[The effect of furazolidone or carbadox in the starter mixture for early-weaned piglets].

For a period of 14 days, piglets from six litters, weaned between the 25th and 28th day of age, were fed the COS 2 starter containing either a premix with furazolidone or carboadox of Czechoslovak origin. Bentonite hydrosilicate was used as a carrier in both cases. Furazolidone administered in the dose of 200 mg per 1 kg of feed prevented diarrhoea, insignificantly increased body weight gain, and decreased the consumption of feed per 1 kg of gain from 5.6 kg in the control to 4.0 kg in the test animals. Carbadox administered in the dose of 50 mg per 1 kg of feed suppressed the signs of enteritis in comparison with the control piglets, significantly increased body weight gains, and reduced feed consumption to 1.9 kg per 1 kg of gain. No differences were recorded in the concentration of blood glucose, total protein, and total cholesterol in plasma. The control piglets showed increased parameters of the adrenocortical function. The proportion (percentage) of haemolytic E. coli in rectum was affected neither by carbadox nor by furazolidone; furazolidone suppressed the occurrence of lactoso-negative strains. An insignificant drop of the number of haemolytic E. coki in the duodenum and jejunum of the furazolidone-and carbadox-treated piglets was observed after 14 days. With their clinical effects, the two substances tested manifest themselves as suitable for the reduction of losses in weaned piglets.