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Factors to consider when using In-Feed Medication
- (143) At the time of the disease outbreak, there may be no bin capacity available to hold the medicated feed and bagged food is sometimes required.
- If strategic medication is used, hold one bin for medicated feed only.
- If medicated feed is placed in a bin containing non medicated feed, the time of the feed reaching the pigs and the withdrawal will be unknown.
- Bagged food is more expensive.
- There can be a delay in manufacturing and delivering the medicated feed.
- Sick pigs often do not eat or have reduced feed intake and therefore won't receive sufficient antibiotic.
- If the appetite is poor the medicine inclusion rate may need to be increased by up to 30%, provided it is safe to do so.
- In-feed medicines may require a product licence for use in food producing animals and therefore the availability of medicines is narrow.
- Each particular medicine has its own withdrawal period and this may mean it is impracticable to use in pigs near the point of slaughter.
- Automatic feed lines make the application of in-feed medication to selective groups difficult.
- The bin containing the medicated feed should be marked with the date it entered and the date when empty. Withdrawal times can then be calculated.
