J.M. Campbell, J.D. Crenshaw, and L.E. Russell
APC, Inc.
Ankeny, IA
U.S.A.
Introduction
Spray-dried animal plasma (SDP) is a product produced by careful collection, processing and spray-drying of bovine or porcine blood collected from government inspected abattoirs. Spray-dried plasma is available in both powder and granular forms. Methods used to collect and process SDP result in a product that contains a diverse mixture of functional components consisting of immunoglobulins, albumin, fibrinogen, lipids, growth factors, biologically active peptides (defensins, transferrin), enzymes and other factors that have biological activity within the intestine independent of their nutritional value. These functional proteins can improve survival, health and performance of animals. Several modes of action of SDP have been proposed. Collectively, these proposed actions suggest that oral consumption of SDP reduces over-stimulation of the immune system thereby conserving immune response resources through interactive mechanisms between the intestine and other immune system tissues (Pérez-Bosque et al., 2004).
Spray-dried plasma is used extensively in nursery pig feed to enhance intake, growth, and feed efficiency (Coffey and Cromwell, 2001). The beneficial effects of SDP are more pronounced in production conditions with high pathogen exposure than with low pathogen exposure. Numerous studies involving challenge with pathogenic bacteria, viruses or protozoa have demonstrated reduced mortality and morbidity with feeding spray-dried animal (bovine or porcine) plasma to swine, calves, poultry, or shrimp (Russell and Campbell, 2000; Arthington et al., 2002; Hunt et al., 2002; Torrallardona et al., 2003; Bosi et al., 2004; Campbell et al., 2004b).
More recently, SDP has been shown to promote beneficial effects in poultry.
Improvements include growth, feed intake, feed efficiency and greater breast meat yield, while reducing variation and condemnation rates (Campbell et al., 2003, 2004a; Bregendahl et al., 2004).
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the effect of SDP in poultry feed, the impact of typical feed processing conditions on SDP efficacy and evaluation of SDP in a commercial turkey production system using Statistical Process Control techniques.
Effect of plasma in poultry feeds
Commercial use of SDP in feed for broilers or turkeys is limited. Previous research indicates that SDP improves growth and efficiency of broilers and turkeys to a greater extent when poultry are housed in simulated commercial conditions with greater antigen exposure (Campbell et al., 2003, 2004a; Bregendahl et al., 2004). Recently, researchers have reported that rate and efficiency of growth of broilers are improved when SDP is included in the feed from hatch to finish (Campbell et al., 2005; Bregendahl et al., 2004). Furthermore, skinless, boneless breast meat yield increased 5% when SDP was fed to broilers (APC, unpublished data; Bregendahl et al., 2004). Improved uniformity of broilers fed SDP was also noted (Bregendahl et al., 2004). In addition, feeding broilers dietary SDP from hatch to finish resulted in greater weight gain, efficiency, and survival during a natural occurrence of severe necrotic enteritis compared to broilers fed no SDP or SDP fed from hatch to d 14 of age (Campbell et al., 2005). Spray-dried plasma has also been shown to improve survival in turkey poults challenged with Pasteurella multocida (Campbell et al., 2004).
Effect of feed processing on the plasma response in poultry
Research in pigs indicated that growth response to SDP was reduced when pellet conditioning temperature exceeded 78°C (Steidinger et al., 2000). Much of commercial poultry feeds are pelleted or expanded at temperatures ranging from 85-95°C and higher. One factor limiting the use of SDP in broiler feed has been the concern that feed processing conditions would denature functionality of SDP and diminish potential improvements in growth and efficiency.
Four experiments have recently been completed to evaluate the effect of pellet (85, 90 or 95°C) or expander (149°C final effective temperature) conditioning temperatures on growth and efficiency of broilers fed diets containing SDP. All dietary treatments for the experiments were prepared at Kansas State University feed processing facilities.
