Effect of Feeding Tranquilizers to Growing and Finishing Swine

The levels of reserpine, Rauwolfia vomitoria, meprobamate, hydroxyzine and perphenazine fed in the first trial, which was conducted on alfalfa-ladino clover pasture, did not affect the behavior or performance of the pigs. In the second trial, conducted in drylot, each lot received varying levels of reserpine, trifluomeprazine, perphenazine, hydroxyzine or tetra-hydrozoline. At the lower levels, none of the tranquilizers had an apparent effect; but the incorporation of reserpine, trifluomeprazine, perphenazine and tetrahydrozoline into the ration at higher levels resulted in lowered feed intake and reduced rate of gain. Pigs receiving either trifluomeprazine or perphenazine were noticeably calmer than the control animals.