Aspects on feed related prophylactic measures aiming to prevent post weaning diarrhoea in pigs

Abstract

The ability of feed related measures to prevent or reduce post weaning diarrhoea (PWD) was examined in a split litter study including 30 pigs from 6 litters allotted into 5 groups. Four groups were exposed to 3 pathogenic strains of E. coli via the environment at weaning. Three of them were given zinc oxide, lactose+fibres or non-pathogenic strains of E. coil as probiotics. The challenged and the unchallenged control groups were given a standard creep feed. Diarrhoea was observed in all challenged groups but not among uninfected animals, and the incidence of diarrhoea was lower in the group given nonpathogenic E. coli compared to all other challenged groups. The severity of PWD also differed between litters. When corrected for mortality due to PWD, a decreased incidence of diarrhoea was also seen in the groups given zinc oxide or lactose+fibres. The dominating serotype of E. coil within faecal samples varied from day to day, also among diarrhoeic pigs, indicating that diarrhoea was not induced by one single serotype alone. The diversity of the faecal coliform populations decreased in all piglets during the first week post weaning, coinciding with an increased similarity between these populations among pigs in the challenged groups. This indicated an influence of the challenge strains, which ceased during the second week. The group given lactose+fibres was least affected with respect to these parameters. In conclusion feed related measures may alleviate symptoms of PWD.

Figure 1

The diversity of the faecal coliform flora in one uninfected control group and four groups exposed to pathogenic serotypes of E. coli in connection with weaning. The results are presented as mean diversity values within group in relation to the mean diversity of that group at weaning.

Figure 2

Similarity (SP) within group between the individual faecal coliform populations at each sampling occasion. The study comprises one uninfected control group and four groups exposed to pathogenic serotypes of E. coli in connection with weaning. One infected group was left as an infected control group, while the other three groups were given feed related prophylactics (for details see Table 1).

Figure 3

Similarity (SP) between the total faecal coliform population of each group and sampling occasion compared to the total coliform population of that group at weaning. The study comprises one uninfected control group and four groups exposed to pathogenic serotypes of E. coli in connection with weaning. One infected group was left as an infected control group, while the other three groups were given feed related prophylactics (for details see Table 1).