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. 2022 Jan;190(2):e837.
doi: 10.1002/vetr.837. Epub 2021 Aug 23.

Microbial content of non-fermented liquid feed consumed by sows affects the occurrence of neonatal diarrhoea in their piglets: A case-control study

Gwenaël Boulbria  1   2 , Charlotte Teixeira-Costa  1 , Céline Chevance  1   2 , Romane Grandin  3 , Justine Jeusselin  1   2 , Pauline Berton  1 , Jean Le Guennec  4 , Valérie Normand  1   2 , Franck Bouchet  1   2 , Mathieu Brissonnier  1 , Arnaud Lebret  1   2
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Microbial content of non-fermented liquid feed consumed by sows affects the occurrence of neonatal diarrhoea in their piglets: A case-control study

Gwenaël Boulbria et al. Vet Rec. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Microbial colonisation of piglets' intestines starts at birth, especially from contact with sow's faeces. Piglet microbiota could therefore be influenced by the sow's diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the microbiological flora of liquid feed for sows can be associated with the development of neonatal diarrhoea.

Methods: This study was carried out on 10 case farms with neonatal diarrhoea and 10 control farms without neonatal diarrhoea. On each farm, a microbiological analysis of gestating and lactating liquid feed was performed. A generalised linear model was used to study the impact of the liquid feed microbiological counts and pH on the probability of neonatal diarrhoea developing.

Results: For thermotolerant coliforms, sulphite-reducing bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria and lactic-acid bacteria counts, there was no significant difference between case and control farms. The higher the count of total coliforms, enterococci and yeasts in sow non-fermented liquid feed, the greater the probability of observing neonatal diarrhoea. Moreover, taking into account total coliforms and yeasts counts together is highly predictive of neonatal diarrhoea risk.

Conclusion: This study offers new perspectives of investigation and understanding of neonatal diarrhoea in breeding farms feeding sows with a non-fermented liquid feed.

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References

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