Evaluation of FSP (Fermented Soy Protein) to Replace Soybean Meal in Weaned Pigs: Growth Performance, Blood Urea Nitrogen and Total Protein Concentrations in Serum and Nutrient Digestibility

A total of one hundred and forty four weaned pigs with an average BW of 8.09±0.05 kg were used in a 28 day study to investigate the effects of fermented soy protein on growth performance, blood urea nitrogen and total protein concentrations in serum and nutrient digestibility in weaner pigs. Pigs were blocked by initial body weight and randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were six replications per treatment. Dietary treatments included: SBM (corn- soybean meal basal diet), F 5, 10 and 15 (fermented soy product was used at 5, 10 and 15% to replace soybean meal in basal diet, respectively). ADG (average daily gain) and ADFI (average daily feed intake) were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatments during the entire 4-wk study period. There were linear increments in feed efficiency (p 0.05). Digestibilities of histidine, lysine and methionine were increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p 0.05). At the end of experiment, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) concentration was increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p