Spray-Dried Plasma Applications in Animal Nutrition and Immunology

Spray-dried plasma (SDP) is produced by collecting plasma from healthy slaughtered animals, then concentrating and spray-drying under controlled heat to inactivate pathogens while preserving functional proteins. Rich in albumins, immunoglobulins and growth factors, SDP supports gut barrier integrity, enhances nutrient absorption and modulates both innate and adaptive immune responses. In piglets, SDP reduces post-weaning diarrhoea, improves villus morphology and accelerates growth, while in poultry it bolsters feed conversion and resilience under heat or pathogenic stress. Laboratory models demonstrate that dietary SDP attenuates mucosal inflammation by regulating lymphocyte activation, adhesion molecules and cytokine profiles. Emerging evidence also highlights SDP’s prebiotic effects, shifting intestinal microbiota towards taxa that promote regulatory T-cell homeostasis and mucosal tolerance. These multifaceted attributes position SDP as a sustainable feed supplement that can reduce reliance on antibiotics, improve animal welfare and advance production efficiency worldwide.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that dietary SDP exerts prebiotic rather than antibiotic effects on the gut microbiota. In rodent models, inclusion of SDP selectively enriched Firmicutes, notably Lactobacillus species, and augmented populations linked to regulatory T-cell induction and barrier repair. Transcriptomic profiling of intestinal tissues showed upregulation of mucin genes and Toll-like receptors, coupled with suppression of nuclear factor-κB signalling. These microbial and epithelial changes coincided with elevated interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β expression and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, indicating a coordinated mechanism by which SDP promotes mucosal homeostasis and immune tolerance.

Spray-Dried Plasma Applications in Animal Nutrition and Immunology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in spray-dried plasma applications in animal nutrition and immunology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Spray-dried plasma (SDP): A powdered feed ingredient obtained by dehydrating animal blood plasma under heat and pressure to retain bioactive proteins.

Immunoglobulins: Y-shaped antibody proteins in plasma that recognise and neutralise pathogens, providing passive immune support.

Gut barrier function: The capacity of the intestinal lining to prevent the translocation of harmful microbes and toxins into the circulation.

Microbiota: The community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract that influence digestion, immunity and metabolic health.

Cytokines: Small signalling proteins secreted by immune cells that regulate inflammation and coordinate immune responses.

References

1. Effects of spray dried plasma on litter growth performance and oxidative stress and inflammation of sows kept in a hot environment. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology (2025).
2. Dietary supplementation with spray-dried animal plasma improves vaccine protection in aged mice. Frontiers in Nutrition (2023).
3. Spray dried plasma as an alternative to antibiotics in piglet feeds, mode of action and biosafety. Porcine Health Management (2016).
4. Impact of Spray-Dried Plasma on Intestinal Health and Broiler Performance. Microorganisms (2019).
5. The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Spray-Dried Plasma Is Mediated by a Reduction in Mucosal Lymphocyte Activation and Infiltration in a Mouse Model of Intestinal Inflammation. Nutrients (2016).
6. Dietary supplementation with spray-dried porcine plasma has prebiotic effects on gut microbiota in mice. Scientific Reports (2020).
7. Biosafety steps in the manufacturing process of spray-dried plasma: a review with emphasis on the use of ultraviolet irradiation as a redundant biosafety procedure. Porcine Health Management (2020).