A note on the influence of Avoparcin on apparent digestibility and nitrogen retention in growing pigs

A metabolism trial was carried out to examine the influence of an antibiotic food additive (Avoparcin) on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen retention in the growing pig. Two groups of pigs, comprising 12 castrates per group, were fed a barley-based diet (190g crude protein per kg dry matter) with or without the inclusion of the antibiotic (at a dietary concentration of 20 mg/kg). Addition of Avoparcin had no significant effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter or gross energy but resulted in a small increase in the apparent digestibility of nitrogen (0·012; P < 0·05). There was a corresponding improvement in nitrogen retention (0·051) but the difference was not statistically significant.