Can We Produce Pork Without Antimicrobials? The Answer is Yes

Antimicrobials have been traditionally included at sub-therapeutic levels in swine feeds, to maximize growth performance and efficiency. Modern swine management systems involving multi-site production and 'minimal-disease' management protocols offer the possibility of reducing the pork industry's use of sub-therapeutic antimicrobials. A 1000 head commercial swine grower unit, as part of a modern multi-site production system, was used to evaluate the growth performance and health of pigs reared in a minimal-disease environment. In addition, a comparison was made between pigs reared on slatted concrete floors vs. deep bedding. The animals arrived at the facility at 20 kg live weight and were fed commercial diets without antimicrobial supplementation until they reached market weight (107 kg). Over the entire growth period, pigs on slatted floors and deep bedding grew at an equal rate of greater than 800 g/d with an average feed efficiency of 2.63 g feed per g gain. Carcass grade index was 108.8 for pigs on both types of flooring. The lean yield was over 60% on average, with a loin eye size exceeding 60 mm. Mortality rates were similar for both rearing systems at 1.4%. The results indicate that pigs reared in commercial conditions without the use of sub-therapeutic antimicrobials can perform competitively to those where antimicrobials are used.

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