Effect of feeding regimen on gastric ulceration of the pars oesophagea of intensively raised pigs.

Three groups of pigs (total 23 pigs) were fed ad libitum from weaning until market weight and these were compared with three groups of pigs (total 26 pigs) fed ad libitum until 12 weeks of age, and then fed on a restricted regimen (twice per day) until marketed. There was a significant difference in degree of ulceration between the two feeding regimens; those pigs fed ad libitum had the most severe gastric ulcers. The pigs fed ad libitum, had significantly less agonistic interactions per minute than did the restricted fed pigs. Growth rates of the pigs from weaning to market weight did not differ significantly in the two regimens, although the average pig on ad libitum feeding consumed 182.9 kg, and the restricted fed pigs ate 148.2 kg per pig.