REDUCED FEED UPTAKE AND DIGESTIVE DISORDE RS IN PIG HERDS FOLLOWING USE OF COMPOUND FEED WITH FRENCH BEANS (PHASEOLUS SPECIES)

Worsening of feed uptake was recorded from three large pig herds, foll owing use of a new batch of compound feed, with severe diarrhoea being additionally observed in numerous fattening pigs on two of the these units. Presence of something between 2.5 and 20 % of Phaseolus beans i n the feed mixture was among the major findings obtained from feed che cks. One sample of sow feed (with ten percent of common beans) was tes ted for its haemagglutinating activity to find out whether the beans h ad undergone thermic treatment before being added to the diet. The hae magglutination titre thus established was clearly indicative of thermi c preconditioning. Nevertheless, feed uptake was considerably reduced when this particular diet was fed and immediately returned to normal a fter replacement of these diets. The above cases and findings are disc ussed in some detail, with reference being made to previous publicatio ns. Conclusions are suggested for farmers, veterinarians, the feed ind ustry and feedstuff testing centres.