Stirling cheered by pig trial results

Stirling Products (ASX:STI) has reported that its ST810 beta agonist has produced a 16 per cent improvement in weight gain in a 28-day US trial in 196 pigs.

ST810 was mixed with standard feed at either two or four parts per million. In the four part per million cohort, ST810 produced a 12 per cent increase in the lean muscle content, a 17 per cent reduction in fat and a 16 per cent improvement in weight gain, the company said. All values were expressed in comparison to the control group which was fed a standard pig feed containing the antibiotic, Tylosin.

"The two parts per million was not as high," said Stirling managing director Calvin London. He said weight gain in this group was around 9 per cent.

The data so far hasn't indicated any noticeable affects of increased heart-rate or abnormal behaviour, according to London. He said a report on behavioural data in the trial is due shortly.

"What this was about was for us to get some hard data to support that ST810 was a strong candidate for growth promotion in pigs," said London. "The next phase is to confirm that there are no behavioural affects. We have to approach the regulatory bodies - primarily the Food and Drug Administration. They will be looking for a much larger dose-ranging study. How much toxicity testing will be required we need to discuss with the FDA.

"Our current funding is enough to take a product to the market. We're also planning a second trial in chickens in the early part of next year."

The trial took place in Purdue University at the United States Department of Agriculture Livestock Behaviour Research Unit.