The role of oral toltrazuril and iron combination in the weaning weight gain versus conventional coccidiosis and anaemia control in neonatal piglets

Cystoisospora (syn. Isospora) suis is a leading cause of diarrheal disease in neonatal piglets and the disease is related to considerable economic losses. The metaphylactic treatment with toltrazuril 3 to 5 days after birth is a common control measure practiced in many countries. Another essential practice is the prevention of neonatal iron deficiency anaemia as piglets are born with small iron reserves (35 to 50 mg) and sow milk contains only limited quantities of iron. Iron supplementation is commonly administered to piglets in the first days of life by intramuscular injection of iron dextran. An oral combination of toltrazuril and iron dextran was developed with the objective to reduce the total number of interventions, to improve animal welfare and to promote labour-saving gain for the farmer, and product effectiveness in the control of coccidiosis and iron deficiency anaemia is demonstrated.

The field evaluation was run in a commercial pig farm located in Brazil, Minas Gerais State, with history of coccidiosis. Just after birth piglets were individually weighted and ear tagged. On the third day of life the 144 piglets allocated to the control group (CG) each received 1 mL Baycox®, containing 50mg/mL toltrazuril orally and commercially available iron (200 mg/piglet) by intramuscular injection. The 148 piglets allocated to the treatment group (TG) each received 1 mL toltrazuril and iron combination orally (Baycox® Iron, Bayer) containing 50 mg/mL toltrazuril and 228 mg iron as iron dextran. The individual weaning weight of the piglets was recorded (21 days of life) and during the study the animals were observed daily – feces aspect, paleness and diarrhea signals. The parameters evaluated were weaning weight gain and paleness of piglets during suckling period.

The mean piglet body weight at birth was 1.419 kg for the TG piglets and 1.448 kg for the CG piglets. At weaning – 21 days of life – piglet body weight for the TG was 5.940 kg and for CG was 6.063 kg. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference between treatment group body weights at birth and at weaning (p< 0.05). No differences were observed between treatment groups regarding diarrhea signals and pale animals.

Baycox Iron oral formulation was effective in the maintenance of body weight gain during suckling period, providing coccidiosis and iron deficiency control when compared to the conventional practice. Thus, provides labor-saving and reduces stressful intervention to the piglets.

Disclosure of Interest: E. Dantas Conflict with: Bayer employee, K. Streyl Conflict with: Bayer employee, C. Bhushan Conflict with: Bayer employee.