Researcher reviewing antibiotics in swine
SUFFOLK, Va., March 4, 2004 - Antibiotic feed additives have been an important part of swine growth as they help young pigs avoid sickness from bacteria. However, Allen Harper, Virginia Cooperative Extension swine specialist at the Tidewater Agricultural and Research and Extension Center, has been working on assessing products to use as feed additives as a substitute for traditional antibiotic feeds.
Harper is conducting his research because antibiotic use in swine may be limited or disallowed by the Food and Drug Administration in the future. Low-level antibiotic additives have been a part of the pigs' diet because they help prevent illness and improve performance. However, their prolonged use has the potential to increase bacterial resistance. Harper is studying probiotics, which can promote beneficial bacteria in the swine. In theory, probiotic feed additives stimulate good health and performance without the need for antibiotic additives.
Harper's work involves studying pigs raised in confinement nurseries and grow-out barns, not on an open range. In confinement farming, pigs are raised in specialized pens with automated manure collection and mechanical ventilation. In such conditions, sanitation becomes crucial, as the threat of illness-causing bacteria is very high.
Confinement farming without the use of antibiotics can produce a desirable pig for market if sanitation and animal husbandry are held at high levels of quality, Harper said. For example, when a group of young pigs is moved into a nursery, that nursery must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before their arrival. This will provide a cleaner environment and reduce the presence of illness-causing bacteria. Along with these types of practices, factors such as air ventilation, nutrition, and daily monitoring must also be consistently maintained.
Harper also said the use of antibiotic feed additives should not be a crutch for allowing poor sanitation practices. Under poor conditions, pigs will get sick regardless of the use of antibiotics. Though feed additive antibiotics have been used in livestock production for over 40 years, if the FDA or consumer demand requires their reduced use, producers will certainly be able to comply, Harper said, ³our work indicates that good pig husbandry practices will be more important than probiotics in the production of pork without antibiotics.²
Swine production ranks sixth among Virginia livestock, with $44.3 million in cash receipts in 2002, according to the most recent available figures.
Contact: Allen Harper
Swine Specialist
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center
757-657-6450 ext. 106
alharper@vt.edu
Contact: Michael Sutphin
Writer
Communications and Marketing
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6975
msutphin@vt.edu
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Agriculture and Extension Communication
Virginia Tech