From each pen, two piglets (one male and one female)
were identified on day 1 of the trial by a double ear-tag (i.e.
eight piglets per experimental group). In order to assess the
presence of ETEC, on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 faecal samples
were taken from these piglets directly from the rectum in
sterile polyethylene bags, via manual stimulation of the
internal and external anal sphincters, trying to avoid as
much as possible any additional contamination of the samples.