The effect of salinomycin on health status and performance of sows and their litters: A dose titration study

Two hundred and fifty gilts and sows (Dalland parent stock) were divided ra ndomly and allocated into the following five experimental groups: SAL0 = ne gative controls, SAL20 = 20 mg salinomycin per kg of feed, SAL40 = 40 mg sa linomycin per kg of feed, SAL60 = 60 mg salinomycin per kg of feed and SAL8 0 - 80 mg salinomycin per kg of feed. Each gilt and sow was allocated to on e of the five groups after the confirmation of the pregnancy using the ultr asonic method and remained under treatment for two consecutive breeding cyc les. Throughout the experimental period several parameters related to sow h ealth status, performance and fertility, as well as to health status and pe rformance of their litters were recorded and calculated. Results indicated that salinomycin improves most of the parameters examined, as it leads to s ignificantly higher (P < 0.05): (i) sow body weight gain during gestation; (ii) number of piglets born alive and weaned; (iii) piglet body weight at b irth and at weaning, as well as to significantly lower (P < 0.05): (i) prev alence of thin sow syndrome at weaning; (ii) sow body- weight loss during l actation; (iii) weaning-to-oestrus interval; (iv) piglet diarrhoea score du ring lactation; and (v) preweaning mortality. The best results were obtaine d at the inclusion levels of 40 and 60 mg salinomycin per kg of feed.