Effects of Echinacea on Daily Feed Intake of Nursery Pigs with and without PRRS

A demonstration was conducted with nursery pigs by using diets supplemented with Mecadox, no supplementation, and Echinacea. The study lasted for 4 weeks. The nursery pigs were weighed and the feed intake was measured. The results suggested that Echinacea does not suppress feed intake or the weight gain in nursery pigs compared with the no supplement or Mecadox diets. Half of the pigs were inoculated with the PRRS virus in the second week of the study. No major differences in the daily feed intake or weight gain was recorded. Further research in this area is warranted. This study was not replicated and no statistical analysis was conducted. Echinacea may have promise as a substitute additive for pig diets as a subtherapeutic antibiotic, however, more research is needed.