Table 7 Variables collected from each pig in the scale adjustment phase and the scale validation phase

Fecal sample collection

A binary variable with the following levels:

0: Fecal sample delivered immediately in response to the handling of the pig or the insertion of the cotton swab into the rectum

1: Fecal sample obtained by digital rectal manipulation

Cotton swab consistency score (1–4)

Assessment of the fecal consistency on a four-point scale according to either the preliminary scale (Additional File 1) in the scale adjustment phase or the final scale (Table 3) in the scale validation phase

Cotton swab diarrhea score

A dichotomization of Cotton swab fecal consistency score (see above). Where 1 and 2 were considered not diarrhea, 3 and 4 were considered diarrhea

Fecal sample consistency score (1–4)

Assessment of fecal consistency on a four-point scale based on visual inspection of a fecal sample [7]: 1, Firm; 2, Soft and shaped; 3, Loose (diarrhea); 4, Watery (diarrhea)

Fecal sample diarrhea score

A dichotomization of Fecal sample consistency score (1–4) (see above). Where 1 and 2 were considered not diarrhea, 3 and 4 were considered diarrhea

Fecal dry-matter %

The percent of the fecal sample that was dry-matter (in opposition to water)

Dry-matter based consistency score (1–4)

The true fecal consistency based on the fecal dry-matter percentage using the thresholds shown in the “Total” column in Table 1

Dry-matter based diarrhea score

A dichotomization of Dry-matter based consistency score (1–4) (see above). Where 1 and 2 were considered not diarrhea, 3 and 4 were considered diarrhea