title: Oesophagogastric parakeratosis in the growing pig: effects of the physical form of barley-based diets and added fibre.
abstract: In four experiments a total of 288 individually fed pigs were given barley-based diets for about 100 days from about 20 kg liveweight. Fine grinding of barley increased the number and severity of oesophagogastric lesions. Pelleting a diet based on coarsely ground barley had a similar effect. Coarser grinding of the barley and substituting small proportions of oat husk, but not of bran, gave lower incidences and severities of lesions. The performance responses of the pigs differed and give a framework for deciding on the balance to be struck between optimal performance and the risk of lesion development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, Faculty of Veterinary Science, South Wirral, Cheshire.
authors.forename: Z V
authors.initials: ZV
authors.lastname: Potkins
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Thomlinson
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002523:Edible Grain; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D001467:Hordeum; D007642:Keratosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010241:Parakeratosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010316:Particle Size; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000209:etiology*