EFFECT OF FLORFENICOL ON PIGLET PERFORMANCE AT A COMMERCIAL PIG FARM IN BRAZIL, AND ASSESSMENT OF ITS IN VITRO EFFICACY AGAINST FIELD RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS

摘要

Respiratory diseases are the major health problem in pig operations due to high stocking density in small rooms with inadequate ventilation. These diseases, in cases entail high expenses on drugs and vaccines and result in low animal performance. Thegoal of most disease control methods is to prevent economic losses during the production process. This is traditionally made by means of the administration of medication or vaccination (1,2,3). This experiment aims at evaluating the efficacy of florfenicol added to the feed in comparison with a different strategic medication program in the control of respiratory diseases, particularly related to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida usually associated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.