The effect was asessed of adding glutamine, nucleotides and spray-dried swine plasma on the performance, intestinal mucosal structure and immune response of piglets weaned at twenty one days. Two hundred and fifty two piglets, initial weight 6.35 ± 0.80 kg, were used placed in a randomized complete block deaign conducted in seven treatments, six replications and six animals per experimental unit. The initial weight of the animals was considered in the formation of the blocks. The treatments consisted of: the control diet, diet with 1.0% glutamine, diet with a commercial nucleotide product, diet with 2.0% swine plasma, diet with 4.0% swine plasma, diet with 2.0% swine plasma and 1.0% glutamine, diet with 2.0% swine plasma and commercial nucleotide product (PN). The diets with swine plasma gave the greatest weight gains to the piglets at 35 and 42 days of age. In the first fourteen days, with exception of piglets in treatment PN, all piglets fed diets with plasma had higher intake (IRD). The best results for daily weight gain (WGD) were obtained with diets with nucleotides, 2% and 4% plasma, Plasma + glutamine and plasma + nucleotides. The feed:gain ratio (FGR) of the animals was not effected by the experimental diets in the first two weeks after weaning. In the whole period (21 to 42 days of age) the best results for intake and weight gain were observed with the supply of diets with 2% swine plasma and plasma + glutamine. The animals fed the control diet presented the worst performance results. The animals fed diets with glutamine, 2% plasma and plasma + nucleotides presented the best feed conversion throughout the experimental period. The villous height, crypt depth and the leukocyte and lymphocyte populations were not influenced by the treatments. The use of glutamine, nucleotide and swine plasma improves the performance of piglets weaned at 21 days of age.
amino acids; intestinal mucosal; immune response
