The effect of hygromycin B as a growth stimulant and as an anthelmintic for swine

Internal parasites are one of the major concerns in the production of swine today. The United States Department of Agriculture (1954) estimated that the annual loss to the swine industry from internal parasites was $276,726,000. These dollar losses represent an amount equal to $3.00 per pig on each farm.

Several anthelmintics have been used by swine growers. The most widely used anthelmintic has been sodium fluoride which is administered to the swine in a special mixture of feed. Also, piperazine has been used in a mixture of feed or by mixing with drinking water. Phenothiazine is sometimes used and administered to the swine in capsules. Another compound that is used is wormseed oil (oil of chenopodium), which is given to swine in liquid doses.

All of these anthelmintics with the exception of piperazine and phenothiazine act only on the intestinal roundworm or ascarid. Piperazine and phenothiazine act on ascarids and nodular worms.

Recently hygromycin B, a new antibiotic, has been placed on the market. This antibiotic has been reported to act as an anthelmintic for swine and to control ascarids, nodular worms and whipworms. This antibiotic also has been reported to stimulate growth in swine.

In the South, and particularly in Tennessee, most swine are fed to market weight with a supplement and corn free choice. This experiment was conducted to evaluate hygromycin B as an anthelmintic and as a growth stimulant for swine when fed with a supplement and corn fed free choice.