HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cunningham, H. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Cunningham, H. M.

Compensatory Response to Balloons Inflated in the Stomachs of Pigs

Canada Department of Agriculture, Nappan, Nova Scotia

Abstract

Balloons containing up to 2 kg. of water were inflated in the stomachs of pigs to study compensatory changes in food consumption and stomach capacity. In one experiment, small balloons averaging 629 gm. in weight were left in the stomachs of four pigs for an average of 15.5 days, and in another experiment large balloons averaging 1898 gm. were left in the stomachs of eight pigs for 16.5 days. Feed consumption, compared with that of litter mate controls in the 4 days following inflation, was not significantly reduced by the small balloons, but was reduced by 65% (P<.01) with the large balloons. The pigs rapidly compensated for much of the volume of the large balloons, and feed consumption returned to within 10% of control levels during the following 12 days. Stomach capacity (weight of contents plus balloons) was 346 gm. greater with the small balloons and 2297 gm. greater (P<.01) with the large balloons. The weights of the empty stomachs of the pigs were 22% greater (P<.05) than controls in experiment 1 and 51% greater (P< .01) in experiment 2.