A Practical Understanding of Causation factors involved with finish floor Diarrhea and the Potential Relationship with PCV-II-PMWS
By Dr. Pawluk, Dr. Misutka, Dr. Marshall and Dr. Cunningham, published by Alberta Pork in their Spring 2003 Western Hog Journal. Altered intestinal function is an important and common clinical problem of growing pigs raised under intensive production practices world-wide.
The need for basic understanding of dietary management of pigs throughout the feeder period is essential to our goal of non-usage of antimicrobials. Dietary manipulation and management has great potential to control and influence the common gut diseases we observe today on our finish floors.
It is not uncommon to observe transient to persistent diarrhea on the finish floor within the first few weeks of placement, or in association with diet transitions. The effects can be dramatic in terms of poorer weight gains, increased variation in weight within the group, extended marketing period for the group, and a higher number of culls, mortality, and lightweight pigs.
Finish floor diarrhea can be a perplexing diagnostic challenge.
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(Western Hog Journal Spring 2003)