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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Livestock Behavior Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #265032
Title: The effects of diet ingredients on gastric ulceration and stereotypies in gestating sows

Author
item WISDOM, STEPHANIE - Purdue University
item RICHERT, BRIAN - Purdue University
item RADCLIFFE, JOHN - Purdue University
item Lay Jr, Donald
item Marchant, Jeremy

Submitted to: International Society of Applied Ethology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2011
Publication Date: 7/4/2011
Citation: Wisdom, S.L., Richert, B.T., Radcliffe, J.S., Lay Jr, D.C., Marchant Forde, J.N. 2011. The effects of diet ingredients on gastric ulceration and stereotypies in gestating sows. International Society of Applied Ethology. Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Stereotypies in swine can be altered with various feedstuffs, but it is unknown how this will affect the development of gastric ulcers. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of a proton pump inhibitor and sodium bicarbonate on ulcerations of the pars esophagea (UPE) region of the stomach and oral behavior in breeding sows. Thirty-six sows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups with parities (1.68±0.22) balanced across treatments. Treatments were: 1) control, a commercial gestating sow diet; 2) proton pump inhibitor, commercial sow diet plus a single daily dose of 60mg omeprazole; and 3) sodium bicarbonate, commercial sow diet with 2% sodium bicarbonate. Treatments began d30 of gestation and all diets were fed once per day. Sows underwent initial endoscopic evaluation at d30 to assess UPE already present. UPE was also investigated at d60 and d90 of gestation. Ulcers were scored using a 7-point scale, ranging from 0, showing no visible lesions, to 6, showing deep ulcerations in >20% of the pars esophagea. Behavior was recorded to determine frequencies and durations of stereotypies. Video was analyzed for 30 min starting 30 min after feeding, both 1 and 4 wk after starting treatments. Heart rates (HR) were recorded simultaneously and analyzed to determine mean HR response to feeding. All data were analyzed using the Mixed procedure of SAS. UPE differed between groups before treatment was applied (P<0.01), but using initial UPE as a covariate, there were no effects of treatment on d60 or d90 (both P>0.05). Treatment also had no effect on litter size, piglet wt, or lactation feed intake (P>0.05). The average UPE score was 1.21±0.28 ranging from 0 to 6, with the largest score difference changing from 5 to 0. HR increased from 76.2±1.9 beats per min (BPM) before feeding to 110.6±3.0 BPM after feeding (P<0.001). There was no effect of treatment, parity, or test day on mean HR (P>0.05). While treatment had no effect on behavior (P>0.05), there was an effect of d60 UPE on bar-biting, eating, and drinking (P<0.01) with eating decreasing and bar-biting and drinking increasing as ulcers worsen. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects and treatments of UPE on behavior.