Effects of Replacing Soy Protein Concentrate with Fermented Soy Protein in Starter Diet on Growth Performance and Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility in Weaned Pigs

For Exp. 1, 120 ((Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace)${\times}$Duroc) weaned pigs (7.96${\pm}$0.01 kg average initial BW, 21 days weaning) were used in a 28 d-growth assay to determine the effects of replacing soy protein concentrate (SPC) with fermented soy protein (FSP) in a starter diet (d 0 to 7) on the growth performance, apparent fecal amino acid digestibility and subsequent performance in weaned pigs. Dietary treatments included: i) FSP0 (basal diet; whey-skim milk powder-SPC based diet); ii) FSP5 (replacing SPC with 5% FSP); iii) FSP10 (replacing SPC with 10% FSP). Pigs were fed the phase I diet for 7 days, and then each group was fed a common commercial diet for 21 days to determine the effect of previous diet on subsequent performance. Average daily gain (ADG) from d 5 to 7 (linear effect, p = 0.01) and d 7 to 14 (linear effect, p<0.001) were increased as FSP level increased. The pigs fed with FSP was heavier than the pigs fed with SPC at d 5 to 7 and d 7 to 14 after weaning (p<0.05). In the entire period (d 0 to 28), there were no significant differences in weight gain and final weight between SPC and FSP diets (p>0.05). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was higher in pigs fed with the 5% FSP diet than those fed with the other diets at d 0 to 2 post-weaning (quadratic effect, p = 0.05). Also, for the entire period of phase I (d 0 to 7), pigs consumed more 5% FSP diet compared to other treatments (quadratic effect, p = 0.03). Gain/feed (G/F) was not affected by dietary SPC or FSP in phase I and subsequent periods, but G/F from d 5 to 7 after weaning was improved linearly (p = 0.04) as dietary FSP level increased. Pigs fed with 10% FSP also improved G/F compared with those fed only SPC (p<0.05). At d 7, there were linear increments in fecal dry matter (DM) (p<0.1) and nitrogen (N) (p<0.01) digestibilities as the dietary FSP level increased. The digestibilities of fecal essential and total amino acids were increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.1). For Exp. 2, three ((Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace)${\times}$Duroc) weaned barrows (average initial BW of 7.32 kg) were surgically fitted with a simple T-cannula approximately 15 cm prior to the ileo-cecal junction. The experimental designs were 3${\times}$3 latin squares with pigs and periods as blocking criteria. Dietary treatments and composition were the same as in Exp. 1. Apparent ileal N digestibility was increased as FSP level was increased (linear effect, p<0.05). The dietary treatments (SPC and FSP) did not affect apparent ileal DM digestibility (p>0.05). Among essential amino acids, apparent digestibility of ileal arginine (Arg), lysine (Lys), methionine (Met) and phenylalanine (Phe) were improved as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.1). Also, apparent ileal total essential, non-essential and total amino acid digestibilities were increased linearly (p<0.1). In conclusion, replacing SPC with fermented soy protein appeared beneficial in growth performance, N and amino acid digestibility during the early 7 days after weaning, and an equivalent effect showed on growth performance in subsequent period of 7 to 28 days after weaning.