Interactionbetween dietary fibre, endo-parasites and enteric bacteria in grower-finisher pigs

摘要

Endo-parasites and enteric bacteria can have a major economic impact on the profitability of pig production through reductions in daily liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency in the grower - finisher animal. It has been suggested that recentchanges in pig husbandry methods involving extensification and greater use of straw bedding may lead to increased risk of endo-parasite infestation. Whilst such conditions undoubtedly lead to increased contact between pigs and infective larvae and eggsin faeces causing increased infection rates, they also involve changes in the pigs diet leading to an increased intake of dietary fibre. It has recently been demonstrated that experimental diets with a high level of dietary fibre favoured the establishment of gut nematodes, and increased the pathogenicity of enteric bacteria in the growing pig. It has also been suggested that a synergism between endoparasites and enteric bacteria occurs in certain important enteric diseases in growing pigs. The presentstudy was carried out to investigate the relationship between fibre components of the diet and the occurrence of endo - parasites and enteric bacteria in grower-finisher pigs on 27 commercial units in the West Midlands region of England.