TY - JOUR

T1 - Pilot study of the productivity and Salmonella seroprevalence in pigs administered organic acids

AU - Roldan-Henao, Manuela

AU - Dalsgaard, Anders

AU - Cardona-Castro, Nora

AU - Restrepo-Rivera, Lina

AU - Veloza-Angulo, Luis Carlos

AU - Alban, Lis

N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Roldan-Henao, Dalsgaard, Cardona-Castro, Restrepo-Rivera, Veloza-Angulo and Alban.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Control of Salmonella in pig/pork production is important to protect public health because pork is one of the main sources of human infection. Moreover, antimicrobial use in pig farms should be kept low to minimize development and transmission of antimicrobial resistance. This pilot study evaluated the productivity and Salmonella seroprevalence in pigs administered organic acids (OA) compared to pigs given growth promoters in one farm in Antioquia, Colombia. Two groups each consisting of 60 pigs of 6-weeks of age were studied for 4 months. One group was provided feed and water with OA (Selko pH® and Selacid®), whereas the other group (control) received antimicrobial growth promoters according to routine feeding practices (tylosin and zinc bacitracin). Blood samples were taken three times (T1–T3) and pigs were weighted five times to calculate daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Initially when the pigs were 6 weeks old (T1), the Salmonella seroprevalence was 1.7% in both groups. When the pigs were 11 weeks old (T2), the seroprevalence was significantly lower in pigs provided OA compared to the control group (19 vs. 47%, P < 0.001), whereas when the pigs were 23 weeks old (T3), the seroprevalence did not differ between the groups (62 vs. 77%; P = 0.075). The cumulative DWG was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (713 vs. 667 g/day; P < 0.001). The cumulative FCR did not differ between groups (2.80 vs. 2.77; P = 0.144). The pilot study indicates that cleaning the water pipes and administrating OA improve productivity in pigs and delay exposure to Salmonella spp. when compared with growth promoters. Thus, OA could replace antimicrobial growth promoters and reduce antimicrobial use and resistance. However, the study should be repeated before firmer conclusions can be drawn.

AB - Control of Salmonella in pig/pork production is important to protect public health because pork is one of the main sources of human infection. Moreover, antimicrobial use in pig farms should be kept low to minimize development and transmission of antimicrobial resistance. This pilot study evaluated the productivity and Salmonella seroprevalence in pigs administered organic acids (OA) compared to pigs given growth promoters in one farm in Antioquia, Colombia. Two groups each consisting of 60 pigs of 6-weeks of age were studied for 4 months. One group was provided feed and water with OA (Selko pH® and Selacid®), whereas the other group (control) received antimicrobial growth promoters according to routine feeding practices (tylosin and zinc bacitracin). Blood samples were taken three times (T1–T3) and pigs were weighted five times to calculate daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Initially when the pigs were 6 weeks old (T1), the Salmonella seroprevalence was 1.7% in both groups. When the pigs were 11 weeks old (T2), the seroprevalence was significantly lower in pigs provided OA compared to the control group (19 vs. 47%, P < 0.001), whereas when the pigs were 23 weeks old (T3), the seroprevalence did not differ between the groups (62 vs. 77%; P = 0.075). The cumulative DWG was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (713 vs. 667 g/day; P < 0.001). The cumulative FCR did not differ between groups (2.80 vs. 2.77; P = 0.144). The pilot study indicates that cleaning the water pipes and administrating OA improve productivity in pigs and delay exposure to Salmonella spp. when compared with growth promoters. Thus, OA could replace antimicrobial growth promoters and reduce antimicrobial use and resistance. However, the study should be repeated before firmer conclusions can be drawn.

KW - growth performance

KW - growth promoters

KW - organic acids

KW - pigs

KW - Salmonella

KW - seroprevalence

U2 - 10.3389/fvets.2023.1123137

DO - 10.3389/fvets.2023.1123137

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36937024

AN - SCOPUS:85150417011

VL - 10

JO - Frontiers in Veterinary Science

JF - Frontiers in Veterinary Science

SN - 2297-1769

M1 - 1123137

ER -