Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability

The trial explored innovative low-protein diets for weaning piglets, testing the elimination of fish meal and blood derivatives. The trial compared three treatments, each with two post-weaning feeds: control feed with blood plasma and fishmeal; T1: low-protein feed with seven amino acids, fishmeal,...

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Main Authors: Michele Lanzoni, Paul De Smet, Giovanni Ferrari, Davide Bochicchio, Sujen Santini, Valerio Faeti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1720
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author Michele Lanzoni
Paul De Smet
Giovanni Ferrari
Davide Bochicchio
Sujen Santini
Valerio Faeti
author_facet Michele Lanzoni
Paul De Smet
Giovanni Ferrari
Davide Bochicchio
Sujen Santini
Valerio Faeti
author_sort Michele Lanzoni
collection DOAJ
description The trial explored innovative low-protein diets for weaning piglets, testing the elimination of fish meal and blood derivatives. The trial compared three treatments, each with two post-weaning feeds: control feed with blood plasma and fishmeal; T1: low-protein feed with seven amino acids, fishmeal, and blood plasma; T2: low-protein feed with seven amino acids without fishmeal and blood plasma. The trial tested 180 weaned piglets, 24 days of age, evenly distributed by weight, age, and litter of origin. At the end of the first phase, T1 and T2 recorded a significantly higher average weight, ADG, and FCR compared with the control feed. At the end of the second phase, the T2 group maintained a significantly better weight, ADG, and FCR than the control group. Considering the entire test period (phase 1 and phase 2), the T2 thesis appears to have a significantly higher average weight, ADG, with a lower FCR compared to the control group. The T2 thesis fixed a significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.01) greater quantity of nitrogen compared to the T1 thesis and control feed (T2 58.71% vs. T1 54.13% and control 54.02%). In conclusion, a low-protein diet without raw materials of animal origin proved more efficient in terms of performance and nitrogen retention.
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spelling doaj-art-849687af27e448d5a25b74ffd00a2e7d2025-08-20T03:26:16ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011512172010.3390/ani15121720Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental SustainabilityMichele Lanzoni0Paul De Smet1Giovanni Ferrari2Davide Bochicchio3Sujen Santini4Valerio Faeti5DVM, Nutritionist and Farm Consultant, 47032 Bertinoro, ItalyHead Nutritionist Bivit Company, 8560 Wevelgem, BelgiumNutritionist, Neofarma Company, 47020 Longiano, ItalyResearch Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Via Beccastecca 345, 41018 Modena, ItalyResearch Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Via Beccastecca 345, 41018 Modena, ItalyResearch Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Via Beccastecca 345, 41018 Modena, ItalyThe trial explored innovative low-protein diets for weaning piglets, testing the elimination of fish meal and blood derivatives. The trial compared three treatments, each with two post-weaning feeds: control feed with blood plasma and fishmeal; T1: low-protein feed with seven amino acids, fishmeal, and blood plasma; T2: low-protein feed with seven amino acids without fishmeal and blood plasma. The trial tested 180 weaned piglets, 24 days of age, evenly distributed by weight, age, and litter of origin. At the end of the first phase, T1 and T2 recorded a significantly higher average weight, ADG, and FCR compared with the control feed. At the end of the second phase, the T2 group maintained a significantly better weight, ADG, and FCR than the control group. Considering the entire test period (phase 1 and phase 2), the T2 thesis appears to have a significantly higher average weight, ADG, with a lower FCR compared to the control group. The T2 thesis fixed a significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.01) greater quantity of nitrogen compared to the T1 thesis and control feed (T2 58.71% vs. T1 54.13% and control 54.02%). In conclusion, a low-protein diet without raw materials of animal origin proved more efficient in terms of performance and nitrogen retention.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1720amino acidsweaning feedlow-protein dietnitrogen efficiency
spellingShingle Michele Lanzoni
Paul De Smet
Giovanni Ferrari
Davide Bochicchio
Sujen Santini
Valerio Faeti
Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability
Animals
amino acids
weaning feed
low-protein diet
nitrogen efficiency
title Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability
title_full Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability
title_fullStr Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability
title_full_unstemmed Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability
title_short Technological Solutions to Decrease Protein Content in Piglet Weaning Feed, Improving Performance, Gut Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability
title_sort technological solutions to decrease protein content in piglet weaning feed improving performance gut efficiency and environmental sustainability
topic amino acids
weaning feed
low-protein diet
nitrogen efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1720
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