Study finds wide variations in medicated water dosing rates.
North Carolina State University veterinary student Molly Jones has been named the recipient of the 2026 Morrison Swine Innovator Prize, an award that recognizes veterinary students committed to improving swine health and production. She received the honor on September 21 at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, hosted by the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jones earned the award for her presentation, “What's in your water? Visualizing water medication delivery.” The project focused on evaluating how effectively medication delivered through a barn’s water system reaches pigs at individual drinkers.
To conduct the study, Jones introduced a blue dye into the water system and collected samples from multiple drinkers throughout the barn. She then compared the samples to a custom color chart that allowed her to measure the actual dye-to-water ratios.
The color chart was developed by converting known dilution ratios and absorbance data into RGB color values, making it accessible on digital devices. The approach provided an easy way to assess medication distribution within the water system.
Her research revealed notable variations in medication delivery. While medicators are commonly set to a 1:128 ratio, the observed ratios ranged from 1:96 to 1:507, indicating that pigs could receive anywhere from 40% to 135% of the intended dose.
“Molly's presentation stood out because of her enthusiasm during the delivery and the direct on-farm applicability,” says Dr. Perle Zhitnitskiy, the CVM professor who coordinates the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize. “Ultimately, discovering that pigs could be receiving anywhere from 40 to 135 percent of an intended dose is the kind of finding that changes how we think about water medication.”
As part of the award, Jones received a $5,000 cash prize along with complimentary registration and travel support to attend the conference. The Morrison Swine Innovator Prize honors the legacy of Bob Morrison, DVM, PhD, MBA, and is supported through the Morrison Legacy Fund, which is backed by swine producers, veterinary practices, and industry partners dedicated to advancing the industry.
Photo Caption: North Carolina State University veterinary student Molly Jones (left) is presented with the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize by Perle Zhitnitskiy, associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, on Sept. 21 at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Photo Credit: North Carolina State University