April 24, 2007

Medicated feed formulation to reinforce swine health

As porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD) continues to plague swine farms, swine producers are advised to create feed-grade antibiotic medication to ensure health of pigs and prevent secondary infections.

According to Dr Tim Loula of Swine Vet Centre, St. Peter, Minnesota, concurrent infections with other pathogens such as swine influenza virus, mycoplasmal pneumonia, Haemophilus parasuis and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus interact with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), may result to a potential 20 to 30 percent death loss--unheard-of mortality in the past.

Loula said using feed-grade antibiotic medication may ease mortality numbers which are high during PCVAD outbreak. 

Loula recommended creating high-health pigs by increasing respiratory and enteric feed-grade medications during one or more of the following three rations:

• The weaning ration, which helps control H. parasuis, Actinobacillus suis and other respiratory and enteric pathogens, including ileitis.
   
• The last nursery ration, which helps prepare pigs for the stress of transport to the finisher¡ªa period where more PCVAD is experienced.
   
• The first finisher ration, which helps ensure high-health pigs during the last growing phase.

Loula revealed that tiamulin (Denagard 10) plus chlortetracycline has been helpful in reducing respiratory and enteric bacterial pathogen load. Tiamulin and chlortetracycline are feed-grade antibiotics approved for concurrent use to provide enteric and respiratory disease coverage, respectively. Together, this product combination offers broad-spectrum activity from two antibiotics whose individual actions complement each other.

Loula advised producers to conduct a comprehensive review of their entire health program, including vaccination, water medication and feed-grade medication protocols and look for opportunities to intensify their program.

Loula suggested eradication or stabilization through serum inoculation or gilt shutdown protocols to control PRRS. Another option would be to vaccinate the sow herd and grow/finish pigs.

Because PCVAD has been proven to be more severe with stress, an audit should also be conducted to reduce potential stressors such as commingling, double stocking, stocking density and ventilation. Loula recommended putting more production into wean/finish to eliminate the stress of moving pigs from nursery to finisher facilities. He also suggested putting pigs in a straight-line flow to help reduce the spread of pathogens among pigs commingled from different farms.