Maintaining performance without growth promoters

摘要

Antibiotic growth promoters have been used to improve the efficiency of pig performance for over 50 years but, surprisingly, their mode of action remains unclear. The benefits of growth promoters have been well documented and an increase in growth rate of 13 and 6% and an improvement in FCR of 7 and 4% have been reported in piglets and finisher pigs respectively. It may be calculated that the value of growth promoters to the UK industry is approximately ￡1.70 per finished pig, however this value will alter depending upon the health status of the unit concerned. The use of antibiotic growth promoters was challenged by the Swann report in 1969 due to the concern over the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This concern has now led to the withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters from the EU market and the remaining three, Maxus, Flavomycin and Salocin, cannot be fed after 31st December 2005. The recent reduction in the level of copper was associated with large losses in pig performance bymany producers and it is feared that the loss of growth promoters will have a significant impact on pig performance on many units unless action is taken.