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Summary Salinomycin (SAL), an ionophorous polyether antibiotic with growth promoter properties in pigs, has proved to be effective in controlling swine dysentery, porcine intestinal adenomatosis, and porcine haemorrhagic enteropathy. This study examines the ability of SAL to control C. perfringens type‐A infection in growing pigs under field conditions. For 2 months, two groups of weaned pigs were offered feed either free of antibiotics, or medicated with 60 ppm and 30 ppm SAL for the first and second month respectively, and were compared with regard to their performance. The results showed that, whilst treatment did not have an effect on the mortality of pigs, the duration of pig diarrhoea during the trial period has been markedly reduced in the SAL group. Laboratory examinations have additionally shown that the number of carrier piglets has been reduced by SAL medication. Finally, treated pigs gained more weight and had a better feed‐conversion ratio than untreated pigs during the 2‐month trial period. It was concluded that SAL at the registered dose range, used as performance enhancer, can be helpful in controlling C. perfringens type‐A infection in growing pigs.

Optimal reproductive performance of gdts is an economically important characteristic which is influenced amongst others by the general health condition of the animal. In the present pilot study, we examined whether reproductive performance of gdts that were transported from a breeding to a commercial farm can be improved by paramunization, e.g. by enhancing the non-specific immunological response of the animal. Three groups of gdts were submitted to various treatments as follows. The first group received no treatment and served as the control group. The gdts of the second group were injected twice with a paramunity inducer derived from a sheep parapoxvirus (Baypamun liquid, Bayer, Germany), once 2 days before the transport and a second time 2 h before departure. The gtlts of the third group were treated as those of the second group, but received an additional injection 2 days after their arrival at the commercial farm. Gilts were compared up to their first farrowing with regard to the appearance of oestrus, the number of the gdts which became pregnant, and the cost of supportive medication. Their litter size at farrowing, the number of piglets born alive and the litter weight have also been recorded. The results show that the number of gdts that showed oestrus and became pregnant was increased after Baypamun Iiquid treatment, particularly in the third group. The cost of supportive medication per gilt was much lower in treated groups compared to untreated animals. The treatment did not have a significant effect on the total number of piglets born, but some beneficial effect was seen in the number of piglets born alive and the average piglet weight at birth of gdts treated three times with Baypamun liquid. It was concluded that paramunization of gdts at the time of transport may improve their reproductive performance.