Effects of Saururus chinensis extract supplementation on growth performance, meat quality and slurry noxious gas emission in finishing pigs

Posted in: Environment, Production by admin on August 22, 2011 | No Comments

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Saururus chinensis (S. chinensis) extract supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, longissimus muscle and subcutaneous adipose fatty acid composition and slurry noxious gas emission in finishing pigs. A total of 120 [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] pigs (54.10kg) were randomly allocated into one of the following dietary treatments: 1) CON, basal diet; 2) S1, basal diet with 1 g/kg S. chinensis extract; 3) S2, basal dietwith 2 g/kg S. chinensis extract. There were 10 replications per treatment with 4 pigs (2 gilts and 2 barrows) per pen. Throughout the experiment, no significant difference was observed in growth performance or nutrient digestibility among treatments. However, serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations as well as total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio were significantly decreased in pigs fed S2 diet compared with those fed diets without S. chinensis extract. Furthermore, the S. chinensis extract administration improved lightness (L*) value while having little effects on the fatty acid composition of longissimus muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Providing S2 diet also decreased slurry concentrations of NH3. Taken together, S. chinensis extract administration had only minor effects on finishing pigs with the exception of improving serum lipid protein profile and decreasing the emission of noxious gases from slurry.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

Characterization of Selected Nutrients and Bacteria from Anaerobic Swine Manure Lagoons on Sow, Nursery, and Finisher Farms in the Mid-South USA

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Swine (Sus scrofa domestica) production in the Mid-South USA comprises sow, nursery, and finisher farms. A 2007 packing plant closure started a regional shift from finisher to sow and nursery farms. Changes in manure stored in lagoons and land-applied as fertilizer were expected but were unknown because nutrient and bacterial levels had not been characterized by farm type. The objectives of this study were to quantify selected nutrients and bacteria, compare levels by farm types, and project impacts of production shifts. Nutrients and bacteria were characterized in 17 sow, 10 nursery, and 10 finisher farm lagoons. Total and thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter spp., Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. were evaluated. Highest levels were from total coliforms (1.4– 5.7 × 105 cfu 100 mL−1), which occurred with E. coli, Campylobacter spp., C. perfringens, and Enterococcus spp., in every lagoon and virtually every sample. Lowest levels were from Listeria spp. And Salmonella spp. (≤1.3 × 102 most probable number [MPN] 100 mL−1), detected in 81 and 89% of lagoons and 68 and 64% of samples, respectively. Sow farm levels were higher for all except Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp., which were lower (1.4 × 101 and 2.8 × 101 MPN 100 mL−1, respectively) and only slightly below their respective levels from nursery farms (1.1 × 102 and 3.4 × 101 MPN 100 mL−1). Shifting from finisher to nursery farm would not affect bacterial levels, but shifting to sows would. Either shift would reduce NPK and N:P and suggest modification of nutrient management plans.

Characterization and Dispersion Modeling of Odors from a Piggery Facility

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Piggeries are known for their nuisance odors, creating problems for workers and nearby residents. Chemical substances that contribute to these odors include sulfurous organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, phenols and indoles, ammonia, volatile amines, and volatile fatty acids. In this work, daily mean concentrations of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were measured by hand-held devices. Measurements were taken in several places within the facility (farrowing to finishing rooms). Hydrogen sulfide concentration was found to be 40 to 50 times higher than the human odor threshold value in the nursery and fattening room, resulting in strong nuisance odors. Ammonia concentrations ranged from 2 to 18 mL m−3 and also contributed to the total odor nuisance. Emission data from various chambers of the pig farm were used with the dispersion model AERMOD to determine the odor nuisance caused due to the presence of H2S and NH3 to receptors at various distances from the facility. Because just a few seconds of exposure can cause an odor nuisance, a “peak-to-mean” ratio was used to predict the maximum odor concentrations. Several scenarios were examined using the modified AERMOD program, taking into account the complex terrain around the pig farm.

