A Preliminary Study on the Relationship between Gastric Lesions and Anti-Inflammatory Drug Usage in Heavy Pigs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Gastric lesions are a common condition in pigs, representing a critical issue in the pig industry that can cause heavy losses for farmers in terms of reduced growing performance and mortality. In heavy pig production, which is typical of Italy and is characterized by a long fattening period, the prevalence of such lesions at the abattoir has not been widely studied. Moreover, the impact of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) usage on the occurrence of such lesions in heavy pigs needs to be better investigated. In this study, the prevalence of gastric lesions in heavy pigs in two large slaughterhouses was investigated. Furthermore, the association between the usage of anti-inflammatory drugs and gastric lesions was explored in a subset of farms. Most of the animals had mild or severe ulcers, and a relationship with the usage of NSAIDs was found. The results of this study suggest that gastric lesions are an important issue for heavy pig production and that non-selective NSAIDs should be used with caution on farms where the risk factors for gastric ulcers are common. ABSTRACT: Gastric lesions in pigs cause welfare and economic losses. Their prevalence in heavy pigs reared for premium products (e.g., Parma ham) requires further investigation. Stress, nutrition, and farm management are known risk factors, but the effects of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastric lesions in Italian heavy pigs and their possible association with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. A total of 9371 pig stomachs from 76 farms were evaluated. Among these, 20.3% showed no lesions, while 30.7%, 42.1%, and 6.8% were scored 1, 2 and 3, respectively. A tendency for an inverse relationship with farm size emerged. The use of steroids and NSAIDs was estimated by calculating a treatment incidence per 1000 (TI(1000)) in a subset of 36 farms. At least one prescription for NSAIDs and/or steroids was found in 80.6% of the farms (55.6% used NSAIDs and 63.9% used steroids). Median TI(1000) was 0.07 (range: 0–30.1) and 0.18 (range: 0–6.2) for NSAIDs and steroids, respectively. Gastric scores were positively associated with NSAID use, but not with steroid use. Although the role of these drugs in gastric lesions needs to be further clarified, these findings suggest a cautious use of non-selective NSAIDs.