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The energy and nitrogen metabolism and performance of pigs infected with Oesophagostomum dentatum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. Stewart
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Husbandry
C. W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Husbandry
W. C. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Husbandry
W. A. G. Charleston
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Abstract

The effect of Oesophagostomum dentatum on the performance of growing pigs over the live-weight range 20 to 80 kg was investigated. Fourteen individually-penned pigs in Experiment 1 and 16 group-penned but individually fed pigs in Experiment 2 were orally dosed once with 80 000 or 20 000 larvae respectively at about 18 kg live weight. Worm-free but otherwise similar pigs served as controls. Three energy and nitrogen balance studies were undertaken in two open-circuit calorimeters on four infected gilts and their paired worm-free counterparts on two levels of feeding at 7, 21 and 49 days after infection. Worm burdens averaging 4 255 and 4 722 in Experiments 1 and 2 respectively were recorded post mortem but performance and carcass measurements were not affected, neither were there any clinical symptoms. No significant differences between infected and worm-free pigs were recorded for either apparent digestibility of nitrogen and gross energy or for nitrogen retention. Possible reasons for the lack of measurable effects on pig performance are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1983

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References

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