[Hints concerning the dosage of Glauber's salt for breeding sows]

Feeding a laxative like sodium sulphate before parturition is often reported as an effective MMA prophylaxis. In this study pigs were treated with different doses of Na2SO4. Consistency variations of feces were controlled by recording the dry matter contents. To provoke a significant increase in fecal water content 0.6 g Glauber's salt per kg bodyweight is successful in not constipated sows. The increased fluid content of the feces leads by multiplication of colon volume to rising distension stimuli and therefore increased peristaltic. Even with restricted feeding (1 kg per sow and day) accelerated discharge of feces is possible instead of constipation, 15 g sodium sulphate per sow is recorded as an underdose causing increases in fecal dry matter or even obstipation.