Offering different roughages to fattening pigs: ingested amount and effects on gastric health

Gastric ulcerations are a special challenge in modern pork production. Stress can be a reason but in particular the existing milieu conditions have an impact on the development of gastric lesions. The dietetic effects of fibre sources in pigs’ gastrointestinal tract are well known. In some cases fibre sources are used as material for the pigs to root and manipulate. The present study was focused on the amount ingested when fibre sources are offered and whether there is an influence on gastric health.

In total 170 weaned pigs (bw: 27.0±2.79 kg) were housed individually and had free access to water. A commercial pelleted diet (ME: 13.5 MJ/kg as fed, XP: 17.2/16.8/15.9 %, XF: 3.8-4.4 %) was fed in three phases. Eight groups were formed in which different types and amounts of additional crude fibre source were offer: control (C)/15 g straw (S)/15, 50, 100 g straw (S+)/15, 50, 100 g straw pellets (SP)/10, 30, 50 g palm kernel meal (P)/30, 75, 100 g palm kernel meal (P+)/100, 175, 200 g whole plant corn silage (CS) or 200, 400, 600 g whole plant corn silage (CS+) in the respective phase. Wet sieve analysis of the pelleted diet was performed. Feed intake of fibre source was recorded over the whole fattening period. After feed was withheld overnight pigs were slaughtered (contemporarily after leaving farm) at the end of fattening (bw: 121±3.88 kg) and stomachs were examined: The mucosa of the pars nonglandularis was scored macroscopically with a five step score system.

The fraction of particles > 1.00 mm was 38.1, 39.1 or 28.7 % and the amount of particles smaller than 0.20 mm reached 29.9, 31.2 or 39.2 % in the diet of 1st, 2nd or 3rd phase of fattening. During the entire fattening period the intake of fibre sources (S/S+/SP/P/P+/CS/CS+) varied with 0.410/0.632/1.79/1.23/1.74/5.79/8.59 kg as fed. Compared to the totally offered amounts, the consumption of fibre source reached 26.0/8.67/24.2/31.5/21.2/32.7/17.6 %. Especially in SP the amount consumed varied highly. Non single animal in any group ingested more than 57 % of the offered fibre source. Independent of the groups and the fibre consumption, 95 % of the animals were affected by marked stomach lesions (erosion, ulceration).

The uptake of corn silage was highest compared to the other fibre sources indicating that palatability influences the amount of ingested roughage. No desired prophylactic effect of roughages on gastric health. This investigation did not indicate any desired effect of fibre source or amount of consumption on gastric health. Having a huge amount of fine particles in the diet the additional offer of roughage cannot prevent the deficiency in gastric health.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.