THE EFFICACY OF ENROFLOXACIN IN-FEED MEDICATION BY APPLYING DIFFERENTPROGRAMS FOR THE CONTROL OF POST-WEANING EDEMA DISEASE IN WEANED PIGLETS

Oedema disease (OD) usually occurs after weaning and is due to infecti on with (ETEEC) enterotoxaemic Escherichia (E.) coli. This study furth er examines the efficacy of three different in-feed usage programmes o f enrofloxacin (ENR/Baytril(R) I.E.R. 2.5%), on the control of post we aning OD in piglets. The recommended in-feed dosage of ENR for this cl inical indication, i.e. 50 p.p.m., was used. Five groups with a total of 240 weaned piglets for 28 days period were used in this trial. One group (negative control) was offered feed free of antimicrobials, one group was offered feed as that of the negative control group except th at the feed consumption was restricted for the first 12 days post wean ing, and three groups were offered feed ad libitum medicated with 50 p .p.m. of ENR starting 7 days after weaning for 5, 7 and 10 days, respe ctively, and were compared with regard to their performance. Mortality was lower compared to the negative control group in all ENR treatment s (P < 0.05). The evaluation of the growth performance data, as well a s feed conversion ratio, indicated that the three treated groups perfo rmed remarkably better than the control group (P < 0.05). It was concl uded that a strategic medication initiated 7 days post weaning with 50 p.p.m. of ENR and usually for a 10 day period is useful in controllin g and/or preventing post weaning OD due to ETEEC.