True digestibility of phosphorus in canola and soybean meals for growing pigs: Influence of microbial phytase

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The objectives of this study were to estimate the true digestibility of P (TPD) in canola (CM) and soybean meals (SM), and to determine the effect of microbial phytase on TPD, CM and SM. The results show a TPD of 41% in growing pigs fed CM or SM. This means that the addition of microbial phytase at 1,000 units/kg does improve the true digestibility of phosphorus in both canola and soybean meals.

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

Chemical Hazards: A Swine Worker’s Guide

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Precautionary & Hazard Symbols, Point of Entry, Protective Gear, Solvents, Veterinary Drugs, Cleaners & Sanitizers, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Disposal and Emergency Numbers

Characterisation of sows’ postures and posture changes with regard to crushing piglets

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The aim of this study was to analyse different behavioural traits of sows to describe posture changes and to determine the influences of these traits on piglet losses. Twenty sows which crushed one or more than one piglet (C-sows) were compared to 20 sows which crushed no piglets (NC-sows). It is concluded that the results suggest posture patterns of non crushing-sows and Crushing-sows are different, especially nest-building behaviour prepartum and ventral or lateral recumbence postpartum, indicating a possible use to characterise the maternal abilities of sows in minimising piglet crushing.

Tissue fatty acid profiles, plasma biochemical characteristics and cecal biogenic amines in piglets fed diets containing flaxseed and carbohydrase enzymes

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Dietary manipulation has been proposed as a strategy for optimizing performance of newly weaned pigs. Flaxseed (FS) as a feed ingredient contains a number of constituents, such as mucilage, gel forming polysaccharides, structural carbohydrates and ω-3 fatty acids (FA), which could have functional properties in relation to optimizing piglet performance. The aim of this study was to determine tissue FA profiles, systemic and portal plasma biochemical characteristics and cecal digesta biogenic amines in piglets fed diets containing FS and a multi-carbohydrase enzyme supplement (C). It was found that FS with or without C supplementation supported lactate fermentors and reduced biogenic amine levels in the gastrointestinal tract suggesting potential of FS in promoting healthier gut in piglets. Enzyme supplementation increased plasma glucose independent of FS. Overall, the results provide further implications of applying dietary strategies to maintain health and productivity of piglets.

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

High-value manure

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Water is a valuable commodity on the dry plains of northwest
Oklahoma. So any opportunity to conserve and recycle this
precious resource is a real bonus to businesses like the farrow-to-wean hog operation owned by Chuck and Wathina Luthi. An important aspect to the Luthis’ manure management system
is how the manure is treated prior to flushing the pits, as well as
when it is situated in both stages of the lagoon. They treat the
manure with commercial pit additives, which are part of the overall
Hog Wash system. This system provides a number of benefits,
starting with reduced odor and hydrogen sulfide emissions.
Wathina says it is a natural carbon-based product that not only
improves the working environment in the barns, but also breaks down the manure solids. After eight years in operation, their farm
still has not had any issues with solid build-up in the lagoons, nor
have they had to invest in any mechanical systems to aerate them.

Global Price and Production Forecast

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Financial losses, due in large part to high feed prices, have caused both U.S.
and Canadian hog producers to reduce the number of litters they are
producing. This has led to an expected 2.5% decline in combined U.S. and
Canadian hog slaughter during 2009. Reduced hog slaughter should lift 2009
hog prices closer to breakeven levels. The biggest uncertainty is the impact
on meat demand of the developing global economic recession.

Formulating with Opportunity Ingredients

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This paper will discuss the use of opportunity ingredients in grow-finish pig
diets and what potential they offer to increase margin over feed and facility
cost (MOFFC; net return). There are many existing, and some new, opportunity ingredients that can be used to increase
MOFFC but we must understand the nutrients they contain, risks associated
with using them and potential economic benefits when formulated correctly
into pig diets. Examples of new opportunity ingredients are: dried distillers
grains with solubles (DDGS) and expeller processed canola meal. Existing opportunity ingredients that have been around for some time are canola meal, peas, lentils, faba beans, bakery by-products, Extrapro, stillage, and liquid
whey from dairy industry. These opportunity ingredients can offer significant diet and feed cost savings if
formulated correctly into diets. However there are risks associated with using
them. The risks can be mitigated by acquiring as much information on the
ingredient as possible prior to using such as nutrients it brings to the diet,
impact on diet palatability and diet handling characteristics. As the demand for
traditional feed ingredients increases we will be forced to use more
opportunity ingredients in diets and optimize the use of current ingredients if
we are to control feed costs and remain competitive.

Control of hydrogen sulphide emissions from swine barns using nitrite and molybdate: effect of manure age

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Emission of odorous and gaseous compounds such as hydrogen sulphide
(H2S) from livestock operations can be a major impediment to the expansion
of these facilities, especially in locations close to populated areas.
Occupational and environmental concerns, as well as stricter government
regulations, require the control of H2S emissions. A biological approach used
in the oil industry, in which nitrite and/or molybdate are added to control the
production of H2S in oil reservoirs, was shown to be effective in controlling
H2S emissions from swine manure. Low H2S
concentrations were maintained throughout the treatment using molybdate,
but with nitrite, concentrations increased again after a few days.

Swine Production Impact on Residential Ambient Air Quality

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The objective of this project was to assess the impact of swine production on ambient air quality as it related to public health in rural communities. More specifically, the objective was to measure and compare airborne contaminants (NH3, H2S, bioaerosols) and odor concentrations and intensities among three rural communities considered to be in a swine production area and three communities not considered to be within a swine production area. It was found that the low levels of NH3, H2S, odors, and bioaerosols measured in this study and the fact that these levels are below defined limits suggest that swine operation related emissions should not impact health in these communities at an animal
density of 151 AU/km2. Preliminary results from the questionnaires suggest a prevalence of symptoms (headaches, runny nose, cough, vomiting) even if there is no relationship between these symptoms and the odor concentration
measurements.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wagr20

Effect of graded levels of iron, zinc, and copper supplementation in diets with low-phytate or normal barley on growth performance, bone characteristics, hematocrit volume, and zinc and copper balance of young swine

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The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of a LPA barley mutant (M) cultivar M955 compared with the corresponding normal barley (NB) cultivar to increase the utilization of Fe, Zn, and Cu in barley-SBM diets fed to growing swine. The response criteria were pig growth performance, hematocrit volume, metacarpal bone characteristics, and the apparent absorption, retention, and excretion of Zn and Cu. It was found that replacing NB with the LPA barley cultivar M955 in the current experiment did not increase the utilization of Fe, Zn, and Cu in practical diets for
young swine, apparently because of the small increase in the availability of the endogenous trace minerals in the diets containing M955 compared with NB. However, for the TM treatments, there were linear increases in growth performance, metacarpal bone ash and strength, hematocrit volume, and Zn and Cu absorption, retention, and excretion (mg/d) with increasing concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Cu provided as FeSO4, ZnSO4, and CuSO4, with the greatest treatment concentration providing 100% of the NRC (1998) requirement for Fe and Zn, and 160% of the requirement for Cu. These results indicate that the inorganic trace mineral supplementation should not be less than the NRC (1998) requirements for young swine.

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