Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station Lafayette, Indiana
AH - 63
September 1951 (10M)
The Effect of A B12-Antibiotic Supplement in Pregestation and Gestation Rations of Gilts C. M. Vestal
Department of Animal Husbandry
The pig production of spring gilts receiving a Vitamin B12-aureomycin supplement from the time they weighed 50 pounds until the following spring, when they farrowed March and April litters, was compared with that of similar gilts not getting this treatment. All gilts were selected for the gestation experiment in the fall of 1950 at the time they finished in feeding experiments comparing rations with, and without, the B12-aureomycin supplement.
The B12-aureomycin supplement (Lederle) was fed in the gestation ration at the rate of 4.8 pounds per ton of total feed or 0.24 percent. This was approximately three-fifths of the amount in the pregestation rations received by the gilts while in the feeding experiments. The gestation rations were as follows:
The supplement fed in Lot 2 was soybean oil meal 97 pounds and B12-aureomycin supplement 3 pounds. The B12-aureomycin supplement contained approximately 2 mg. of vitamin B12 and 1*7 grams of aureomycin per pound*
A simple mineral mixture of pulverized limestone, steamed bone meal and iodized salt was self-fed, free choice, with loose iodized salt* The mixed grain ration was hand fed. Both lots of gilts had access to Balbo rye pasture which afforded some winter grazing.
After farrov/ing, the gilts and litters were moved to fresh pasture where they remained during the nursing period of 8 weeks. The ration for both gilts and pigs at this time was ground corn 68 pounds, ground oats 20 pounds and protein supplement 12 pounds* The protein supplement consisted of equal parts of soybean oil meal and meat and bone scraps* Minerals fed were the same as used during gestation.