A proposal of a fecal scoring system based on physicochemical analyses of suckling pig feces

Background Digestive disorders are one of the main health problems in suckling piglets. The correct visual identification of feces in suckling piglets is an important tool for the diagnosis of enteric diseases. The aim of the present observational study was to analyze different physicochemical par...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pons, Ana Maria, González, Blanca, Pujols, Joan, Serratosa, Jordi, Segalés, Joaquín, Gómez, Ernesto A., Martínez, Jorge
Formato: article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: BMC 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/9041
https://porcinehealthmanagement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40813-024-00417-2
Descripción
Sumario:Background Digestive disorders are one of the main health problems in suckling piglets. The correct visual identification of feces in suckling piglets is an important tool for the diagnosis of enteric diseases. The aim of the present observational study was to analyze different physicochemical parameters of the feces of suckling piglets aged 0 to 21 days: visual appearance (color and consistency), fecal dry matter (FDM) content and pH. A total of 482 fecal samples were collected and visually classified into six categories: meconium, colostrum stage feces and 4 further scores according to the degree of consistency: 0 = form; 1 = pasty; 2 = liquid; and 3 = watery feces. The percentage of FDM was estimated by two drying methods, oven and microwave, doing duplicates in each one to evaluate methods, and both were compared