Thirty minutes transport causes small intestinal acidosis in pigs

Long duration (>10 hours) transport has been described as having either adv erse or no effects on porcine health. However, the effect of short duration transport on porcine health is unknown. In the present paper, pigs fed ad libitum (n = 6) were transported for 30 minutes, anaesthetised, instrumente d, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal parameters were measured. Non-tr ansported pigs (n = 6) served as controls. No significant differences betwe en groups were found concerning blood flow in the arteria mesenterica crani alis, heart rate, cardiac output, pulmonal blood pressure, haemoglobin cont ent and haematocrit value. Systolic systemic blood pressure was higher (tho ugh not significant), and diastolic systemic blood pressure was significant ly higher in the transported pigs than in the controls. Small intestinal pH was significantly lower in transported pigs than in control pigs. We concl ude that a 30-minute transport of fed pigs results in small intestinal acid osis. As small intestinal acidosis predisposes to bacterial translocation, even short duration transport should be avoided when possible. (C) 2001 Har court Publishers Ltd.