title: Impact of the amount of straw provided to pigs kept in intensive production conditions on the occurrence and severity of gastric ulceration at slaughter.
abstract: This study examined effects of the amount of straw offered on occurrence and severity of gastric lesions in pigs kept in pens (18 pigs, 0.7 m(2)/pig) with partly slatted flooring and 10, 500 or 1000 g straw/pig/day from 30 kg live weight. The pigs had ad libitum access to dry feed. Forty-five pigs were used, three from each of 15 pens. After euthanization, the dimension of the non-glandular region of the stomach was measured. Lesions were characterized and scored. Irrespective of straw provided, 67% of the pigs showed signs of gastric pathology. Pigs provided with 500 or 1000 g straw were pooled as 'permanent access'. The proportion of pigs with ulcerations was reduced by permanent access to straw (7 vs. 33%; P<0.05), suggesting that permanent access to straw may improve animal health, and be considered as one possible strategy to limit gastric ulceration in pigs.
authors: Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, AU-FOULUM, Tjele, Denmark. Electronic address: MetteS.Herskin@anis.au.dk.
authors: Mette S
authors: MS
authors: Herskin
authors: University of Copenhagen, Dept. Vet. Disease Biology, KU-SUND, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors: Henrik E
authors: HE
authors: Jensen
authors: University of Copenhagen, Dept. Vet. Disease Biology, KU-SUND, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Jespersen
authors: University of Copenhagen, Dept. of Large Anim. Sci., KU-SUND, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Forkman
authors: Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, AU-FOULUM, Tjele, Denmark.
authors: Margit B
authors: MB
authors: Jensen
authors: Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, AU-FOULUM, Tjele, Denmark.
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Canibe
authors: Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, AU-FOULUM, Tjele, Denmark.
authors: Lene J
authors: LJ
authors: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D011897:Random Allocation; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Gastric ulcer; Pig; Straw; Welfare