The National Pig Association has responded to a "misleading" article from The Guardian on the topic of antibiotic use in the pig industry.
The Guardian article stated that, in the UK, the main use of antibiotics in pig rearing is to treat post-weaning diarrhoea among piglets.
The article said it is a "frequent complaint when piglets are taken from their mothers too soon".
An alternative to antibiotic use would be to leave piglets with their mothers for a few weeks longer, the article added.
It also claimed that "one of the reasons for the reduction in antibiotic use in pig farming is believed to be the increase in use of zinc oxide".
The NPA's response, written by senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford, said that in reality, weaning is a stressful time for piglets regardless of what age they are.
"The stress of the change from the sow’s milk to solid food, mixing with piglets from other litters and transportation to new accommodation makes piglets susceptible to E coli and other organisms which cause diarrhoea," Ms Crayford said.
"Since later weaning is not commercially viable and can be detrimental to the welfare of the sow, farmers employ numerous other measures to support piglets through this challenging stage of production, enabling weaning at 28 days of age, as permitted by legislation."
Antibiotic reduction
Ms Crayford goes on to say that the article is "disappointing" because it failed to note a reduction in antibiotic use in pig farming, a 34% drop between 2015 and 2016.
The figures led the President of the Pig Veterinary Society Mark White to say he was "pleased such a significant milestone had been reached in the first year of concerted efforts to reduce antibiotic use."
Ms Crayford continued: "It is disappointing that, rather than praising the impressive reduction in antibiotic use in pig farming, the article suggests that one of the reasons for the reduction is the increase in use of zinc oxide.
"While the use of zinc oxide in piglet diets in the post-weaning period is supporting reductions in antibiotic use on pig farms, ensuring piglet suffering is avoided, data from one of the major suppliers of piglet starter feed in the UK suggest that total zinc use is actually slightly declining.
"Since zinc oxide is a prescription-only medicine, veterinary oversight ensures it is used appropriately."
