The influence of the administration of sow's milk on the post-weaning excretion of hemolytic E. coli in the pig.

The postweaning excretion rate of hemolytic E. coli was determined in piglets from herds affected with edema disease and on control farms. No distinct difference in rate of excretion was observed. A split litter trial was set up to evaluate the importance of sow's milk in the postweaning rise of fecal hemolytic E. coli. 525 ml of sow's milk a day, mixed with the feed, completely inhibited that postweaning rise, even after oral challenge with a pathogenic strain.