U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            GAINES, AARON - UNIV OF MISSOURIitem
                                            Carroll, Jeffery

                                                         - *Jeff Carroll*item
                                            ALLEE, GARY - UNIV OF MISSOURI
  Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2003
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary: A series of experiments were conducted on commercial swine farms to determine if the beneficial growth responses we have previously reported for small-scale studies would be similar under commercial conditions. Three separate experiments were conducted on three different commercial farms. We evaluated two synthetic glucocorticoid products, dexamethasone and isoflupredone, on a total of 1,321 pigs in these three experiments. We also evaluated the potential benefit of supplying supplemental milk to glucocorticoid-treated pigs. Our results indicated, contrary to our previous findings, that supplying exogenous glucocorticoids to neonatal pigs shortly after birth did not enhance growth during the preweaning period. However, the experiments did highlight the importance of parity, environmental conditions, and health status on the pig¿s growth response to exogenous glucocorticoids. Overall, results from the present study, combined with our previously reported studies, would indicate that the beneficial growth effect associated with exogenous glucocorticoid treatment may be practical in some commercial situations, but not all. This information will be of interest to swine producers, swine veterinarians, scientists, and extension personnel.
                                Technical Abstract: Three commercial trials were conducted evaluating the use of dexamethasone (Dex) and or isoflupredone (Predef) in improving preweaning growth performance of neonatal pigs.  The objectives of the commercial trials were three-fold:  to evaluate Predef as compared to Dex; address the sexual dimorphic growth response observed in a previous commercial trial; and to determine whether there is any benefit to providing Dex-treated pigs supplemental milk.  In Exp. 1, 276 pigs (Triumph 4 x PIC Camborough 22) were assigned according to birth weight and sex to three treatments. Treatments included either saline (Control), Dex (2 mg/kg BW i.m. injection of dexamethasone) or Predef (2 mg/kg BW i.m. injection of Predef 2 X) within 24 hours after birth.  A treatment effect was observed for BW at weaning (P < 0.003) with pigs injected with Predef being 0.51 kg lighter than Control and Dex treated pigs.  The lower body weights of Predef treated pigs at weaning were due to a lower ADG (P < 0.001) during the preweaning period as compared to Control and Dex pigs.  The ADGs of Predef, Control, and Dex pigs were 170.1 +/- 5.9, 200.7 +/- 5.9, and 202.0 +/- 5.7 g/d, respectively.  In Exp. 2, 703 pigs (Triumph 4 x PIC Camborough 22) were assigned according to birth weight and sex to three treatments. Treatments included either an i.m. injection of saline (Control), Dex1 (1 mg/kg BW of Dex), or Dex2 (2 mg/kg BW of Dex) within 24 hours after birth. No treatment effects were observed for BW at weaning (P > 0.76) or ADG (P > 0.62).  The ADGs of Control-, Dex1-, and Dex2-treated pigs were 230.6 +/- 3.75, 225.8 +/- 3.86, and 226.4 +/- 3.82 g/d, respectively.  In Exp. 3, 342 pigs (Genetiporc) were assigned to two treatments according to birth weight and sex.  Treatments included either an i.m. injection of saline or Dex (2 mg/kg BW) within 24 hours after birth.  All pigs were provided supplemental milk from the time of treatment until weaning age.   No treatment effects were observed for BW at weaning (P > 0.19) or ADG (P > 0.13).  The ADG of Control and Dex treated pigs were 229.4 +/- 5.28 and 218.1 +/- 5.15 g/d, respectively.  The negative response to Predef was similar to the growth suppressive effects observed with chronic glucocorticoid treatment.  In contrast to our previous findings, Dex did not improve preweaning growth performance regardless of dosage or supplemental milk.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov