Prevention of gastric ulcers in swine by feeding of sodium polyacrylate.

: Five experiments involving 169 swine were conducted to determine the effects of 0.1% to 0.5% sodium polyacrylate (PANa) in rations of growing swine on weight gain, feed conversion, and occurrence of esophagogastric lesions. Seemingly, PANa prevented swine from developing esophagogastric ulcers. Esophagogastric ulcers or erosions occurred in 42.9% of the swine fed a PANa-free diet, but occurred in only 9.8% of those fed a diet containing PANa. Addition of PANa (0.1% to 0.5%) to the growing ration increased weight gain and feed conversion. The anti-ulcer effect of PANa was discussed.