Dietary Inclusion of Colicin E.: Effect on Pig Behavior

Abstract

<p>In the US prophylactic antibiotics are frequently included in the diets of weanling pigs to prevent postweaning diarrhea (PWD). Despite this, PWD still causes substantial losses to the swine industry through both mortalities and morbidly. Additionally, the use of prophylactic antibiotics has become a concern among some groups regarding their potential contribution to the spread and creation of antibiotic resistant bacteria.</p> <p>The objective of this study was to determine if dietary inclusion of Colicin E1 (ColE1) altered a pigs behavior and postures when challenged with <em>E. coli</em>. Twenty-four newly weaned barrows; 21 days of age were placed into individual pens. Three dietary treatments were compared; treatment 1 had no ColE1 (C; n=8), treatment 2 added 1.1 mg of purified ColE1 (L; n=8), and treatment 3 added 16.5 mg (H; n=8) of purified ColE1. Two behaviors were collected; time spent at the feeder trough and drinking. Three postures were collected; active and inactive and other. There were no (P < 0.05) effects on the time engaged in active, drinking and other. For pigs in the H group they engaged in more (P < 0.05) eating and less time in inactive postures than C pigs. From this study, it can be concluded that pigs with the highest coverage of ColE1 displayed less inactive behaviors and spent more time at the feeder indicating that ColE1 may have offered some form of protection against the <em>E. coli</em> challenge and therefore improved the individual pig’s wellbeing.</p>