Removal of Sub-Therapeutic Antibiotics from Nursery Pigs Diets: Influence on Behavior, Performance and Physiology

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects on pig behavior, performance and physiology of removing sub-therapeutic antibiotics from diets provided to nursery pigs. Including additional fat instead of the traditional antibiotics made the feed more palatable therefore; the treatment group (without antibiotic rations) visited the feeder more quickly and had an improved Feed-to-Gain ratio (F: G) than the control (pigs provided antibiotics) pigs. This study determined that when using high health status pigs, sub-therapeutic antibiotics may be omitted from the diets.