Effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig
performance

A total of 180 nursery pigs (PIC 1050, initially 14.2 lb and 28 d of age) were used in a 24-d study to evaluate the effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig performance. PEP-NS is a combination of porcine intestinal mucosa and by-products of corn wetmilling. There were 5 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment. There were 6 dietary treatments: a negative control containing no specialty proteins, the negative control diet with 3, 6, 9, or 12% PEP-NS, or the negative control with 6% select menhaden fish meal (SMFM). The diet with 6% SMFM contained the same amount of soybean meal as the diet with 6% PEP-NS. A common pretest diet was fed in pellet form for the first 7 d post weaning. Experimental diets were fed in meal form from d 0 to 14, and a common diet was fed from d 14 to 24. From d 0 to 14, increasing PEP-NS increased (quadratic, P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and F/G, with the greatest response observed in pigs fed 9% PEP-NS. There were no differences (P > 0.10) between pigs fed 6% PEP-NS or 6% SMFM. When pigs were fed a common diet from d 14 to 24, there were no differences in performance between treatments. Overall, from d 0 to 24, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS had improved (quadratic; P < 0.01) ADG and F/G, with the greatest improvement seen as PEP-NS increased from 3 to 6%. These results suggest that feeding 6% to 9% PEP-NS in Phase 2 nursery pig diets is suitable replacement for 6% SMFM.