Richard C. Wahlstrom Papers

Dr. Richard C. Wahlstrom was a professor at South Dakota State University who served as Head Professor in the Department of Animal Husbandry. He later served as the Department Head of Animal Husbandry for eight years. He holds the prestigious title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus at S.D.S.U. as well. The collection is comprised mainly of articles written by Wahlstrom and associates as well as speeches and talks given by Wahlstrom relating to his research involving the swine nutrition

The Value of Different Levels of Streptomycin-Sulfaquinoxaline and Chlortetracycline (Aureomycin) for Growing Pigs

Results of previous experiments at this station and elsewhere indicated that several of the antibiotics caused increases in daily gain of growing pigs. High level (50-100 grams per ton) antibiotic feeding has resulted in an increase in feed efficiency in trials conducted here the past two years. During the past year two experiments were conducted to compare feeding different levels of a mixture of streptomycin-sulfaquinoxaline and chlortetracycline. The first experiment was conducted during the winter of 1956-57and the second experiment during the summer of 1957

The Effect of Vitamin D in Rations for Growing Pigs Fed in the Absence of Direct Sunlight

Previous to this experiment two trials were conducted here that did not indicate a need for supplemental vitamin D for growing pigs fed in the absence of direct sunlight. In these previous trials a complete mixed ration containing recommended amounts of calcium and phosphorus was fed. The experiment reported here was conducted to see if supplemental vitamin D was required for growing pigs in the absence of sunlight when a mineral supplement was fed free-choice as cell as when a complete mixed ration was fed

Winter Dry-Lot Supplements for Growing Pigs

Research conducted at South Dakota in 1955-56 has shown that 10 to 19 per cent of ground alfalfa hay in a protein supplement will decrease the consumption of the supplement (S. Dak. Farm and Home Research, Feb. 1957). This resulted in a lowering of the feed cost per unit of pig gain. The objectives of this experiment were to compare three levels (10, 20 and 30 per cent) of ground alfalfa hay in a protein supplement and to compare these supplements fed free-choice to a complete mixed ration

Thyroactive Compounds for Growing Pigs

Thyroactive compounds are compounds that contain thyroxine activity. Thyroxine is one of the natural hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. An overactive gland speeds up metabolism, increases the requirements for nutrients and increases growth rate in some species. These trials were conducted to determine if some of the thyroactive compounds could be fed at levels that would stimulate growth rate without causing any harmful effects

Antibiotics for Growing-Finishing Swine

Studies conducted at this Station and at other experiment stations have demonstrated the beneficial effects of antibiotics in swine rations. Aureomycin (chlortetracycline), terramycin (oxytetracycline) and penicillin have all given good results in swine feeding trials. Recently zinc bacitracin has been shown to be of benefit in some swine trials and erythromycin has been reported to increase gains in poultry more than other antibiotics. This experiment was conducted to determine the value of some of the newer antibiotics in comparison with terramycin when fed to growing pigs

Spectinomycin - A New Antibiotic

Antibiotics have become standard ingredients in most rations for growing swine. Antibiotic feeding generally increases average daily gains, improves feed efficiency, improves uniformity of performance and may reduce death loss during the growing period. The exact method by which antibiotics cause these beneficial effects is not known. However, they apparently do have an influence on the intestinal bacteria and there is concern that the bacteria may become resistant to an antibiotic when fed continually. Therefore, new antibiotics must be evaluated and compared with existing effective antibiotics

Parakeratosis: A Nutritional Disease of Swine

A skin disease of swine called parakeratosis has become increasingly prevalent in South Dakota and throughout the United States during the past few years. Minnesota investigators first described parakeratosis in 1953 and suggested that it was of nutritional origin. Recent research at several experiment stations has shown that high levels of calcium and phosphorus in the ration were associated with the disease and that the addition of zinc had a curative effect. Swine affected by parakeratosis have reduced appetite, fail to grow normally, and often exhibit diarrhea during the early stages of the disease. The skin lesions appear almost simultaneously with these early symptoms. The condition is first noted by the reddening of the skin on the underline followed by poxlike lesions on the abdomen and between the front and rear flanks. Within a short time the crusty scablike lesions develop on the legs, ears, tail, and, in severe cases, cover the entire body. This often causes the skin to form large folds or wrinkles. There are great individual differences in the severity of the symptoms and duration of the disease. On the same rations, some animals may not show any symptoms of the disease while others show mild or severe symptoms. Death losses are quite low but there is often an economic loss due to poor growth and poor feed efficiency. Parakeratosis has occurred at the South Dakota Experiment Station at different times during the past few years. The condition has appeared most frequently in rations supplemented by plant proteins. It has been most prevalent from weaning age to 100 pounds during fall and winter feeding trials. When these trials were conducted it had not been observed at this station in pigs fed cereal grain and protein supplement free-choice. The following experiment was designed to study the occurrence of parakeratosis on different type rations and to study the effect of calcium and zinc on the development of this disease

The Effects of Hygromycin Alone and in Combination with Chlortetracycline on Growing-Finishing Swine

Hygromycin is a \u27\u27\u27relatively new antibiotic that is recommended for its ability to control certain internal parasites in swine. Previous work has shown that it is very effective against roundworms, nodular worms and whip worms. In some of these trials hygromycin has increased gains comparable to other antibiotics. However, these studies did not show whether the increased gains from feeding hygromycin were due to the control of roundworms or due to a growth stimulating effects similar to that exhibited by other antibiotics. In order to obtain more information on the role 6f hygromycin swine feeding this experiment was conducted in which hygromycin was fed alone and in combination with chlortetracycline (aureomycin) to wormed and unwormed pigs