The Effect of Biofuel Production on Swine Farm Methane and Ammonia Emissions

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Methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) are emitted to the atmosphere during anaerobic processing of organic matter, and both gases have detrimental environmental effects. Methane conversion to biofuel production has been suggested to reduce CH4 emissions from animal manure processing systems. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the change in CH4 and NH3 emissions in an animal feeding operation due to biofuel production from the animal manure. Gas emissions were measured from swine farms differing only in their manure management treatment systems (conventional vs. biofuel). By removing organic matter (i.e., carbon) from the biofuel farms’ manure-processing lagoons, average annual CH4 emissions were decreased by 47% compared with the conventional farm. This represents a net 44% decrease in global warming potential (CO2 equivalent) by gases emitted from the biofuel farms compared with conventional farms. However, because of the reduction of methanogenesis and its reduced effect on the chemical conversion of ammonium (NH4 +) to dinitrogen (N2) gas, NH3 emissions in the biofuel farms increased by 46% over the conventional farms. These studies show that what is considered an environmentally friendly technology had mixed results and that all components of a system should be studied when making changes to existing systems.

Nitrification and Denitrification Gene Abundances in Swine Wastewater Anaerobic Lagoons

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Although anaerobic lagoons are used globally for livestock waste treatment, their detailed microbial cycling of N is only beginning to become understood. Within this cycling, nitrification can be performed by organisms that produce the enzyme ammonia monooxygenase. For denitrification, the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide can be catalyzed by two forms of nitrite reductases, and N2O can be reduced by nitrous oxide reductase encoded by the gene nosZ. The objectives of this investigation were to (i) quantify the abundance of the amoA, nirK, nirS, and nosZ genes; (ii) evaluate the influence of environmental conditions on their abundances; and (iii) evaluate their abundance relative to denitrification enzyme activity (DEA). Samples were analyzed via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and collected from eight typical, commercial anaerobic, swine wastewater lagoons located in the Carolinas. The four genes assayed in this study were present in all eight lagoons. Their abundances relative to total bacterial populations were 0.04% (amoA), 1.33% (nirS), 5.29% (nirK), and 0.27% (nosZ). When compared with lagoon chemical characteristics, amoA and nirK correlated with several measured variables. Neither nirS nor nosZ correlated with any measured environmental variables. Although no gene measured in this study correlated with actual or potential DEA, nosZ copy numbers did correlate with the disparity between actual and potential DEA. Phylogenetic analysis of nosZ did not reveal any correlations to DEA rates. As with other investigations, analyses of these genes provide useful insight while revealing the underlying greater complexity of N cycling within swine waste lagoons.

For more information the full article can be found at https://www.agronomy.org/publications/jeq

Crop Nitrogen and Phosphorus Utilization following Application of Slurry from Swine Fed Traditional or Low Phytate Corn Diets

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Field application of swine (Sus scrofa) slurry provides essential nutrients for crop production. The N to P ratio for slurry is lower than needed by most crops resulting in P accumulation when applied at N rates required for crop growth. Low phytate corn (Zea mays L.) (LPC) contains similar amounts of total P but less phytate P than traditional corn (TC) resulting in improved P bioavailability and reduced P excretion by monogastric animals. While manure from swine-fed LPC diets has a higher N to P ratio than that from TC diets, field studies comparing crop utilization of nutrients from LPC manure have not been conducted. A field study was conducted to compare N and P utilization by no-tillage rainfed sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] receiving three annual surface applications of nutrients (inorganic fertilizer, LPC slurry, and TC slurry) and by irrigated corn receiving one incorporated application of nutrients. Sorghum grain and total dry matter N utilization exhibited a year by treatment interaction but total dry matter N utilization was similar for both manure types in all years (61.2 % for TC and 53.8 % for LPC). Grain P utilization was similar for inorganic fertilizer and manure but differed among years (44.4% in 1999, 25.1% in 2000, and 57.0% in 2001). Corn grain N and P utilization did not differ among nutrient sources in the year of application (50.7% for N and 40.4 for P) and increased little in the year following application (62.2 % for N and 50.2 % for P). Crop N and P utilization from LPC manure and TC manure was similar and nutrient guidelines developed for TC swine slurry should also apply for LPC slurry.

PDF provided from Agron. J. 100:4 pp: 997-1004 (2008), with permission, copyright American Society of Agronomy.

