Pulsed in-feed dosage programmes utilising the Tiamutin/CTC or doxycycline combination can often be effective and economical in controlling:
- Mixed respiratory infections
- Mixed enteric infections
- Combined respiratory/enteric infections.
In growing/fattening pigs, Guilmoto, H. (1996) [?] reported on experience in Brittany, France on a breeder/fattener farm affected with mycoplasmal/bacterial pneumonias, which responded well to a pulse dosing programme with Tiamutin/CTC premix. Management changes, hygiene and environmental adjustments had previously failed to control the problem. The dosing protocol used was as follows:
Tiamutin 80ppm + CTC 600ppm (followed later by 400ppm).
The pulse, consisting of Tiamutin + CTC, commenced at 10 - 12 weeks of age and continued until 3 weeks prior to slaughter at 80kg bodyweight (bwt). The pulses were provided for 2 consecutive days and 8x 2 day pulses were given in total. Over a 4 year period the percentage of lungs at slaughter which were free from pneumonia lesions increased from 10.66% in 1990 to 92.85% in 1994. Antibiotic treatments by injection became progressively less necessary and were finally phased out.
Scattolini, E. and others reported from Italy in 1994 [?] on the value of Tiamutin/CTC in-feed medication given on a pulse basis to fatteners affected with mixed enteric + pneumonic infections. The investigation was performed with 2 groups of pigs, the pulse dosed group consisting of 260 pigs (Gp A) and the control 250 pigs (Gp B). (The numbers were dictated by the sizes of the two fattening units.)
Both groups received the medicated feed during the first ten days, at approx 23kg bwt containing Tiamutin (125ppm) and CTC (500ppm). After the first 10 days Gp A received feed medicated with Tiamutin/CTC at the above inclusion levels on 5 consecutive days per month on a total of 4 occasions. Gp B by contrast received no pulse medication. (See table below)
| ITALY |
Scattolini, E. and others (1994) |
| Tiamutin/CTC in-feed medication given on a pulse basis to fatteners affected with mixed enteric + pneumonic infections |
| Parameter |
Group A |
Index (%) |
Group B |
Index (%) |
% mortality
(22.5kg bwt - 152.9kg bwt) |
1.15 |
39.2 |
2.93 |
100 |
| ADG (g) |
650 |
106.5 |
610 |
100 |
| FCR |
3.59 |
93.9 |
3.82 |
100 |
|
The key results, shown above, demonstrated the benefits in increased productivity provided by pulse medication with Tiamutin/CTC.
An example of a successful pulsed dosing programme to combat PRDC using both Tiamutin and the Tiamutin/chlortetracycline or doxycycline combination is shown below.
| Sows/Gilts |
|
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| Piglets |
|
 |
| Growing pigs |
|
 |
| Fattening pigs * |
|
 |
| KEY |
|
 |
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