INFLUENCE OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL FEED ADDITIVE AVILAMYCIN IN FEEDING OFPIGS

In this study 88 fattening pigs (live weight 25 - 120 kgs) were fed a standard diet or a diet supplemented with the antimicrobial feed addit ive Avilamycin (live weight 25 - 60 kgs: 40 mg per kg mixture; live we ight 60 - 120 kgs: 20 mg per kg mixture). The application of Avilamyci n increased the daily weight gain from 756 to 774 g per pig and day ( 2,4 %). The feed conversion (kg feed/kg weight gain) improved by 3 % from 2,97 to 2,88 kg/kg (p < 0,05). The supplementation of Avilamycin showed no effects on carcass value, meat quality or on organ weights ( heart, liver, kidney, thyroid gland). The achieved decrease in feed co nsumption in relation to different costs of feed led to an expense red uction ranging from 2,60 to 3,12 DM per pig. The expenditure of Avilam ycin was not taken into account. The shortening of the fattening time leads to a further advantage of 1,20 DM per pig.