Reduced Antibiotic Use After Vaccination of Pigs
Author Information
Author(s): Bak Hanne, Rathkjen Poul Henning
Primary Institution: Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica
Hypothesis
Can vaccination against porcine proliferative enteropathy reduce the use of antibiotics in Danish pig herds?
Conclusion
Vaccination significantly reduced antibiotic use and improved growth parameters in pigs.
Supporting Evidence
- Vaccination reduced the use of oxytetracykline by 79%.
- Vaccinated pigs gained 46 grams more weight per day compared to non-vaccinated pigs.
- The fattening period for vaccinated pigs was shortened by 8 days.
Takeaway
Vaccinating pigs helps them stay healthy and reduces the need for antibiotics, which is good for both the pigs and the farmers.
Methodology
The study used a parallel group design with vaccinated and non-vaccinated batches of pigs to compare antibiotic use and production parameters.
Potential Biases
Authors are employed by the vaccine producer, which may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a herd with already low antibiotic use, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Pigs from a single commercial sow herd in Denmark.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P < 0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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