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Effects of Feed Processing Method and Diet Form on the Incidence of Esophagogastric Ulcers in Swine¹

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Abstract

Eighty Duroc and Hampshire pigs were used to determine the effect of pelleting a diet on the incidence of ulcers in swine. Twenty-four additional pigs were used to determine the effect of a 24-hr, fast on the apparent keratinization of the esophagogastric area of the stomach. A diet, adequate in all known nutrients, was formulated and mixed locally. The same formulation was also produced by a commercial feed company. Treatments consisted of a meal, the meal pelleted, pellets reground and fed as a meal, and pellets reground with high levels of vitamin A added and fed as a meal. A numerical scale ranging from 0(normal) to 7 (heavy ulceration of the esophageal area) was used to designate the severity of the ulcer. A 24-hr, fast prior to slaughter resulted in a significant increase in the number of pigs having a yellow deposit or apparent keratinization upon the esophageal area of the stomach. This condition was nearly absent in pigs "on feed" until just before slaughter. Pigs fed an unpelleted feed had significantly fewer ulcers than those fed pellets, reground pellets or reground pellets with added vitamin A. There were no significant differences in the number of ulcers within the latter three treatments. The pigs in these treatments required significantly less feed per kilogram of gain than the pigs receiving unpelleted meal.

It appears that pelleting under the conditions described is definitely involved in the development of the ulcerated condition in the esophagogastric area of the swine stomach. It also appears that the pelleting process improves feed efficiency, whether fed as a pellet or as a reground pellet.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, Knoxville.

² Associate Professors of Animal Husbandry.

³ Professor of Animal Husbandry and College Veterinarian.

⁴ Assistant in Animal Hsubandry.