Evaluation of recombinant Bhlp29.7 as an ELISA antigen for detecting pig herds with swine dysentery

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2009 | No Comments

Diagnosis of Swine dysentery (SD) traditionally has relied on detecting the spirochaete in the faeces of acutely
affected pigs. To date simple and reliable serological assays that can be applied as a diagnostic tool at the herd level have not been available. In the current study a recombinant histidine tagged 29.7 kDa lipoprotein of B. hyodysenteriae (His6-Bhlp29.7) was used as an ELISA plate-coating antigen. It was found that when used on sets of 40 sera from slaughter-aged pigs the His6-Bhlp29.7 ELISA as established proved to be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of SD at the herd level.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03781135

Use of different cooling systems by pregnant sows in experimental pen

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Literature suggests that pregnant sows are able to select the types of cooling they prefer in the pen. This hypothesis was tested by comparing different cooling regimes. A fixed group of four pregnant sows was selected; six cycles of observations were carried out during summer. Inside the pen, four areas were selected and treated with different regimes; not cooled, cooled with an airstream, cooled with an airstream and water on the floor, and cooled with water on the floor. The use of the different areas by the sows was monitored in relation to air temperature and the temperature–humidity index [Ingram D L (1965). Evaporative cooling in the pig. Nature, 207, 415–416.].

The presence of the sows in the cooled areas became more important with increasing temperature. Below a temperature of 22°C, areas that were not cooled, or were cooled solely by an airstream, were favoured. The occupancy of the area that was solely cooled by an airstream tended to increase up to a temperature of 30°C, when the area cooled by
water and an airstream was favoured. The use of the solely water-cooled area increased with temperature, especially with high temperatures.

It was concluded that the behaviour of the sows, in terms of which area of the pen they occupied, was a function of air temperature. During the day, there appeared to be threshold temperatures above which sows moved to areas that they found more comfortable. 

For more information the full article can be found at  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15375110

The Science behind the Issues in Animal Welfare

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For most animal welfare concerns there is at least some degree of overlap among the different viewpoints. When measures arising from different viewpoints lead to the same conclusions it is much easier to reach consensus in interpretation. This is especially true when reduced productivity corresponds with other measures, since the evidence also provides economic incentive for alleviating a welfare concern. Most recommendations for floor space allowance for growing-finishing pigs, for example, are based on measures of productivity (Gonyou, et al 2006). However, productivity rates do not always correspond with other measures of welfare – for example when a lame sow who finds it painful to stand or walk delivers and weans a large, healthy litter of piglets. In many respects, intense selection for high levels of  production has created a mismatch between productivity and other aspects of biological fitness. For example, breeding sows have to be feed-restricted in order to maintain high reproductive rates, yet they show signs of chronic hunger on the diets commonly provided. There are also examples where selection for fast lean growth has also led to producing pigs that may be more aggressive, more difficult to handle or are more susceptible to handling stress. Disagreements
among the viewpoints, especially when different scientific measures conflict lead to the most contentious debates concerning animal welfare.

Interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight in growing-finishing swine: I. Growth performance and longissimus muscle fatty acid composition

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The objective of this paper is to test the interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight on live performance, carcass traits, and fatty acid composition in 288 crossbred pigs. Results from this study indicate that fat source had little to no impact on live performance. However, feeding a polyunsaturated fat source altered the fatty acid profile within the first 17.4 kg of birthweight gain, therefore including %5 soybean oil in swine diets could lead to soft pork or fat. This could cause pork producers to suffer from economic ramifications based on poor quality pork.

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

The special challenges of transporting high risk livestock

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Powerpoint presentation, presented at the 2009 livestock transportation conference. Includes definition of animal welfare, business eco-system reality, economic reality, animal level risks and decreasing stress.

Effects of dietary spray-dried plasma protein on sow productivity during lactation

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This study evaluates the effects of spray-dried plasma protein (SDP) on sow and litter performance during lactation. Dietary lactation treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control and a corn-soybean meal diet containing 0.5% SDP. Mature sows had a greater BW on d 107 of gestation, on d 1 postfarrowing, and at weaning; greater lactation ADFI; and greater litter BW after cross-fostering, but pig survival to weaning was decreased. Sows fed SDP had a greater gestation interval, litter BW at weaning, and litter ADG, with 1 less lactation day. The effect of SDP addition was dependent on sow parity, as noted by numerous SDP ¡Á parity interactions. The addition of SDP increased
lactation ADFI in mature sows but decreased ADFI in young sows. Mature sows fed SDP had a greater number
of pigs weaned per litter, litter and pig weaning weights, pig survival to weaning, and number of pigs weaned per litter weighing more than 3.6 kg, but the SDP diet had little to no effect on these responses in young sows. Subsequent farrowing data were collected, but no dietary treatment effects were observed.
The results of this research indicate that SDP increased productivity of sows in parity 4 or greater.

