Organic hogs typically grow slower and are less efficient than conventional hogs. Even a low level of parasite infection can reduce feed efficiency and gain in growing hogs, especially finishing organic hogs which cannot be treated with dewormers. • Hogs treated with IvermectinTM were raised side-by-side with untreated hogs, and were fed the same diet. • Treated and untreated hogs did not differ in feed consumption, gain, or efficiency.
Key Findings
- Feed consumption, total weight gain, feed-to-gain ratio, and days to finish were similar between treated and untreated hogs.
- Finishing organic hogs may have residual parasite protection from their dams, which may be treated with Ivermectin.
- Internal parasites are not a likely source of the reduced efficiency seen in organic as compared to conventional hogs.