284 A Meta-Regression Analysis to Evaluate the Effects of Narasin on Grow-Finish Pig Performance
Authors: Becker Larissa L , Gebhardt Jordan T , Tokach Mike D , Woodworth Jason C , Goodband Robert D , DeRouchey Joel M , Seltzer Jenna A , Arentson Roger A , Shields Michael , Puls Christopher L 
Published: October 2023

Ionophores are a separate class of non-medically important antibiotics used in animal production to increase growth rate. Narasin (Skycis; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) is an ionophore labeled for increased rate of body weight gain and improved feed efficiency in growing-finishing swine. The mode of action of this ionophore is to increase energy availability by altering volatile fatty acid production in the hindgut in favor of propionate, which is the most efficient product of fermentation. Therefore, a meta-regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of narasin inclusion in growing-finishing pig diets to predict average daily gain and feed efficiency. A database was developed that contained 21 papers from 2012 to 2021 representing 308 observations including both individual period data as well as overall trial data. For statistical analysis two models were created. The individual period model considered only data with single continuous narasin feeding periods while the overall trial model considered complete data sets representing periods with and without narasin feeding. Regression model equations were developed with the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS (Version 9.4, SAS institute, Cary, NC). Predictor variables were assessed with a step-wise manual forward selection for model inclusion. Predictor variables were required to provide an improvement of at least 2 Bayesian information criterion units to be included in the final model. For individual period data for G:F, the model selected included concentration of narasin in the feed, ADG and ADFI of the control group not provided narasin, and average BW of the control group categorized into greater than 105 kg or less than 105 kg (Table 1). There were 2 competing models to predict improvement in overall G:F. For model 1, significant predictors included concentration of narasin in feed and ADG of the control group. Model 2 for overall G:F included concentration of narasin in feed, ADG and ADFI of the control group. For the individual period model that predicted ADG, the predictors were concentration of narasin in the feed, ADFI, G:F of the control group and BW category for feeding period. The best fitting ADG model using the overall trial data included concentration of narasin in feed, ADFI and G:F of the control group, and feeding duration categorized as longer than 65 days or shorter than 65 days. Together, these models can be used to predict the response to narasin supplementation in finishing pigs. Based on the results, the overall response to narasin inclusion rate for ADG and G:F is quadratic in nature. Additionally, as ADG and G:F increase, the response to narasin supplementation decreases. In summary, using average values from the database for predictor variables, this meta-analysis demonstrates narasin would be expected to improve overall G:F from 0.74 to 1.13% and ADG from 1 to 3%.