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 and Veterinary Advances
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/2002
                                    Publication  Date: 1/1/2003
                                    Citation: GAINES, A.M., CARROLL, J.A., ALLEE, G.L. NURSERY PERFORMANCE OF PIGS INJECTED WITH EXOGENOUS GLUCOCORTICOIDS AT WEANING. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND VETERINARY ADVANCES. 2003. v. 2. p. 22-26.Interpretive Summary: The overall objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of a potent synthetic glucocorticoid (Predef®) at weaning on feed intake and growth performance in young pigs.  At weaning, pigs undergo a period of nutritional restriction due to lack of feed intake associated with the stress of weaning, a change in dietary form, as well as maternal separation and new social structures.  This study consisted of a 21-day growth experiment to determine if an exogenous glucocorticoid could stimulate the weaned pig's appetite and enhance performance during the early postweaning period.  At weaning, 30 pigs were weighed and allotted to one of three treatments: 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).  Feed intake and growth were monitored on all experimental groups for the 21-day period.  During the first 7 days postweaning, pigs treated with Predef® had higher feed intake compared to control and Dex pigs.  At day 7 postweaning, Predef® pigs were heavier, gained faster, and consumed more feed compared to control and Dex pigs. By day 14 postweaning, Predef® pigs tended to be heavier compared to the other pigs, but there were no differences in average daily gain, feed intake, or feed conversion.  At day 21 postweaning, there were no differences in any of the parameters measured.  For the overall 21-day growth period, there was a trend for average daily feed intake to be higher in Predef® pigs compared to control and Dex pigs.  These results indicate that a single Predef® injection at weaning improves growth performance of pigs during the first 7 days postweaning, a period of time that is critical for subsequent postweaning performance and well-being.  Given that this research has the potential to significantly impact the economics associated with swine production, it will be of interest to swine veterinarians and swine producers throughout the United States as well as other countries.  This information will also be of interest to all individuals associated with swine production including scientists in academia, government, and industry.
                                Technical Abstract: A 21-d growth experiment was conducted to investigate effects of glucocorticoid injection on postweaning pig performance.  At weaning, 30 pigs were weighed and allotted to one of three treatments: 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).  Initial weights at weaning (5.57 +/- 0.02 kg) did not differ among treatments (P < 0.75).  During the first 7 days postweaning, there was a Time × Treatment effect for ADFI (P < 0.02) with Predef® pigs having higher feed intakes compared to control and Dex pigs.  At d 7, Predef® pigs were heavier (P < 0.002), gaining faster (P < 0.001), and consuming more feed (P < 0.04) compared to control and Dex pigs.  By d 14, Predef® pigs tended to be heavier (P < 0.08) compared to control and Dex pigs.  There were no differences in ADG (P < 0.97), ADFI (P < 0.84), or Gain:Feed (P < 0.30) during the 2nd week postweaning.  At d 21, there were no differences in BW (P < 0.17), ADG (P < 0.77), or ADFI (P < 0.51).  For the overall period, there were no differences in ADG (P < 0.16) or Gain:Feed (P < 0.12).  There was a trend for ADFI to be higher in Predef® pigs (P < 0.10) compared to control and Dex pigs.  Results indicate that dexamethasone injection immediately postweaning does not improve performance; however, Predef® injection does improve growth performance of pigs during the first 7 days postweaning.


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