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Effect of Hygromycin Fed to Swine under Two Systems of Management¹

North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh

Abstract

A total of 38 second-litter sows and their litters were used to study the effect of continuous feeding of hygromycin to sows during the last 30 days of gestation and the first 21 days of lactation on reproductive performance and on livability and performance of their offspring.

The feeding of hygromycin during the last 30 days of gestation had no apparent effect on reproduction. Its use in the diet of lactating sows and nursing pigs was of no apparent benefit in improving weaning weights or survival. The pigs receiving hygromycin consumed less starter feed. The feeding of hygromycin in the protein supplement fed free choice or in complete mixed rations to pigs from weaning to a weight of approximately 100 lb. did not affect growth rate or feed efficiency. This was true for pigs fed either in confinement or on pasture.

Examination of the intestinal tracts at the time of slaughter (approximately 190 lb.) showed that pigs that had received hygromycin for the period from weaning to 100 lb. in weight harbored fewer ascarids. However, liver damage associated with ascarid larval migration was not affected by feeding hygromycin. A statistically significant negative correlation (y=–.25) between number of liver scars and average daily gain was observed. Low and non-significant correlations were observed between daily gain and number of mature ascarids and between number of liver scars and number of mature ascarids recovered at slaughter. It was observed that pigs fed hygromycin during Experiment II developed impaired hearing.

¹ Approved for publication as paper no. 1275 in the Journal Series of North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station.

² The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Eli Lilly & Company; Indianapolis, Ind.; and Charles Pfizer & Company, Terre Haute, Ind., for materials which partially supported this research.