Browsing by Author "Steenkamp, Jan Adriaan"
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- ItemThe evaluation of the effect of Acid Buf™ on stomach ulcer occurrence, growth performance and histological parameters of grower - finisher pigs(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04) Steenkamp, Jan Adriaan; Pieterse, E.; Hoffman, Louwrens C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriScience. Dept. of Animal Sciences.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the inclusion of Acid Buf™ at 4g.k–1 g to a maize-soya bean diet in both pelleted and meal form, on the occurrence of stomach ulcers, performance parameters, carcass characteristics and histological parameters of the small intestine of growing finisher pigs. The trail was done on 320 growing finisher pigs fed for 8 weeks. The four treatments (Tr) were as follows: Tr1 – pelleted, Tr2 – meal, Tr3- pelleted with Acid Buf™ at 4g.kg-1, Tr4 –meal with Acid Buf™ at 4g.kg-1. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed for cumulative feed intake between the different treatments. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed significant differences with the pigs on the meal diet faring significantly (P<0.05) worse than those the pelleted diet containing Acid Buf™. The average daily gain (ADG) on Tr3 was significantly better (P<0.05) than those on the meal diets. Overall the performance parameters showed a positive response to the inclusion of Acid Buf™. With regards to changes in the intestinal pH, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between the different treatments for pH in the stomach, duodenum and colon. The pH in the stomach was closest to optimal with Tr3m and Tr4. The pH in the duodenum was highest and closest to optimum with Tr4. Scoring of stomachs revealed that the highest percentage of normal stomachs was found in pigs on Tr4, with 64.1% of the stomachs being normal,57.1% was the second highest percentage of normal stomachs and was found with Tr3, pelleted with AB. Carcass scoring showed no significant differences (P>0.05) between the different treatments. The mean villi height to crypt depth ratio (VH: CD) in the jejunum showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between Tr1 and Tr3. The pigs on the pelleted diet had VH: CD of 0.89 while those on the pelleted diet with AB a VH: CD of 1.28. The average villi height measured in both the duodenum and the jejunum was higher in both of the pelleted diets compared to the meal diet and the meal with AB diet. The results of the different experiments conducted to evaluate the effect of AB all showed improved results with the inclusion of AB to the diet.