Evaluation of spray-dried plasma in broiler diets with or without bacitracin methylene disalicylate

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of dietary inclusion of spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) during the starter phase with or without bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) on broiler performance. The experimental design included a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of SDAP (0 or 2% during the starter phase only) and BMD (0 or 50 g/ton during the whole study) resulting in a total of four dietary treatments. Prior to placement, broilers received a coccidiosis vaccine via a commercial spray cabinet and were placed on recycled litter for a 41-d assay period. The addition of BMD positively influenced growth performance with elevated BW on day 10, 28, and 41, and a reduction in FCR during the finisher phase and cumulatively throughout the entirety of the trial. Inclusion of SDAP at 2% during the starter phase increased (P < 0.001) day 10 BW by 18 g when compared to the control. This increase in BW continued through day 28 and 41 with improvements (P < 0.05) in flock uniformity on day 41 being observed. Additionally, starter diet inclusion of SDAP reduced (P < 0.001) starter FCR, while grower and finisher FCR were not impacted. The improvement in FCR observed when SDAP was present resulted in cumulative day 1 to 41 FCR being reduced (P = 0.02) as compared to control fed broilers. Neither feed consumption nor mortality were impacted by the addition of SDAP or BMD. These results demonstrate the benefit of SDAP supplementation when included in the starter phase with benefits in BW and FCR in diets with or without BMD.