K. Vonnahme, D. Amodie, T. Short
Jul 29, 2019
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Journal
Journal of Animal Science
Abstract
Tiamulin hydrogen fumarate is commonly used in water to treat enteric or respiratory disease caused by susceptible pathogens in nursery pigs. This study compared nursery-age pig consumption of: 1) non-medicated water; 2) water containing Triamulox™ (Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ) at 4.763 ppm; and 3) water containing Denagard® (Elanco, Greenfield, IN) at 4.763 ppm (10.5 mg/lb; per label directions for respiratory pathogens). The hypothesis was that water intake would not be different among treatments. The 5-day test period was repeated four times, with a 5-day washout period between replicates. Three hundred pigs were individually weighed for randomization to pen (n = 30 pens) in 2 barns with 15 pens/barn (5 pens/barn/treatment). Water was provided via a 5-gallon reservoir cup water system in each pen. Every 24 hours, residual water weights were taken from each reservoir by draining the water and weighing the water using a platform scale. The weight of daily water additions was also recorded. Pig body and feed weights were taken at the beginning and end of each replicate. Three replicates occurred during the first 30 days after entry to the nursery. After the 3rd replicate, the number of pigs per pen was reduced from 10 to 6 to provide adequate pen space. Ten days prior to pigs leaving the nursery (day 70 of age), a 4th replicate was performed. There were no treatment effects on ADG (P ≥ 0.23) or on pig body weights at the beginning or end of any replicate (P ≥ 0.51). Water intake and gain/feed were not different among treatments (P ≥ 0.16 and P ≥ 0.44, respectively). Water consumption of nursery-age pigs offered non-medicated water or water containing either Triamulox™ or Denagard® was similar in the post-weaning period (days 21–51) and immediately preceding exit from the nursery (day 76–80).