256 Effect of Functional Amino Acid Supplementation in Salmonella-Challenged Weaned Pigs fed Either Animal- or Plant-Based Nursery Diets

Abstract Feeding plant based (PB) nursery diets may aggravate the effects of disease in pigs, which be attenuated by functional amino acid (FAA) supplementation. The objective was to determine dietary protein source and FAA supplementation pigs subsequently challenged with Salmonella (ST). Thirty-two (8.7 ± 0.23 kg) were assigned 1 4 diet programs for wk post-weaning a 2 × factorial [PB vs. animal-based (AB)] basal (FAA–) or supplemented profile (FAA+; Thr, Met, Trp at 120% requirements). Pigs then placed onto common grower and, after 7-d adaptation period, inoculated ST (3.0 109 CFU/mL) monitored 7 d post-inoculation. Growth performance, fecal score, gut health, shedding, intestinal colonization translocation measured pre- Nursery score decreased AB-FAA+ compared other groups (0.42 0.68±0.06 score; P< 0.05) post-inoculation increased PB AB (1.12 0.95±0.15 0.05). Overall shedding (2.20 2.42±0.22 score), cecal (1.69 2.50±0.36 score) colonic (2.05 2.83±0.36 myeloperoxidase (1.92 2.65±0.37 µU/mL) reduced (P< Translocation spleen FAA+ FAA- (0.88 1.50±0.36 Post-inoculation, had greater weight gain PB-FAA- (0.72 0.52±0.07 kg/d; fed AB-FAA- feed intake (1.45 1.17±0.08 Gain:feed (0.54 0.44±0.05 kg/kg; more susceptible subsequent challenge, negative ST-challenged pigs.