Clinical case

An ultrasonicated lysate of Corynebacterium (Ultra-corn^®  , Virbac) as an  immunostimulating compound may activate the cell- mediated immune response when detected by antigen  presenting cells which are the first line defense cells of the  host. This study was performed to test the effect of Ultra- corn^® on overall growth performance such as average  daily weight gain (ADG), reduced variable weights within pen and health status by one time administration to nursery piglets at their weaning.

Materials and methods

A GP farm housing 580-sow herd with a two-site production system was selected. Every week 200 to 250 piglets are weaned and delivered at about 70 days of age to the finishing farm. 120 weaned piglets were selected and assigned to the Ultra-corn^® treated group (UC group; n=60) with more variable and lower weight and the untreated control group (CTL group; n=60) with more uniform and heavier weight. The UC group was given a single injection of Ultra-corn^® (1 ml per pig) intramuscularly at 4 days post weaning and the CTL group remained untreated. Both groups were maintained without other treatment except minimum vaccination. The live weight of each pig was measured at weaning and before delivery to the finishing unit to analyze the ADG. As a base line data, the number of delivered pigs, weaning age, and delivering age were recorded.