Water medicators play a central role in delivering health products throughout swine production systems, yet their accuracy is often assumed rather than verified. This study highlights the substantial variations that can exist among medicators operating under commercial conditions and the implied costs of inaccuracy.
Note: Only one in four medicators delivered within 10 percent of the intended dilution in this study, making accuracy measurement highly important. For the farms that don’t have functioning water meters on every medicator line, Molly Jones created PigmentRx, which evaluates treated water collected directly at the drinker and provides a visual assessment of what pigs are actually receiving.
Source: National Hog Farmer, July/August 2026. Link. Whether delivering antibiotics, vaccines, electrolytes or other products, producers and veterinarians rely on medicators to provide consistent and accurate dosing to entire groups of pigs.
Implications of consistent under- or over-dosing are significant. Periodic evaluation of medicator performance, combined with routine maintenance, can help ensure pigs receive the intended dose, improve treatment outcomes, reduce product waste, and protect the value of health interventions.
Image: Link.
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