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

Methods: A total of 80 pigs (24.1 ± 2.9 kg, 53.1 ± 6.4 lb) were given ad libitum access to a finely ground, corn/wheat diet (578 ± 1.89 μm) for 2 weeks. All pigs were examined endoscopically, and ulcers were scored according to severity from 0–3: 0 = normal, 1 = parakeratosis, 2 = moderate ulceration, and 3 = severe ulceration. Forty-eight pigs were then selected so that each ulcer score could be represented, and the pigs were individually fed the fine diet for another 7 weeks. After 7 weeks of feeding a fine diet, ulcers were reassessed by endoscopic examination and pigs were then allotted to either the fine diet or a coarse diet ( 937 ± 2.19 μm) for another 3 weeks. The pigs were endoscopically examined again to observe the effects of feeding a coarse diet on the severity of ulcers. Growth performance, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were monitored throughout the experiment.