Comparison of post weaning zinc oxide and colistin treatment in weaned piglets

Introduction:

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of post-weaning treatment of piglets with zink oxide (ZnO) and colistin on health, production and Escherichia coli shedding.

Materials and Methods:

During two successive weaning rounds, a randomized control study was performed on three commercial pig herds. In each herd, four groups of weaners were created that either received colistin in the feed (CF) (Promycine® 400 IU/mg, premix, VMD, Belgium) or the drinking water (CW) (Colistine Eurovet® 400000 IE/ml, Eurovet, Belgium) or ZnO (Gutal®, 2500 ppm, Huvepharma, Belgium) in the feed (ZnO) during the first two weeks post weaning or remained untreated (NC). Daily weight gain (DWG) was recorded by weighing the pigs at weaning, day 14 and at the end of the nursery period. Also feed intake (to calculate the FCR), mortality and antimicrobial use were recorded. Fecal samples, taken at day 7 and 14 of the nursery period, were tested for the presence of hemolytic E. coli as well as the number of total E. coli. Dirty backhands were scored every week as a measure for diarrhea.

Results:

The piglets from the ZnO group showed a higher DWG during the first two weeks of the nursery period compared to the other groups (P< 0.05). For the total nursery period, the ZnO group showed numerically the highest DWG, but there was no significant difference compared to the other groups. The feed intake was higher for the ZnO group compared to the CF and CW group (P< 0.05). The FCR and the percentage of mortality did not differ significantly between the four treatment groups. Total E. coli count was lower for the CW group compared to the ZnO and the NC group (P< 0.05). The NC group had the highest percentage (73.5%) of positive samples for hemolytic E. coli (P< 0.05). The ZnO group showed the lowest percentage of dirty backhands (P< 0.05).

Conclusion:

In this study, ZnO (Gutal®) showed to be as effective as colistin on health and production parameters, with a better DWG during the supplemented period and a reduced diarrhea score.

Disclosure of Interest: J. Van den Hof: None Declared, D. Maes: None Declared, S. Piepers: None Declared, F. Boyen: None Declared, F. Haesebrouck: None Declared, W. Depondt Conflict with: Huvepharma, J. Dewulf: None Declared.

Published in the proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society Congress – IPVS2016. For information on the event, past and future editions, check out https://www.theipvs.com/future-congresses/.