Effects of Antimicrobial Administration Route on Growth and Antimicrobial Resistance in Weaned Piglets
1
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Korea Ltd., Yonsei Severance Bldg. 16F, 10 Tongil-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04527, Republic of Korea
2
College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
3
Onnuri Animals Hospital, Munamgil 16, Dongnam-gu, Choenan 31070, Republic of Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2023, 13(20), 3264; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203264
Submission received: 17 September 2023
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Revised: 14 October 2023
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Accepted: 16 October 2023
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Published: 19 October 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in the Swine Production Chain and Implications for Environmental Impacts and Human Health: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Prospects)
Simple Summary
The piglets were divided into three equally sized groups (water, feed, and control). Antimicrobials were administered through drinking water and feed, in the water and feed groups, respectively, while the control group received no antimicrobial treatment. The feed conversion ratio in the water group (1.7 ± 0.78) was significantly higher than in the control (2.4 ± 1.77) and feed (2.7 ± 1.68) groups. Additionally, the route of administration did not affect antimicrobial resistance rates. Based on these results, it can be inferred that administering antimicrobials through drinking water is advantageous for pig farming.
Abstract
This study aimed to determine how the route of antimicrobial administration affected the growth performance of weaned piglets. Additionally, we aimed to investigate potential differences between antimicrobial resistance developed by antimicrobials administered orally through drinking water, and those administered through feed, in weaned piglets. The research was undertaken on a farm housing 500 sows and involved 150 weaned piglets at 21 days of age. These piglets were evenly distributed into three groups of equal size: water, feed, and control. Antimicrobials were administered through drinking water and feed in the water and feed groups, respectively, while the control group received no antimicrobial treatment. The observation of piglets continued until they reached 70 days of age. The feed conversion ratio in the water group (1.7 ± 0.78) was significantly higher than in the control (2.4 ± 1.77) and feed (2.7 ± 1.68) groups. Additionally, the route of administration did not affect antimicrobial resistance rates. Based on these results, it can be inferred that administering antimicrobials through drinking water is advantageous for pig farming.
