Influence of Various Nutritional Factors and Physical Form of Feed on Esophagogastric Ulcers in Swine

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to study the effects of various physical and nutritional factors on the incidence of esophagogastric ulcers in swine. Increased levels of B-vitamins and supplemental ascorbic acid in the diet did not lower the incidence of ulcers. The effects of ration particle size indicated that more lesions developed with finely ground corn than with coarsely ground corn diets. Expanded corn produced more ulcers than did the various grinds of unprocessed corn, suggesting that the expansion process enhances the development of esophagogastric ulcers in swine. These results indicated that, although feed fineness is a factor in precipitating ulcers, it is not solely responsible. The coarseness provided by the inclusion of polyethylene cubes in the ration did not prevent ulcer development. Contents of stomachs with esophagogastric lesions were significantly more fluid than the contents of normal stomachs, and the pH of the stomach contents of pigs with esophagogastric ulcers was significantly lower than the pH of normal stomachs. A variation in the response was observed in two sources of pigs; however, there were no differences in the incidence of esophagogastric ulcers related to sex.