Effect of dietary particle size on gastric ulcers, assessed by endoscopic examination, and relationship between ulcer severity and growth performance of individually fed pigs

The effects of dietary particle size on the prevalence and severity of gastric ulcers were examined in 80, individually housed Yorkshire pigs (24.1±2.9 kg) fed ad libitum on finely ground (particle size 578±1.89 μm), maize-wheat diet for 2 weeks. All pigs were examined endoscopically, and ulcers were scored from 0-3, with 0 = normal, 1 = parakeratosis, 2 = moderate ulceration, and 3 = severe ulceration. 48 pigs were selected so that each ulcer score would be equally represented and fed on the fine diet for an additional 7 weeks and subjected to a second endoscopic examination to reassess the severity of the ulcers. Pigs were then allotted to the fine diet or a coarse diet (937±2.19 μm) for another 3 weeks after which they were examined endoscopically again to observe the effects of a coarse diet on the severity of ulcers. Growth performance, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency were monitored throughout the experiment. Increasing ulcer severity was associated with a linear decrease in average daily liveweight gain (P<0.05). Feeding a coarse diet for 3 weeks decreased the severity of ulcers (P<0.05). A change in diet from one of fine particle size to a coarser diet for a short period appears to be a practical approach to handling gastric ulcers when feed fineness is a probable cause.