ECONOMIC-IMPACT OF SUBCLINICAL PARASITIC INFESTATIONS IN FATTENING PIGS

The economic losses due to subclinical mange and round worm infections in pigs in their full extension are poorly documented. Therefore, sto re pigs weighing 25-26 kg of three weekly stablings comprising probabl y 600 animals each were treated on arrival at a fattening unit with IV OMEC(R) Pramix at a dose rate of 100 mcg/kg bwt. for seven consecutive days. Each of the three weekly treatment group alternated with an unt reated control group of the same size and the same origin. The fatteni ng unit had a history of a low subclinical infestation with sarcoptic mites and ascarids. The evaluation of productivity data and parasitolo gical findings revealed a clear improvement of important parameters in favour of the Premix group: sarcoptic mites in scrapings after slaugh ter (%): Nil vs. 16,7; rate of milk spots (%): 0,8 vs. 4,8; pooled fae cal samples positive for ascarid eggs (%): 4,4 vs. 8,8; animal losses (%): 1,69 vs. 2,14; daily weight gain (g/d): 695 vs. 670; carcass weig ht (kg): 91,9 vs. 89,3; feed intake (kg/d): 2,02 vs. 1,96: net profit (DM): 8,51 vs. 5,33. These results show the considerable impact of a s ubclinical parasitic infestation on the net profit.