Rectal prolapsed/Rectal stricture

This can be a particular problem on some units. Ideas to check out:

Coughing	Respiratory disease degree of Mycoplasma pneumonia in the herd. Coughing increases abdominal pressure – prolapsed more likely to occur and be bitten.
Piling	Amount of draughts resulting in pigs standing on each other’s stomachs. Increases in abdominal pressure. Check for draughts and temperature variations over the 24 hours.
Stocking density
Wheat	High wheat diets seem to have more problems – particularly varieties which produce sharp spicules. This has been resolved adding enzymes to the diet and rolling rather than hammer milling the wheat.
Other feed	High starch diets
Mycotoxins	Are there mycotoxin binders in the feed? This can result in more straining.
Tail length	If the tail length is too short – this results in less exercise of the anal region and more rectal prolapses.
Salmonella	There is an association with clinical salmonella on the farm and rectal prolapses.
Diarrhoea	Other post weaning diarrhoea problems including colitis – is this a problem and is there a relationship between those pigs with severe diarrhoea and subsequent rectal prolapse. Straining with diarrhoea increases abdominal pressure and more prolapses likely.
Water	Water quantity, quality and constipation – if the pig has to push harder to get the faeces out – there are more tendencies to create a rectal prolapse.

Coughing	Piling	Too many pigs
Specific feed – wheat in diets	Mycotoxins in feed	Ensure tails not too short
Salmonella specific association	Other diarrhoea’s	Water issues