A FIELD STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF IN-FEED CHLORTETRACYCLINE ADMINISTRATION TO ENHANCE HEALTH STATUS OF SOWS AND THEIR LITTERS IN A PRRSV CONTAMINATED PIG UNIT

摘要

During the last years the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) has dramatically changed the pathogenic action of some specific or non-specific pathogens, leading to unusual outbreaks of infections (1). Relating to the breeding stock, these outbreaks are manifested, mainly during critical periods such as pregnancy and lactation and in most of the commercial units result in low reproductive performance (2). Thus, the object of the present study was to determine the possible positive effects of chlortetracycline (CTC) administration via feed at a high dose during lactation, on the health status and performance of the sows and their litters, as well as on the post-weaning fertility of the sows.