The effectiveness of an oral toltrazuril and iron combination in maintaining weaning weight by preventing coccidiosis and anaemia in piglets

Coccidiosis occurs worldwide in association with intensive pig husbandry. In the intensive pig production piglets are supplemented with Iron to prevent iron deficiency anaemia. Traditional prevention of coccidiosis and iron deficiency anaemia has involved two separate intervention. Toltrazuril is well established product given orally to piglets in prepatent period to control coccidiosis and iron is supplemented traditionally by intramuscular route to young animals.

Effectiveness of an oral combination of toltrazuril and iron dextran (Baycox® Iron) to maintain weaning weight by preventing coccidiosis caused by Isospora suis and iron-deficiency anaemia in neonatal piglets was investigated on three commercial pig farms. Piglets were randomised within litter by bodyweight to treatment or control group. On SD 3 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. Piglets allocated to the treatment group (TG) each received 1 mL toltrazuril and iron combination orally (Baycox® Iron) containing 50 mg/mL toltrazuril and 228 mg iron as iron dextran. 6493 piglets completed the study.

Bodyweight at weaning on SD 21 of piglets treated with the oral toltrazuril and iron combination was confirmed to be non-inferior to the control treatment with < 1% difference between group mean body weights. Faecal samples from at least 10% of litters on SD 14 demonstrated control of coccidiosis. On SD 21 haemoglobin levels were above minimum levels to maintain health. There was no difference in mortality between the two groups. This large scale field evaluation clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of a combination of oral toltrazuril and iron (Baycox® Iron) in maintaining body weight at weaning compared to conventional treatment.

The combination was effective in preventing coccidiosis and anaemia and thus provides a valuable alternative that reduces stressful events in neonatal piglets. The combination product was safe without product related adverse events.

Disclosure of Interest: C. Bhushan Conflict with: Employee, K. Streyl Conflict with: Employee, J. Carlstron Conflict with: Employee, E. Dantas Conflict with: Employee, R. Mendoza Conflict with: Consultant, J. A. Torres Islas Conflict with: Employee.