In experiment 1 (42 d), Ross x Ross 308 male broilers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary feeding programs to provide 6 broilers per pen and 10 pens per treatment. The feeding program consisted of three phases with starter from d 0 to 14, grower from d 15 to 28, and finisher from d 29 to 42. Within phase, treatments were formulated to be equal in lysine and metabolizable energy. All diets were pelleted through a 4 mm x 32 mm die at 85°C with 15-second conditioning time. Dietary treatments were control (no plasma); SDP (1.0, 0.5 and 0.25% phase 1, 2, and 3, respectively) applied post-pelleting and SDP (1.0, 0.5 and 0.25% phase 1, 2, and 3, respectively) mixed into mash and then pelleted.
Experiments 2 (42 d) and 3 (21 d) were designed similarly to experiment 1, with the exceptions that only 8 pens (6 broilers per pen) per treatment were used and two additional treatments were added. The additional treatments were: SDP mixed in the mash with fat (1%) added at the mixer (experiment 2), or without fat added at the mixer (experiment 3) then pelleted at either 90 or 95°C. Experiment 4 (21 d) evaluated pelleted (85°C) or expanded (149°C final effective temperature) feed with or without 1% SDP added in the mash.
A summary of the results of the broiler experiments is presented in Table 1. Overall results of experiment 1 indicated that pellet conditioning temperature (85°C) of broiler feed was not detrimental to performance of broilers fed SDP. Due to the encouraging results of experiment 1, the same treatments were tested again, along with two other treatments that involved higher pellet conditioning temperatures (90 and 95°C) with SDP mixed into the feed, then pelleted with (experiment 2) or without (experiment 3) fat added in the mixer. In both experiments 2 (d 42) and 3 (d 21), final body weight of broilers fed SDP was improved compared to controls. Pellet conditioning temperatures at 85, 90 or 95°C was not detrimental to growth or final weight of broilers fed SDP mixed in pelleted feed. Experiment 4, compared pelleted and expanded feed with or without added SDP. Again, results indicated that neither pellet (85°C) nor expanded (149°C) temperatures negated the positive growth effects of SDP in broiler feed.
Evaluation of spray-dried plasma in turkey production
Due to positive results in controlled broiler and turkey studies, research was designed to evaluate SDP under typical turkey production conditions. Difficulties exist with side by side field evaluations; thus, Statistical Process Control Charting (SPC; Wheeler, 2003) was utilized to evaluate the impact of a feed program change on turkey production. A site in the upper Midwest was selected for the evaluation. All Nicholas tom turkeys were used. Twenty-four months of historic close-out production records were evaluated to establish a stable system that was in control based on SPC criteria. Body weight at market, feed efficiency, livability, and condemnation rates were evaluated. Once the system was determined to be within control, SDP was implemented into the feed program at 1.0% in diet 1, 0.5% in diets 2 to 4, and 0.25% in diets 5 to 8 for an average total consumption of 148 g of SDP. Spray-dried plasma replaced soybean meal in the formula, while maintaining equal nutrient levels as previous formulas. Body weights at market were adjusted to a common age, while feed efficiency was adjusted to a common weight. Seasonal variation was also accounted for using techniques described by Wheeler (2003).
Once the feed program change was implemented, close-out information was evaluated for approximately 4 months. Data from 14 flocks of Nicholas toms were collected to evaluate the effect of SDP on production. Based upon SPC charting techniques, a significant change (P < 0.05) was observed for body weight at market, feed efficiency, and condemnation rate. No change was detected in livability. Compared to the historical close-out information, body weights, feed efficiency, and condemnation rates improved 6.3%, 3.7%, and 15%, respectively after the feed program change.
Conclusions
Recent data indicate that SDP improves growth, feed efficiency, breast meat yield and uniformity of poultry. Typical processing conditions of pelleted or expanded feed do not affect the improvement noted in performance of broilers fed SDP. The benefits of SDP in feed can be measured using SPC techniques in a commercial turkey system.
References
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From Proceedings of the "Midwest Poultry Federation Convention", St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.
