ARS | Publication request: Effects of Menhaden Fish Meal Or Oil on the Performance and Immune Response of Nursery Pigs

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: March 15, 2005
Publication Date: July 24, 2005
Citation: Gaines, A., Carroll, J., Fent, R., Allee, G. 2005. Effects of menhaden fish meal or oil on the performance and immune response of nursery pigs [abstract].Journal of Animal Science. Abstract No. 486. 83(1):334.

Technical Abstract: A trial using 210 pigs (TR-4 × PIC C22) was conducted to determine the effects of menhaden fish meal (MFM) or oil (MFO) on the performance and immune response of nursery pigs. Pigs (17 d; 5.31±0.16 kg) were weaned into a nursery facility and allotted to one of six dietary Trts (7 replicate pens/Trt): Trt 1, 0% MFM/MFO; Trt 2, 5% MFM; Trt 3, 10% MFM; Trt 4, 2.5% MFO; Trt 5, 5% MFO; and Trt 6, 5% pet food grade poultry-byproduct meal (PBM). Experimental diets were fed for 21 d. On d 13, a subset of pigs (6 pigs/Trt) was fitted with a jugular catheter for blood collection (30-min intervals for 6 h). On d 14, all pigs (n = 210) were injected i.m. with LPS (15 µg/kg BW). On d 21, pigs were placed onto a common corn-soybean meal fortified diet and growth performance was evaluated until d 28. Prior to LPS challenge (d 0-14), there were no Trt differences for ADG (P > 0.21) or G/F (P > 0.80). However, there was a Trt effect (P < 0.01) for ADFI. Pigs fed 5.0% PBM had lower ADFI (P less than or equal to 0.05) compared to pigs fed 0% MFM/MFO, 5% MFM, and 10% MFM. Post-LPS (d 14-28), there was a Trt effect for ADG (P < 0.02). Pigs fed 10% MFM had increased (P less than or equal to 0.10) ADG compared to pigs fed 0% MFM/MFO, 2.5% MFO, 5% MFO, and 5% PBM. Furthermore, ADG was higher (P less than or equal to 0.10) in pigs fed 5% MFM compared to pigs fed 0% MFM/MFO, 5% MFO, and 5% PBM. There were no Trt differences for ADFI (P > 0.27) or G/F (P > 0.60). There was no Trt effect (P > 0.74) for basal serum cortisol (-1.0, -0.5, and 0 h) prior to LPS challenge. However, post-challenge, there was an overall Trt effect (P < 0.04) on serum cortisol. Serum cortisol was lower in pigs fed 5% MFO compared to pigs fed 0% MFM/MFO (P = 0.09), 5% MFM (P < 0.01), 10% MFM (P < 0.01), and 5% PBM (P < 0.05). Additionally, serum cortisol was lower in pigs fed 2.5% MFO compared to pigs fed 5% MFM (P = 0.06) and 10% MFM (P < 0.04). This research demonstrated that feeding MFM or MFO altered the acute phase immune response which, in the case of MFM, may have led to improved growth performance.