THE EFFICACY OF ENROFLOXACIN IN-FEED MEDICATION, BY APPLYING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR THE CONTROL OF POST-WEANING DIARRHEA SYNDROME OF PIGLETS

Post weaning diarrhoea syndrome (PWDS) in piglets is caused mainly by enterotoxigenic Escherichia (E.) coli (ETEC) strains. Six different in -feed usage programmes of enrofloxacin (ENR/Baytril(R); I.E.R. 2.5%) w ere rested for their efficacy on the control of post weaning colibacil losis in piglets, using seven groups with totally 336 weaned piglets f or a 28 day period. One group (negative control) was offered feed free of antimicrobials, three groups were offered feed medicated with 50 p pm of ENR starting on weaning day for 5, 7 and 10 days respectively, t hree groups were offered feed medicated with 50 ppm of ENR starting 7 days post weaning for 5, 7 and 10 days respectively, and were compared with regard to the appearance of clinical signs, mortality, weight ga in and feed conversion. The results showed that all ENR treatments red uced the incidence and severity of diarrhoea. Mortality was similar in all ENR treatments, but in the groups where the ENR was added for 10 days immediately after weaning and/or 7 daps post meaning for 7 and 10 days respectively was lower compared to the negative control group (P < 0.05). The evaluation of the weight gain data, as well as feed conv ersion ratio indicated that the sis treated groups performed remarkabl y better than the control group (P < 0.05). No ETEC were detected on d ays 21 and 28 in all ENR groups contrary to the untreated control. It was concluded that a strategic medication initiated 7 days post weanin g with 50 ppm of ENR and only for 7 and 10 days period of rime is a us eful tool in controlling PWDS due to ETEC.