Keywords
antibiotic, growth performance, nursery, probiotic
Abstract
A total of 300 nursery pigs (DNA 200 × 400, Columbus, NE; initially 13.0 lb BW) were used in a 42-d study evaluating the effects of feeding chlortetracycline (CTC) in combination with probiotics on nursery pig performance. Probiotics are a class of antimicrobial alternatives designed to enhance growth performance and digestive tract health. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and allotted to pens based on initial BW. Pigs were fed a common pelleted starter diet for 4 d and then weighed, and pens were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments based on BW in a completely randomized design. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of chlortetracycline (0 vs. CTC at 400 g/ton from d 0 to 42) and probiotic (0 vs. 1 lb/ton Bioplus 2B (Chr. Hansen USA, Inc., Milwaukee, WI)) vs. 1 lb/ton Poultry Star (Biomin America, Inc., San Antonio, TX). Experimental diets were fed in 2 phases (Phase 1: d 0 to 14 and Phase 2: d 14 to 42) and fed in meal form. On d 14 and 28, CTC was removed from the diet according to FDA regulations. For overall performance, there were no interactions (P>0.05) between added probiotics and CTC. However, pigs fed CTC had improved (P<0.001) ADG, ADFI, and overall BW compared with those fed diets without CTC. While adding Poultry Star to the diet increased (P<0.05) BW and ADFI on d 14, there were no consistent benefits of feeding either probiotic alone or in combination with CTC.
Recommended Citation
Williams, H.; Tokach, M. D.; Dritz, S. S.; Woodworth, J. C.; DeRouchey, J. M.; Amachawadi, R. G.; Nagaraja, T. G.; and Goodband, R. D.
(2016)
"Determination of Probiotic and/or Chlortetracycline Inclusion Effects on Nursery Pig Growth Performance,"
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports:
Vol. 2:
Iss.
8.
https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1298
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