Identification of predisposing and risk factors associated with gastric lesions in pigs

ObjectiveTo identify some predisposing and risk factors of gastric lesions in pigs in Southwestern Nigeria.MethodsPre-slaughter animal assessment and post-slaughter stomach evaluation were conducted on pigs presented for slaughter in three major abattoirs in Southwestern Nigeria. The factors assessed included animal characteristics, environmental and management factors and infection. The gross lesions encountered in 480 stomachs were graded using standard technique. Stomach contents were assessed and subjected to parasitological studies while stomach tissue sections were used for histopathology evaluation. The data obtained were analyzed using Chi-square, One-way ANOVA and percentages. Significance was determined at P < 0.05.ResultsThere was no significant association between breed, weight at slaughter, location of the farm of origin and occurrence of gastric lesions in pigs. Sex and stomach content volume were identified as associated risk factors while abattoir findings and evidence of stomach infection suggests that unhygienic feeds, stressful husbandry practices, stressful pre-slaughter handling, internal parasites and Helicobacter species infection are important predisposing factors.ConclusionsThis study documents some factors that are contributory to the occurrence of gastric lesions in pigs in Southwestern Nigeria and identifies the need for improved animal welfare.