NEWARK, Del. Antibiotics were first used in swine feed during the early 1950’5. Since then researchers have sought ways to improve the effectiveness of penicillin, streptomycin, chloratetracycline and oxytetracycline in swine feeding programs. These antibiotics are used in human medicine as well, and some people would prefer that they be used exclusively for that purpose. However, livestock producers have found that medications sometimes improve gains and feed conversion in animals. “While the debate goes on, one point remains clear,” says University of Delaware extension livestock specialist Richard Fowler. “The search must con tinue for new antibiotics or ef fective combinations of existing ones for animals.” Efficient production is critical to the pork industry, be says. The loss ATTENTION! Progressive Livestock Producers This Is The Time To Put Your EMPHASIS ON MARKETING And Increase Your Livestock Profits! ★ ALL BONDED MARKETS ★ Guaranteed Payment... Ail Livestock Paid For Day Of Sale! ★ HONEST WEIGHTS * Livestock Weighed In Full View Of Buyer & Seller. Scale Approved And Inspected By Federal & State Bureau of Weights and Measures! Contact Any Of The Markets Listed Below They Are All Members Of The Pennsylvania Livestock Markets Association Belleville Livestock Market, Inc. Box 5665, 17004 Carlisle Livestock Market, Inc. 548 Alexander Spring Rd., Carlisle, Pa. 17013 Chesley’sSales, Inc. 11439 Wilson Road, North East, Pa. 16428 Cowanesque Valley Livestock Market - Box 212. R.D. 41, Route 49. Knoxville. Pa. 16928 Dewart Livestock Market Box 95, Dewart Pa. 17730 G & M Livestock Exchange R 2, Box 236, Ouncansville, Pa. 16635 Greencastle Livestock Market, Inc. Box 86, Greencastle, Pa. 17225 Green Dragon Livestock Sales R.D. 44, Ephrata, Pa. 17582 Keister's Middleburg Auction Sales, Inc. Box 185, R 3, Middleburg, Pa. 17842 Lancaster Stockyards, Inc. Box 713,1147 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, Pa. 17601 Lebanon Valley Livestock Market, Inc. R.D. 41, Fredericksburg, Pa. 17026 Leesport Market & Auction, Inc. Box B, Leesport. Pa. 19533 f ACTION through auction... THE PROVEN WAY TO SELL l|s| LIVESTOCK! |P This Message Sponsored By; President; LEROY WEIST Vice President; NORMAN KOLB - mim *‘SSti KHmsr LIVESTOCK AUCTION ASSOCIATION, INC. fjwStj.'jbHNSON Albert Leo, Chairman Ad*. Committee- Phone 717-564-1452 Diagnosis important in treating swine of antibiotics for swine use would cause a severe setback. There would be less product and more cost to consumers. Neither producer nor consumer can afford this, he says. The University of Nebraska recently evaluated the effects of antibiotics on swine in a series of three experiments. The results can be instructive for Delmarva producers, the specialist says. In the first study, pigs fed chloratetracycline (CTC) during the grower phase gained the same as pigs fed no antibiotic, and required 3 percent more feed per pound of grain. Although CTC nearly always gives a response, this time it didn’t In the same study, Tylosin resulted in a 2-3 percent improvement in gain and feed conversion when fed during the grower phase. However, the advantage was lost or reduced during finishing. These results may seem sur PENNSYLVANIA ★ MERCHANDISING SERVICE it All Livestock Handled And Presented To Buyers by Professional And Dedicated Personnel! it COMPETITIVE BIDDING * The Only Way To Determine The Best Price For Your Livestock! Meadville Livestock Auction Box 207 R.D. 43 Conneautville, Pa. 16406 Morrisons Cove Livestock Market Box 444, Martinsburg, Pa. 16662 (Wed.) (Tues.) New Holland Sales Stables, Inc. (Mon., Wed,, Thurs.) 101 W. Fulton St.. Box 96, R 3. New Holland. Pa. 17557 New Wilmington Livestock Auction (Mon.) Inc. - (Feeder Pigs, Ist & 3rd Fri.) Box 412, R 3, New Wilmington, Pa. 16142 Penns Valley Livestock Auction P.O. Box 451, Centre Hall. Pa. 16828 Pennsylvania Livestock Auction, Inc. Box 432, R 4, Waynesburg, Pa. 15370 Perkiomenvilie Sales Stables, Inc. (Wed.) Rt. 29 & Perkiomenvilie Rd., Perkiomenvilie. Pa. 18074 Quakertown Livestock Sale (Wed.) 201 Station Road, Quakertown, Pa. 18951 Troy Sales "Cooperative Box 312, Troy, Pa. 16947 Valley Stockyard, Inc. Box 231, Athens, Pa. 18810 Vintage Sales Stables, Inc. Box 100, R 2. Paradise. Pa. 17562 Wyalusing Livestock Market Wyalusing, Pa. 18853 (Mon.) (Tues.) (Mon.) (Mon.) (Mon.) (Fri.) (Tues.) (Daily) (Tues.) (Wed.) prising, says Fowler. But the fact is, not many producers know what kind of response antibiotics give on their farms. Continual use of the same antibiotic results in .a_lo.wer response than when it was fust used. Some observers believe this lowered response is due to in creased bacterial resistance to the antibiotics, or to improved microbial cleanliness of facilities. The lack of responsiveness to an antibiotic may not be permanent, the specialist says. Virginiamycin did not produce much response as a feed additive until recently. Yet Nebraska research shows it im proved gains and feed efficiency 10.3 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, during the grower phase and 5.2 percent and 4.6 percent during the finisher phase. A third experiment evaluated the effect on gains and feed ef ficiency of Carbadox and a wor ming compound, pyrantel tartrate, fed alone or in combination. Carbadox, a chembiotic, can be fed only up to 75 pounds of body weight. Pigs fed this gained 12 percent faster on 7 percent less feed per pound of gain than those not treated. The advantage disappeared by the time they reached market weight, however. Continuing the pigs on 50 grams per ton of oxytetracycline during the finishing phase was not ef fective in maintaining the gain and feed conversion advantage ob tained earlier. There was no improvement in gain or feed efficiency from feeding pyrantel tartrate. Although it is regarded as an ex cellent dewormer, the parasite load on the confined pigs was low in this study. A separate Nebraska ex periment evaluated water medications for stressed feeder nigs. Results indicated that routine (Wed.) (Mon.) (Tues.) (Thurs.) (Wed.) (Mon.) (Tues., Wed., Sat.) (Mon.) I;3 wnc«ROWMOMim Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 2,1983—025 water medication of transported purchased feeder pigs is not always of benefit. There was no improvement in performance or decrease in death loss with the addition of either a sulfa* electrolyte or electrolyte-vitamin solution to the drinking water for five days after arrival If producers decide to medicate routinely, Fowler says it is best to use a separate water medication system to permit treatment either of single pens or the whole bam. “Research like this shows that general medication for nonspecific symptoms has questionable value," says the specialist. “Water medication of sick pigs for a specific set of symptoms does work well in my experience. The key is to get a diagnosis and treat promptly. Side pigs often drink before they will consume dry feed.”