Friday, March 27, 2020

Zinc chelate counters swine dysentery


New research indicates that a zinc chelate product marketed by Elanco is effective in treating swine dysentery (B. hyodysenteriae).

“The ID treatment resulted in a higher growth rate and improved general health, whereas no mortality was observed and no additional therapeutic treatments were necessary in contrast to the control pigs,” says the report published in Porcine Health Management.

Antibiotics work, but require a veterinary prescription.

Zinc also works to counter scours, but is a metal that carries a risk of over-use.

There has been a significant increase of swine dysentery in Europe and recently it has been showing up again in Canada.