Field study demonstrates value of pulse dosing feed medications
Timing feed medication just prior to clinical disease may allow producers to reduce feed medication use, with no loss in economic performance as compared to continuous medications. This combination of lower medication use and fewer input dollars may be a double bang for your buck!
A leading integrated production company teamed with staff from two pharmaceutical companies to test out the strategy above. Pigs were medicated with one of three strategies:
- Continuous feed medication. Aureomycin
® (Alpharma, Ft. Lee, NJ) at 100 gm/ton was fed on a continuous basis. Several pulses of Denagard® 35 gm/ton (Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, St. Joseph, MO) and Aureomycin® 10 mg/# body weight (approximately 400 gm/ton) were given, for five one-week periods during finishing. - Pulse feed medication. Only the pulses of Denagard
® and Aureomycin,® at the levels above, were provided. Feed between pulses was non-medicated. - Control group. Feed was non-medicated throughout the study.
Performance for groups pulse medicated held a clear advantage over non-medicated pigs (p<0.05). Additionally, performance was equal to pigs receiving continuous medications (p>0.05). A return of nearly $4 per pig was provided at $40 market hog prices. Economic returns were still present at prices as low as $22 per cwt.
Additionally, pulse medication allowed for development of natural immunity as indicated by serologic response. No impairment in growth observed, but exposure to pathogens such as Mycoplasma could still be detected. Continuous groups were naïve, and similar pigs would at risk to infection and disease when medication would be withdrawn.
More information
Walter D, et al. The effect of a metaphylactic pulse dosing in-feed antimicrobial strategy on finishing pig health and performance. Journal of Swine Health and Production 2000; (8) 2: 65-71.
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Contact Information
Boehringer Ingelheim
Vetmedica, Inc.
2621 North Belt
Highway, St. Joseph, MO 64506-2002
Phone numbers
Order Entry: 1-800-325-9167
Information: 1-800-821-7467
Fax Line: 1-816-236-2787
www.bi-vetmedica.com