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.

COOL vs. Choose Canadian Program

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In 2008 the Canadian pork industry’s Pork Marketing Canada (PMC) group
launched the Choose Canadian program. PMC, which administers the Choose
Canadian Program, is a strategic alliance of pork organizations across
Canada set up to streamline consumer marketing efforts. The launch of the
Choose Canadian program was an action driven by an unprecedented crisis in
the Canadian pork industry, one that was replicated to varying degrees in pork
industries around the world. This presentation recaps the crisis that drove the need for the Choose
Canadian program, the rationale and structural approach of PMC, the logic
and details of the Choose Canadian effort, the results of the program to date,
what’s coming for market research and plans for the future. While the initial goal of this program was to stop the bleeding, the longer term
goal is to grow the business by identifying and developing opportunities.
Partnerships will be key in this and the fact that pork organizations are
working together to streamline and enhance their efforts is a major factor in
success.

Ingredient Sourcing by the Liquid Feeder

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When we started liquid feeding in 1986 we had our fill of whey. With lots of
whey, all we wanted to do was feed pigs cheap with little concern for feed
conversion. We designed our system around this abundant product. When
we no longer had access to this cheap feed source we had to change our
mindset. We tried other products like DDGS, corn steep water and CDS, but
all of these didn’t quite work since we didn’t know then what we know now
about their characteristics. When we used a corn/soy diet our feed costs went
way up. Slowly we realized that we had to change our focus from growth to
feed conversion. That wasn’t easy because for many years our goal was
growth. Now we started focusing on low feed conversion and 800 to 900
grams per day growth in the finishing barn. We started with a Feed
Conversion that was higher than 3 in our finishing barns and have worked our
way back to the present level of 2.5 – 2.6. How did we do that? The first key
was trough management. We manage the trough so it is empty to almost dry, between feedings. Sounds easy but you have to stay at it for every trough
every day.
The second more complex thing we did was ration design. We produce our
own gilts and boars so our genetics are unique and so our rations had to be
unique. We added fat to our diet to see what our pigs would do with this extra
energy. After some trials we found that it added efficient gain. So we
wondered what extra protein would do. We bumped up the soybean meal and
got more efficient gain. What we want to do is meet the growth potential of
our pigs. And the only way to do that is to measure feed intake and growth
and follow trials through both successes and mistakes to perfect your own
best feed ration for your facility.

Variation in temperature within trucks transporting pigs during two seasons in two locations

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Temperatures were recorded within compartments of trucks transporting
market pigs at two locations, Saskatchewan (West) and Quebec (East), during
both summer and winter (6 replicates). A three-deck pot-belly truck (PB) was
used in the West, while both a PB and a double-deck truck (DD) were used in
the East. It was found that he temperature conditions during transport vary considerably
between seasons and among compartments within a vehicle. The actual findings are in the .pdf article below.

Chemical and microbiological characteristics of rice husk bedding having distinct depths and used for growing–finishing swine

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The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of distinct bedding depths on the chemical and physical characteristics of beddings used on the growing and finishing phases of swine production, and to associate those characteristics with the dynamics of the microbiota. It was found that different bedding depths were associated with changes in the chemical and microbiological characteristics of the beddings. Rice husk beddings 0.50 m deep
contained a higher total waste volume due to its higher dry matter content, but such volume can be attributed to its higher bedding volume, which makes such bedding more expensive. Besides its lower cost, 0.25 m deep beddings are preferable because they presented compost with greater agronomic value and lower counts of thermophilic bacteria, which provide better environmental comfort for the pigs.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09608524

Dietary protein modifies effect of plant extracts in the intestinal ecosystem of the pig at weaning

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The plant extract mixture (XT) used in the present experiment, containing carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, and capsicum oleoresin, has previously been shown to decrease diarrhea mortality and to modify the intestinal environment of pigs after weaning. However, results obtained among experiments have not been consistent. We hypothesized that dietary protein could be a main factor determining the effect of plant extracts on intestinal environment. Thus, in the present
study we assessed the effects of XT in piglet diets with different protein sources and amounts. Pigs weaned at 20 ± 1 d of age (n = 240) were allocated to 1 of 6 treatments, which followed a factorial arrangement, with 2 amounts (as-fed basis) of the XT (0 and 200 mg/kg) and 3 diets with various amounts of CP and protein sources. Diet FM18 contained 10% of low-temperature fish meal (LT-FM) and a CP level of 18%; diet SBM18 contained 5% of LT-FM plus 9% of full fat extruded soy and a CP level of 18%; and SBM20 diet contained 10% of LT-FM plus 6.3% of full fat extruded soy and
a CP level of 20%. Growth performance of the animals was recorded for 14 d, but no differences were detected among treatments. Eight pigs per treatment were killed to examine variables describing aspects of gastrointestinal ecology. For diets containing 18% CP, FM18 and SBM18, XT tended to decrease ileal digestibility of OM (P = 0.064 and 0.071, respectively) and decreased starch digestibility (P = 0.032 and 0.014, respectively). It also reduced villi length (P = 0.003 and 0.013, respectively) and tended to decrease intraepithelial lymphocyte number (P = 0.051 and 0.100, respectively) in the proximal jejunum. The XT inclusion also increased ileal lactobacilli:enterobacteria (P = 0.017) ratio and decreased VFA production in the cecum (P = 0.045) for all diets. A decreased CP level appeared to favor
the effects of the studied plant extracts in a positive or negative way depending on the variable measured. The microbial differences produced by XT could be the reason for improved digestive health observed by the authors in stronger challenging conditions (e.g., dirtier environments or long fasting periods after weaning).

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

Built to Last

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When Dave Kneller of Silver Lake, IN, started a contract nursery eleven years ago he had a paramount goal when he selected equipment: durability. “My dad wanted the equipment to last so I wouldn’t have to go into debt again and
remodel seven, eight or ten years after I bought it,” says Matt Kiieller, who purchased the facilities from his dad in 2005. Matt is glad his dad selected the Farmweld Flooring System, Farmweld nursery feeders, vertical rod gating and Farmweld DRIK-0-MAT Water Cups. “I’ve never replaced a feeder or a single piece of flooring, and I can’t see any wear — anywhere,” The Farmweld Flooring System is manufactured from high quality polypropylene, designed for precise molding and superior strength. The flooring panels’ stabilized corners and full inch of vertical beam support keep it from tipping or buckling underneath the pigs even as they run and shift positions.

Going Big with Digesters

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Chilean hog producer Agricola Super has gone big with its manure management program, installing eight digesters, and it has reaped the benefits in reduced odor complaints and marketable greenhouse gas-reduction credits. The credits can be sold to other greenhouse gas producing industries as a way to mitigate their emissions and meet goals set by the Kyoto Protocol. In a 2004 deal, Agricola Super sold credits worth 1.75 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions to Calgary, Canada-based power producer TransAlta Corp for $9 million. In addition, Tokyo Electric Power Co will purchase credits from Agricola worth two million metric tons of greenhouse gas over a nine-year period from 2004 to 2012. The price was not disclosed.