THIABENDAZOLE AND ANTIBIOTIC ROTATIONS FOR GROWING-FINISHING SWINE 1/
Research Progress Report 77
September, 1963 Final
R. A, Pickett, J. E. Shively and W. M. Beeson, Animal Sciences Department
Summary
Antibiotics fed in this experiment produced a slight but non-significant increase in daily gain to market weight. However, both antibiotics which were fed until the pigs averaged 100 pounds (Aureomycin and Tylosin) resulted in increased feed consumption and significantly faster gains (P< .01) during that period.
The anthelmintic, thiabendazole, effectively controlled the large roundworm in this experiment and did not greatly alter the gain of the pigs. Thiabendazole did reduce pig gains during the finishing phase from 150 to 200 pounds but there was little difference in daily gains for the entire experiment (Control 1.48, Thiabendazole 1.44).
Feed Additives
In a previous experiment (RPR 39), the anthelmintic thiabendazole effectively eliminated the large roundworm from pigs when fed continuously at a level of 0.01 percent of the ration. Rate of gain and feed efficiency of the thiabendazole fed pigs were not significantly different from the control Pigs.
A rotation of three antibiotics or antibiotic combinations during the growingfinishing period showed some promise in an additive study also reported in RPR 39.
The objectives of this experiment were to: (1) further investigate the effectiveness of the anthelmintic thiabendazole
for swine and (2) continue study of the value of rotation of antibiotics during the growingfinishing period.
Procedure
Eighty weanling crossbred pigs averaging 48 pounds were divided into eight lots of ten pigs each on the basis of sex, weight and litter.
The pigs were fed ad libitum a 16 percent protein corn-soy ration until they reached an average weight of 100 pounds. A 14 percent protein level was fed from 100 to 150 pounds and the protein level was further lowered to 12 percent when the pigs reached 150 pounds.
Experimental treatments were:
Lot 1--Basal ration (see Table 1)
Lot 2--Basal plus aureomycin (20 grams per ton to 100 pounds, 10 grams per ton from 100 pounds to market weight)
Lot 3--Rotation I, basal ration plus 20 grams aureomycin per ton to 100 pounds, 10 grams zinc bacitracin per ton from 100 to 150 pounds, and 10 grams penicillin-streptomycin (1:3) from 150 pounds to market weight.
Lot 4--Rotation II, basal ration plus 20 grams tylosin per ton to 100 pounds, 10 grams terramycin per ton from 100 to 150 pounds, and 10 grams penicillin-streptomycin from 150 pounds to market weight.
Lots 5 to 8--These lots received the same
treatments as lots 1 to 4 respectively
1/ This research was supported in part by a research grant from Merck, Sharp & Dahme, Rahway, New Jersey.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • Agricultural Experiment Station • Lafayette, Indiana