Phosphorus utilization in starter pigs fed high-moisture corn-based liquid diets steeped with phytase

Posted in: Environment, Production by admin on August 12, 2011 | No Comments

The application of phytase in conventional dry swine diets has been shown to improve P availability and utilization. The effectiveness of phytase may be further improved by steeping feedstuffs with phytase before feeding. A study was conducted to determine the value of steeping high-moisture corn (HMC) with phytase in P-deficient liquid diets for starter pigs. A total of 384 pigs were weaned at 19 to 23 d of age and 6.7 kg of BW. Pigs were randomly assigned to pens, with 8 barrows and 8 gilts per pen and 5 pens per dietary treatment (only 4 pens for the control treatment). The 5 dietary treatments (all HMC-based 3-phase feeding programs) were 1) negative control with no added phytase, 2 and 3) negative control with phytase added to the HMC to achieve 62.5 or 125 phytase units (FTU)/kg of HMC (DM basis) of phytase added to the HMC and allowed to steep for 24 h before feeding, and 4 and 5) negative control with the same amount of phytase added to the base mix without steeping before feeding. Total P content (88% DM basis) averaged 0.49% in phase I and 0.37% in phase II and III diets. Individual pig BW and per pen ADFI were measured on a weekly basis. Apparent total tract digestibility of DM, OM, CP, P, and Ca were measured using titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker in phase III diets. At the end of the study (7 wk postweaning), 4 pigs from each pen were killed for assessment of body composition, breaking strength and mineral content of metacarpals, total and soluble P content in duodenal digesta, and urinary P content. There was no effect of added phytase on ADG, ADFI, or G:F. The soluble P:total P ratio in duodenal digesta was increased with the addition of phytase. Steeping HMC with phytase resulted in greater digestibility of DM and CP. A trend toward increased digestibility of Ca with added phytase was observed, but there was no effect of dietary treatment on P digestibility. Urinary P content was considerably greater in pigs fed diets with exogenous phytase. Additional phytase resulted in increased P and Ca content in the empty body. Metacarpal content of P and Ca and breaking strength were improved with added phytase. Despite a lack of effect on P digestibility, added phytase improved retention of Ca and P in starter pigs fed P-deficient HMC-based liquid diets. There was little benefit from steeping HMC with phytase before feeding.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/

Effect of β-glucans contained in barley- and oat-based diets and exogenous enzyme supplementation on gastrointestinal fermentation of finisher pigs and subsequent manure odor and ammonia emissions

Posted in: Environment, Production by admin on August 5, 2011 | No Comments

The objective of the current experiment was to evaluate the influence of dietary cereal sources of β(1,3)(1,4)-d-glucan (β-glucan) and enzyme supplementation on indices of environmental pollution from finisher pigs. An experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was initiated to investigate the effect of dietary source of β-glucan (barley vs. oats) and enzyme supplementation (no vs. yes) on nutrient digestibility, N utilization, intestinal fermentation, and manure odor and ammonia emissions from finisher boars (n = 4; BW = 73.9 kg; SD = 4.7). Sixteen boars were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (n = 4/treatment): 1) barley-based diet, 2) barleybased diet + exogenous enzyme, 3) oat-based diet, and 4) oat-based diet + enzyme. The enzyme supplement used contained endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase and endo-1,4- β-xylanase. Experimental diets were formulated to contain similar concentrations of DE (13.5 MJ/kg) and digestible lysine (8.8 g/kg). Pigs offered oat-based diets had reduced digestibility of DM (0.795 vs. 0.849), OM (0.808 vs. 0.865), GE (0.806 vs. 0.845), and NDF (0.233 vs. 0.423) compared with those offered barley-based diets. Oat-based diets increased populations of Bifidobacterium spp. (7.26 vs. 6.38 log cfu/g of digesta) and Lactobacillus spp. (6.99 vs. 6.18 log cfu/g of digesta) in the proximal colon and decreased manure odor emissions [2,179.6 vs. 4,984.6 OuE/m3 (where OuE refers to European odor units)] compared with barleybased diets. There was an interaction between cereal type and enzyme inclusion on manure ammonia emissions from 0 to 96 h. Pigs offered barley- based diets containing an enzyme supplement had increased manure ammonia emissions compared with those offered unsupplemented barley-based diets. However, there was no effect of enzyme inclusion on oatbased diets. In conclusion, pigs offered oat-based diets harbored increased Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. populations in the proximal colon and had decreased manure odor emissions compared with those offered barley-based diets. Enzyme inclusion had no effect on manure ammonia emissions from pigs offered oat-based diets.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/

Effect of temperature on thermal acclimation in growing pigs estimated using a nonlinear function

