PLASMA SANGUÍNEO: UM INGREDIENTE ESPECIAL NA DIETA DE LEITÕES

Abstract

Swine farming is a highly relevant activity in Brazilian and global agribusiness. However, the weaning phase represents the most critical period of production, subjecting piglets to stressful factors that compromise intestinal health, immunity, and feed intake, resulting in anorexia, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and increased susceptibility to disease, thus compromising zootechnical performance. In this context, the search for functional ingredients that improve animal health and performance is fundamental. This literature review was conducted to deepen the knowledge about the use of spray-dried dehydrated blood plasma (SDP) in piglet diets. The analysis demonstrated that SDP is a high biological value ingredient, rich in functional proteins and essential amino acids. Spray-dried dehydrated blood plasma (SDP) has high palatability, stimulating feed intake, and a high concentration of immunoglobulins (IgG), which confer passive luminal immunity by neutralizing intestinal pathogens and reducing the incidence of diarrhea. Furthermore, SDP contributes to maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, favoring villus morphology and minimizing local inflammatory processes. These physiological effects result in significant improvements in zootechnical performance, including higher average daily gain (ADG) and better feed conversion ratio (FCR). Although the cost of SDP is relatively high, economic studies indicate a positive return on investment. It is concluded that the inclusion of 3% to 8% SDP in nursery diets is an effective and scientifically validated nutritional strategy to help piglets overcome the challenges of weaning, optimizing health and production efficiency.