Field trial assessment of the efficacy of specific egg-yolk antibody product for control of postweaning E. coli diarrhea.

Postweaning diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in many swine nurseries throughout North America. Commercial products containing chicken egg-yolk antibodies specific for the control of K88+ E. coli diarrhea have been used in an attempt to prevent disease losses. The present study evaluated the use of an egg-yolk antibody product incorporated into nursery feed on two farms where K88+ E. coli diarrhea was identified as a problem. There were no differences in the prevalence of diarrhea or mortality between treatment and control pigs at either farm under routine management conditions.