Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo. AS-259 August, 1959 Final Report
EFFECTS OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF TRANQUILIZERS ON GROWING AND FINISHING SWINE
R. A. Pickett, J. H. Conrad and W. M. Beeson
Department of Animal Science
In a previous trial at Purdue(Mimeo AS-243), growing and finishing pigs were fed various tranquilizers in a complete mixed ration on pasture. Reserpine, Rauwolfia vomitoria, meprobamate, hydroxyzine and perphenazine were added to the ration at 60 micrograms, 25, 25, 0.5 and 0.5 milligrams per pound of feed, respectively. At these levels, the tranquilizers had no significant effect on daily rate of grain. Feed consumption and feed required per hundredweight gain were similar in all lots. The levels of tranquilizers fed did not noticeably affect the behavior or performance of the pigs in this experiment.
In view of the results of the previous trial, an experiment was conducted to determine the effects of increasingly higher levels of tranquilizers on growing and finishing swine.
Sixty weanling pigs, weighing an average of 37 pounds, were divided into six lots of seven gilts and three barrows.each, according to weight and litter. Each group of pigs was placed in identical 30 by ^+0 foot concrete feed lots, which contained a 10 by 12 foot Pur-Dual hog house, self-feeder and semi-automatic waterer.
After one week on the experiment, all pigs were vaccinated with modified hog cholera virus, and at the start of the fifth week of the trial, they were wormed by adding piperazine phosphate to a portion of their ration.
The basal ration consisted of 78$ ground yellow corn and 22$ protein supplement (Table l) and provided a 16$ crude protein ration, which was fed until the pigs reached an average lot weight of 100 pounds. From 100 pounds to the conclusion of the experiment, a 14$ crude protein ration of 8bcJo ground yellow corn and l6$ protein supplement was fed. Twenty grams of antibiotics, consisting of five grams aureomycin, 2.5 grams penicillin, five grams terramycin and 7*5 grams zinc bacitracin were added to each ton of complete mixed raticn.
Five tranquilizers were used in this study with the level in the ration being changed each l4 days, according to :.he pigs performance and reactions during the previous two weeks. The tranquilizers fed were Reserpine, Lot 2; Trifluomeprazine,
Lot 3; Perphenazine, Lot 4; Hydroxyzine, Lot 5 and Tetrahydrozoline, Lot 6. Experimental treatment for each two week period is given in Table 2.
Tranquilizers used in this experiment were furnished by Chas. Pfizer and Co., Terre Haute, Indiana, Schering Corp., Bloomfield, New Jersey, and Smith, Kline, and French, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Experimental Procedure