The efficacy of enrofloxacin in-feed medication by applying different programmes for the control of post weaning oedema disease in weaned piglets.

Oedema disease (OD) usually occurs after weaning and is due to infection with (ETEEC) enterotoxaemic Escherichia (E.) coli. This study further examines the efficacy of three different in-feed usage programmes of enrofloxacin (ENR/Baytril I.E.R. 2.5%), on the control of post weaning OD in piglets. The recommended in-feed dosage of ENR for this clinical indication, i.e. 50 p.p.m., was used. Five groups with a total of 240 weaned piglets for 28 days period were used in this trial. One group (negative control) was offered feed free of antimicrobials, one group was offered feed as that of the negative control group except that the feed consumption was restricted for the first 12 days post weaning, and three groups were offered feed ad libitum medicated with 50 p.p.m. of ENR starting 7 days after weaning for 5, 7 and 10 days, respectively, and were compared with regard to their performance. Mortality was lower compared to the negative control group in all ENR treatments (P < 0.05). The evaluation of the growth performance data, as well as feed conversion ratio, indicated that the three treated groups performed remarkably better than the control group (P < 0.05). It was concluded that a strategic medication initiated 7 days post weaning with 50 p.p.m. of ENR and usually for a 10 day period is useful in controlling and/or preventing post weaning OD due to ETEEC.