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Effect of Space Restriction and Ration on the Incidence of Stomach Ulcers in Swine^{1, 2,}

Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631

Abstract

A TOTAL of 324 secondary SPF Duroc and Hampshire pigs was used to estimate the effect of space restriction and diet on the incidence of ulcers, the rate and efficiencyof gain, and the relationship of plasma concentrations of cortisol to the incidence of ulcers.

As the number of pigs per pen increased from 10 to 16, the average daily gain decreased slightly. The addition of 25% oats to the ration in treatment IV reduced the daily gain significantly during the early part of the experiment. The overall feed conversion for the swine in this experiment indicated no significant differences among treatments.

Space restriction and/or diet did not increase the number of swine affected with ulcers. One hundred and twenty-six swine stomachs were examined and 12.3% were found to have at least one ulcer. Only 6.4% of the stomachs were observed to have no abnormalities. All ulcers seen were of the peptic type which were located in the lower glandular regions of the stomach.

No treatment differences were noted in visual ratings for keratinization, erosion hemorrhage or ulcers. The correlation coefficients between the slide (35 mm) ratings and the calculated percent of affected stomach area were significant. These data indicate that these methods could be of considerable importance in future research.

No treatment differences in the histological ratings were observed. Coarse granules were observed in the lower one-third to one-half of the stomach lining mucosa. The granules were found in certain cells along the gastric glands and are believed to be pepsinogen accumulations in the chief cells.

The overall mean for cortisol concentrations in the blood plasma samples assayed was 5.40 M. µmg%. No significant differences due to treatment were noted for the plasma cortisol level. These data indicate that the relationship between the cortisol concentration and the various ratings on the stomach condition is very low.

¹ Approved for publication by the Director, South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Clemson. Technical Contribution No. 833.

² The authors wish to express their appreciation to Drs. R. F. Borgman and G. W. Anderson for assistance in rating and classifying stomach tissue and to B. M. Valentine for care of swine.

³ Department of Animal Science.

⁴ Present address: Department of Agriculture, Columbia, South Carolina.

⁵ Present address: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

⁶ Experimental Statistics and Statistical Services.