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Natural herbs are being explored as alternatives to antimicrobials. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of strategic addition of oregano to prefarrowing and lactation diets of sows under field conditions. Alternate farrowing groups were given diets containing 1000 ppm oregano (dried leaf and flower of Origanum vulgare, enriched with 500 g/kg of cold-pressed essential oils of O. vulgare) in prefarrowing and lactation diets. Overall, 801 oregano-treated sows, including 601 primiparous and 1200 multiparous (parity 2.99 ± 0.43, mean ± S.E.) and 1809 untreated control sows (705 primiparous and 1104 multiparous; parity 3.04 ± 0.38), were used. Sows fed oregano had lower annual sow mortality rate (4.02 ± 0.4% versus 6.92 ± 1.11%, mean ± S.E.; P = 0.003), lower sow culling rate during lactation (8.01 ± 1.11% versus 14.02 ± 1.33%, P = 0.02), increased farrowing rate (77.02 ± 2.31% versus 69.91 ± 2.32%, P = 0.01), increased number of liveborn piglets per litter (10.49 ± 1.5 versus 9.95 ± 1.22, P < 0.05), and decreased stillbirth rate (0.909 ± 0.01 versus 0.807 ± 0.01, P = 0.05). In addition, multiparous sows fed oregano had higher (P = 0.04) daily voluntary feed intake compared to non-treated sows (7.7 ± 0.32 kg versus 7.0 ± 0.42 kg, P = 0.04). Additional studies are needed to elucidate the effects of oregano on the gastrointestinal, immune and urogenital system in swine and to determine if it has any adverse effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Postparturient sow losses caused by Clostridium difficile have not been reported in the veterinary literature. Recently in Croatia, in a large outdoor production unit with suboptimal environmental conditions, a sudden increase in postparturient sow mortality was diagnosed. After postpartal application of enrofloxacine to postparturient mastitis metritis agalactia (MMA) suffering sows, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and mortality of these sows were recorded. While 13% of MMA suffering and treated sows died, only 0.4% of the non-treated (no MMA suffering) sows died postpartum. Gross pathology revealed mesocolonic edema, hydrothorax, and ascites. Microscopic examination showed scattered foci of suppuration in the colonic lamina propria and accumulation of neutrophils and fibrin on colonic mucosa. Anaerobic cultures of the colon yielded heavy growth of C. difficile. Enzyme immunoassay revealed C. difficile toxins A and B. C. difficile infections of postparturient MMA suffering sows may be associated with environmental stress, the application of antibiotics, or both. C. difficile infections are an impending danger in Eastern Europe and does not only raise animal welfare issues, but seriously inflict the economical well being of outdoor production units. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]