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Ninety-six Large White growing barrows were used to determine the effect of temperature on thermoregulatory responses during acclimation to increased ambient temperature. Pigs were exposed to 24°C for 10 d and thereafter to a constant temperature of 24, 28, 32, or 36°C for 20 d. The study was conducted in a climate-controlled room at the INRA experimental facilities in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. Relative humidity was kept constant at 80% throughout the experimental period. Rectal temperature, cutaneous temperature, and respiratory rate were measured [breaths per minute (bpm)] 3 times daily (0700, 1200, and 1800 h) every 2 or 3 d during the experiment. The thermal circulation index (TCI) was determined from rectal, cutaneous, and ambient temperature measurements. Changes in rectal temperature, respiratory rate, TCI, and ADFI over the duration of exposure to hot temperatures were modeled using nonlinear responses curves. Within 1 h of exposure to increased temperature, rectal temperature and respiratory rate increased by 0.46°C/d and +29.3 bpm/d, respectively, and ADFI and TCI decreased linearly by 44.7 g∙d−2∙kg−0.60 and 1.32°C/d, respectively until a first breakpoint time (td1). This point marked the end of the short-term heat acclimation phase and the beginning of the long-term heat acclimation period. The td1 value for ADFI was greater at 28°C than at 32 and 36°C (2.33 vs. 0.31 and 0.26 d, respectively), whereas td1 for the TCI increase was greater at 36°C than at 28 and 32°C (1.02 vs. 0.78 and 0.67 d, respectively). For rectal temperature and respiratory rate responses, td1 was not influenced by temperature and averaged 1.1 and 0.89 d, respectively. For respiratory rate and rectal temperature, the long-term heat acclimation period was divided in 2 phases, with a rapid decline for both variables followed by a slight decrease. These 2 phases were separated by a second threshold day (td2). For rectal temperature, td2 increased significantly with temperature (1.60 vs. 5.16 d from 28 to 36°C). After td2, the decline in rectal temperature during the exposure to thermal challenge was not influenced by temperature, suggesting that the magnitude of heat stress would affect thermoregulatory responses only at the beginning of the long-term heat acclimation period. The inclusion of random effects in the nonlinear model showed that whatever the temperature considered, interindividual variability of thermoregulatory responses would exist.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/

Ileal microbiota of growing pigs fed different dietary calcium phosphate levels and phytase content and subjected to ileal pectin infusion

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Two experiments with growing pigs were conducted to determine the effects of dietary P and Ca levels, phytase supplementation, and ileal pectin infusion on changes in bacterial populations in the ileum and on ileal and fecal fermentation patterns. Growing pigs (BW 30.1 kg) were fitted with simple T-cannulas at the distal ileum and were fed a low-P corn-soybean meal control diet (3 g of P/kg), or the control diet supplemented with either 15 g of monocalcium phosphate (MCP)/kg (Exp. 1) or 1,000 phytase units of phytase/kg (Exp. 2). Daily infusion treatments consisted of either 60 g of pectin dissolved in 1.8 L of demineralized water or 1.8 L of demineralized water as a control infusion, infused via the ileal cannula. In each experiment, 8 barrows were assigned to 4 dietary treatments according to a double incomplete 4 × 2 Latin square design. The dietary treatments in Exp. 1 were the control diet with water infusion, the control diet with pectin infusion, the MCP diet with water infusion, or the MCP diet with pectin infusion. In Exp. 2, the pigs received the same control treatments as in Exp. 1 and the phytase diet in combination with water or pectin infusion. Gene copy numbers of total bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus amylovorus/Lactobacillus sobrius, Lactobacillus mucosae, Enterococcus spp., Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, bifidobacteria, the Clostridium coccoides cluster, the Clostridium leptum cluster, the Bacteroides- Prevotella-Porphyrmonas group, and Enterobacteriaceae were determined by quantitative PCR in DNA extracts of ileal digesta. In Exp. 1, addition of MCP reduced ileal gene copy numbers of Enterococcus spp., E. faecium, and the C. leptum cluster, whereas pectin infusion enhanced ileal d-lactate concentration. In Exp. 2, supplemental phytase led to greater ileal gene copy numbers of the C. coccoides and C. leptum clusters and the Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyrmonas group, whereas it reduced fecal n-butyrate concentration. Pectin infusion reduced ileal gene copy number of the C. leptum cluster. In conclusion, ileal bacterial populations and fermentation patterns are susceptible to changes in the intestinal availability of Ca and P as well as to the supply of pectin as a fermentable substrate. Greater intestinal Ca availability decreased the numbers of some grampositive bacteria, whereas greater P availability in the small intestine caused by phytase activity enhanced the growth of strictly anaerobic bacteria.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/