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

Characterization of an influenza A virus isolated from pigs during an outbreak of respiratory disease in swine and people during a county fair in the United States

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In August 2007, pigs and people became clinically affected by an influenza-like illness during attendance at an Ohio county fair. Influenza A virus was identified from pigs and people, and the virus isolates were characterized as swine H1N1 similar to swine viruses currently circulating in the U.S. pig population. The swine isolate, /SW/OH/511445/2007 (OH07), was evaluated in an experimental challenge and transmission study reported here. Our results indicate that the OH07 virus was pathogenic in pigs, was transmissible among pigs, and failed to cross-react with many swine H1 anti-sera. Naturally exposed pigs shed virus as early as 3 days and as long as 7 days after contact with experimentally
infected pigs. This suggests there was opportunity for exposure of people handling the pigs at the fair. The molecular analysis of the OH07 isolates demonstrated that the eight gene segments were similar to those of currently circulating triple reassortant swine influenza viruses. However, numerous nucleotide changes leading to amino acid changes were
demonstrated in the HA gene and throughout the genome as compared to contemporary swine viruses in the same genetic cluster. It remains unknown if any of the amino acid changes were related to the ability of this virus to infect people. The characteristics of the OH07 virus in our pig experimentalmodel as well as the documented human transmission warrant close monitoring of the spread of this virus in pig and human populations.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03781135

Consistency and influence on performance of behavioural differences in Large White and Landrace purebred pigs

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The main objective of this research was to evaluate behavioural differences between pigs of Large White (LW) and Landrace (LD) breeds. As far as the breed factor was concerned, more predicted correlations were found in LW than in LD pigs (e.g. exploring and standing time in novel object test). With respect to productivity, tonic immobility (TI) individuals of both breeds showed higher growth rates than non-TI individuals (e.g. mean daily growth of 1168.77 g vs. 1112.14 g, P < 0.05, respectively, in LW pigs). Correlations between the TI test and the other behavioural tests suggested the existence of behavioural differences between LW and LD pigs. These probably related to differences in robustness between the two breeds, which would potentially explain the stronger correlations for LW pigs.

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

Genetic parameters for measures of residual feed intake and growth traits in seven generations of Duroc pigs

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RFI is estimated by the difference between actual and predicted feed intake for an animal. The predicted feed intake
is the amount of feed the animal is expected to consume on the basis of its maintenance and production. Variation in RFI
may reflect differences in the efficiency with which animals digest and utilize energy for maintenance and production. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for and genetic relationships between measures of RFI and growth traits, and to examine the genetic trends of these traits in Duroc pigs over seven generations of selection based on average daily gain (ADG), loin eye area (LEA), backfat thickness (BF), and intramuscular fat (IMF). Results of this study indicate that residual feed intake was moderately heritable, and should respond to selection.
Genetic correlations indicate that it should be possible to select for reduced residual feed intake without adversely
affecting average daily gain. Daily feed intake and backfat would also decrease, and eye muscle area would increase. The
amount of change in backfat or eye muscle area would depend on which measure of residual feed intake one uses.

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

Hog manure plus mortalities equals compost

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While the science to convert manure into compost is
well-established, intensive hog and poultry businesses now have a
new means of converting dead animals into valuable compost.
Hog production company Puratone Corporation has developed a
composting device called a Biovator that can convert about 2 lbs.
of mortality mixed with wood shavings to about 1.6 lbs. of
pathogen-free and nutrient rich compost. Each pound of carcass requires about .07 cubic feet of wood
shavings. Other input combinations involving various amounts of
wood shavings, liquid hog manure and recycled compost work
equally well.
Paustian Enterprises gathers and spreads the compost generated
by the Biovator on its farmland, although the amount is not
sufficient to have reduced their need for commercial fertilizer.