Effects of acidification on carcass traits and gastric ulcers

A trial involving 144 pigs from 24.8 kg to 106.4 kg was conducted to determine the effects on carcass quality and gastric ulcers of three diets : a basal control diet, the basal diet with 30 mg/kg Tylan (tylosine phosphate), or the basal diet with 8 kg/tonne Vitacid (a complex of organic acids). Liquid feeding with two regimes, growing then finishing, was used. The dressing percentage (77.1, 77.0, 76.6), the lean meat percentage (60.7, 60.9, 60.7) and other carcass traits do not differ between the groups. Oesophago-gastric ulceration score (1.3, 1.2, 1.0) is low and equal for the three diets. A review among other studies doesn’t indicate an effect of feed acidification on carcass quality when the protein level and quality is adequate. Only a few authors have researched the potential impact of acidifiers on the prevalence and severity of ulcers but their increase seems unlikely.