Influence of the application methods of iron/anticoccidial products on the behaviour and associated stress factors of suckling piglets

María Rodríguez, Joaquín Morales, Gonzalo Díaz-Amor, Antonio González-Bulnes, Hamadi Karembe, Daniel Sperling

Influence of the application methods of iron/anticoccidial products on the behaviour and associated stress factors of suckling piglets

Číslo: 3/2022
Periodikum: Acta Veterinaria Brno
DOI: 10.2754/avb202291030251

Klíčová slova: Welfare, iron deficiency anaemia, coccidiosis, route of administration.

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Anotace: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different treatment protocols for the control of iron-deficiency anaemia and coccidiosis, one combination injection versus injection of iron and oral application of toltrazuril, on the general behaviour of piglets. Piglets were divided into three experimental treatment groups: 24 piglets were left untreated; (control group, C); 24 piglets received an oral administration of generic anticoccidial agent (20 mg/kg BW) plus intramuscular administration of iron dextran (200 mg/ml; 1 ml/piglet) in the same handling (oral + parenteral group, O+P) and 24 piglets received an intramuscular application of the combination product (parenteral group, P). As expected, the handling time was higher in the oral + parenteral group than in the parenteral group. Regarding the behaviour of piglets, the time spent suckling after treatment was variable in the control and oral + parenteral groups, while piglets from the parenteral group spent more time suckling, and hence, their time spent resting was decreased. A statistical trend of lower concentration of cortisol was observed in P compared to O+P after processing. Regarding productivity indices, the average daily gain of piglets during lactation and, subsequently, their weaning weight were higher in P compared to O+P, and similar to the control. In conclusion, administering a combination product injection decreases the time of administration compared to individual treatments.