P <0.001). Body weight did not have an effect on the plasma levels of inclusion in the feed across the phases evaluated. However, the inclusion levels effected feed intake in the phases (P>0.05). Mean piglet weight at birth, mean piglet weight at weaning, and mean piglet weight during the phase was not effected. Therefore, a linear effect was observed (P=0.03). As for the morphological results, there was no significant effect on the collection periods. In conclusion, with the addition of 0 and 2.0% of plasma in primiparous diets during the phases of flushing, lactation and gestation, we can reduce the period of entry to estrus, as well as increase the consumption of females during the lactation phase with the addition of 2.0%. With the addition of 0.5% and 2.0% plasma, it is possible to increase the number of piglets weaned by females. In the sanitary conditions in which the experiment was carried out, piglets fed with gilts supplemented with plasma, as well as the addition of plasma in feed of piglets at weaning did not influence the performance nor the morphological parameters. For the results obtained for the economic analysis, the best used level of inclusion of plasma was 0.5%, because it presented a gross margin greater compared to the other levels, a larger number of piglets weaned as well as a larger weight average of weaned piglets . More research on this subject is needed.