Efficacy of the antimicrobial compound U-82,127 as a growth promoter for growing-finishing pigs.

Abstract

The antimicrobial compound U-82,127 (Pharmacia & Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI) is a thiopeptide that belongs to a series of cyclic peptide antibiotics produced by Streptomyces arginensis. It is active mainly against Gram-positive organisms. A study involving 576 growing-finishing pigs was conducted at six locations to assess the efficacy of the growth-promoting compound from approximately 19 to 89 kg BW. The basal diet was an unmedicated corn-soybean meal diet fortified with vitamins and trace minerals and containing 16% CP (.80% lysine) during the growing stage (to 54 kg) followed by 13% CP (.60% lysine) during the finishing stage. Dietary dose concentrations of the antimicrobial compound were 0, 3.3, 6.6, and 9.9 mg/kg. At each location, there were six replications of four pigs (two barrows and two gilts) per pen. Diets and water were available for ad libitum consumption. The antimicrobial was provided in coded bags, and investigators were blind to the treatments. The ADG during the growing stage was improved by all levels of the antimicrobial (P < .04), but only the 6.6 mg/kg level improved ADG during the finishing stage (P < .03). Feed:gain was improved by all concentrations of the antibiotic (P < .01) during the growing stage and by the two lower levels of the drug (P < .06) during the finishing stage. Over the entire study, the antimicrobial compound improved ADG (linear, P < .06) and feed:gain (quadratic, P < .01; minimum feed:gain was at 6.2 mg/kg). The lowest dose with a 90% confidence interval of its predicted value not overlapping with the predicted value of the control was 2.3 mg/kg; thus, the efficacious dose range for improving feed/gain was between 2.3 and 6.2 mg/ kg. Neither death loss nor pig removal from the experiment was affected by treatment. The results indicate that the antimicrobial compound U-82,127 is an effective growth-promoting agent for growing-finishing pigs.

Differences in lean growth performance of pigs sampled from 1980 and 2005 commercial swine fed 1980 and 2005 representative feeding programs

“…Pelleting diets increases ADG, reduces ADFI, and improves feed efficiency (Skoch et al, 1983;Wondra et al, 1995). Inclusion of antibiotics in swine diets improves growth and feed efficiency in pigs (Cromwell and Dawson, 1992;Cromwell et al, 1996). Adding dietary fat improves feed efficiency (Williams et al, 1994;De la Llata et al, 2001).…”

Impact of Medicated Feed on the Development of Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria at Integrated Pig-Fish Farms in Vietnam

“…In Vietnam, the VAC system (Vuon ϭ garden, Ao ϭ pond, and Chuong ϭ pigpen) is a traditional household-based integrated farming system which was developed to improve and increase yields from livestock keeping (15). Pigs are fed mainly commercial feed, often containing antimicrobials added as growth promoters to improve the feed conversion rate and to control and prevent diseases (6). Manure, urine, and surplus feed are continuously discharged directly into the fish ponds.…”

Board Invited Review: Management and feeding strategies to ameliorate the impact of removing antibiotic growth promoters from diets fed to weanling pigs

“…It is well documented that antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) improve growth performance and reduce diarrhea and mortality (Cromwell et al 1996;Weber et al 2001;Kyriakis et al 2002). On average, growth rate is improved by 16.4% in weanling pigs, 10.6% in growing pigs, and 4.2% in growing-finishing pigs if AGP are used (Cromwell 2001). Likewise, feed efficiency is improved by an average of 6.9% in weanling pigs, 4.5% in growing pigs, and 2.2% in growing-finishing pigs if AGP are included in the diet.…”

“…Inclusion of AGP in diets fed to pigs also reduces mortality and morbidity by approximately 50% (from 4.3 to 2.0%). The reduction in mortality is more prominent under high disease conditions in young pigs than under high health conditions (Cromwell 2001). It is generally accepted that the beneficial effects of AGP are a consequence of suppression of some pathogenic bacteria within the animal's digestive tract, increased feed utilization, and stimulation of metabolic processes throughout the animal, although the exact mechanisms by which AGP influence pig performance are not completely understood (Doyle 2001).…”

“…It is generally accepted that the beneficial effects of AGP are a consequence of suppression of some pathogenic bacteria within the animal's digestive tract, increased feed utilization, and stimulation of metabolic processes throughout the animal, although the exact mechanisms by which AGP influence pig performance are not completely understood (Doyle 2001). It has been estimated that AGP are included in 80 to 90% of pig starter feeds, 70 to 80% of grower feeds, 50 to 60% of finisher feeds, and 40 to 50% of sow feeds in the United States (Cromwell 2001). Seventeen antimicrobial agents (12 antibiotics and 5 chemotherapeutics) are currently approved by FDA for use in swine feeds in the United States.…”