The effect of terminal ileum cannulation on the performance of growing pigs

Abstract

Twelve anaesthetized pigs, weighing about 35 kg, each had a simple cannula surgically placed in the terminal ileum. The animals were raised to a weight of 84 kg on a standard diet based on barley and used to study the digestion of fibrous feedstuffs and hind gut fermentation. During the rearing period, before the main experiment, the opportunity was taken to compare the growth rate and feed conversion efficiency of the cannulated pigs with those of their non-cannulated sisters. Twelve groups of three sisters were used, and one pig from each group was given one of three treatments: A, a simple cannula in the terminal ileum, and fed to appetite; B, not cannulated, and fed to appetite; C, not cannulated, and feed intake rationed to 12% of body weight (W 0·75). After recovery from surgery the voluntary feed intake of pigs given treatment A did not differ significantly from those given treatment B. In this experiment, simple cannulation of the terminal ileum caused a reduction in growth rate (7%) and in the efficiency of feed utilization (10%), compared with non-cannulated animals eating similar amounts of feed. Possible reasons for these effects on the performance of pigs are discussed.