Albac vs Stafac: Effects on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Growing-Finishing Pigs

ALBAC and Stafac exerted similar effects on performance and carcass characteristics in growing-finishing pigs, according to a Zoetis study.
calendar icon 1 August 2013
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Summary

A grow-finish study involving 1,008 pigs compared the effects of feeding ALBAC or Stafac on growth performance and carcass characteristics.

A four-phase grow-finish program utilizing corn-SBM-based diets evaluated ALBAC (25g per ton zinc bacitracin) to Stafac (10g per ton virginiamycin).

Over the entire 84-day grow-finish period, no differences in body weight, daily gain, feed intake, feed efficiency or mortality and removals were detected between pigs fed ALBAC or pigs fed Stafac.

Carcass yield, lean yield, loin depth and carcass backfat were similar between pigs fed ALBAC or Stafac. Study results demonstrate that ALBAC and Stafac exerted similar effects on performance and carcass characteristics in growing-finishing pigs.

Rationale

ALBAC® is a granular feed additive premix containing zinc bacitracin. ALBAC is approved for use in swine grower-finisher feed at from 10 to 50g per ton for increased average daily gain and improved feed efficiency. ALBAC is not absorbed from the intestinal tract so no withdrawal period is needed.

Stafac® (virginiamycin) is a competitive meal formulation feed additive approved for use at 10g per ton for increased average daily gain and feed efficiency from weaning to 120 lb, and at 5 to 10g per ton for increased average daily gain and feed efficiency from 120 lb to market weight (also with no withdrawal).

This research study compared the effects of feeding ALBAC or Stafac during the grow-finish period on the performance and carcass characteristics of pigs maintained in a commercial production environment.1

Experiment Design

The 84-day study involved 1,008 grow-finish PIC terminal cross pigs that weighed approximately 65 lb body weight upon delivery to the production facility. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design. Pigs were split-sexed, sorted into four weight blocks, and placed in 48 pens (21 pigs per pen). A total of 12 replicate pens of barrows and 12 replicate pens of gilts were assigned to each of the following two dietary treatment groups:

  • ALBAC fed at 25g zinc bacitracin per ton (0.5 lb of ALBAC 50 premix per ton);
  • Stafac fed at 10g virginiamycin per ton (0.5 lb of Stafac 20 premix per ton).

A four-phase, corn-SBM-based grow-finish program was utilized (65-106 lb; 106-150 lb; 150-192 lb; 192-232 lb). All diets maintained a constant available lysine:calorie ratio, were formulated to meet or exceed standard nutrient requirements, and were offered to animals ad libitum via automated feeders. ALBAC and Stafac were fed throughout all phases.


*
"Pigs fed ALBAC performed as well as pigs fed Stafac. Carcass parameters were also similar between the two treatment groups."


Data collected for each phase included body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed efficiency (feed/gain, F/G) and mortality and removals.

Typical carcass data were collected at market, including the number of full-value pigs.

Data were analyzed according to appropriate statistical methods using each pen as an experimental unit. Least-squares means are reported.

Results

Performance evaluations

For the entire 84-day, four-phase feeding period, no differences (P>0.10) were detected in final BW, ADG, ADFI, F/G or mortality/removals between pigs fed ALBAC and pigs fed Stafac (Table 1).

Performance of pigs fed ALBAC-medicated diets was excellent, evidenced by ADG of 2.0 lb. No treatment × sex interactions were detected (P>0.10), suggesting that both additives perform similarly in pigs of either gender.

Carcass characteristics

Results of the carcass evaluations at market are summarized in Table 2.

No differences (P>0.10) were detected in carcass yield, lean yield, loin depth or carcass backfat between pigs fed ALBAC or pigs fed Stafac. No treatment × sex interactions were detected (P>0.10), indicating both ALBAC and Stafac exerted similar effects regardless of gender.

Conclusions

This 84-day grow-finish study demonstrated that pigs fed either ALBAC or Stafac produced similar performance and carcass characteristics.

Study results demonstrate that ALBAC is an effective feed additive for promoting the growth and for improving the feed efficiency of swine during the growing-finishing period.

References

1. Data on file, Alpharma Study Report No. MS092-10BZ57xx, Zoetis Inc.

August 2013

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