Stalosan reduces mortality significantly in the farrowing unit

By Group R&D Director Hans Aae, DLG

Stalosan F dries the piglet and reduces the harmful bacteria and therefore a strategic use around birth is worth trying. 

The skin as barrier
Stalosan F has a pH level around 4 corresponding to the pH level of the skin. It means that if you choose to use Stalosan F for drying the skin is not damaged unlike drying with a product with a high pH. If the pH level is too high the skin is damaged and there is a risk that ”the barrier” is destroyed.

Why take the risk?
The drying is causing that the piglets are not using energy on this part, but they can use all gained energy from the colostrum to grow. This makes sense -  especially for the smallest piglets. 

All or nothing – or strategic choice
In terms of resources it can be difficult for the staff members in the farrowing units to dip all newborn pigs in Stalosan F in order to dry them. At 50 farrowings it quickly can amount to 1,000 piglets. If you choose to focus on the smallest piglets facing the largest challenges, then it might amount to 200 piglets – and perhaps this makes more sense and a more manageable task.

If you place a bucket with Stalosan F at each farrowing pen it is easy to ”dry” some piglets as you pass by. It is a question of routines – in the same way as you turn on the heating lamp the bucket with Stalosan F should be ready at each pen. If diarrhoea problems appear in the farrowing pen or if there are moist areas, then the surplus Stalosan F can be used to reduce the infection pressure at the same time. 

Works in practice
At Vilofoss Research Farm in France we have tested drying with Stalosan F against a competitor’s product and against piglets having no intervening. The tests show that Stalosan F reduces the mortality in the farrowing unit significantly compared to no intervening and the competitor’s product.

The effect can be a result of less chilled piglets or reduced disease pressure, but in any case more piglets are weaned – and that is the most important thing.

Stalosan F has a desiccating effect and controls bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, ammonia and moisture effectively. Absorbs and binds moisture and ammonia. Unlike most other hygiene agents Stalosan F has a low pH value supporting the natural disease resistance of the animals. Stalosan F has nearly 100% disinfectant effect towards PRRSv. Stalosan F reduces the population of flies.