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

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

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.

Effects of supplemental magnesium aspartate and short-duration transportation on postmortem meat quality and gene expression of μ-calpain and calpastatin of finishing pigs

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The aim of this study was to test the effects of supplementing swine finishing diets with magnesium (Mg) and short duration transportation stress on blood parameters, pork quality and μ-calpain and calpastatin mRNA levels of muscle
of finishing pigs. It was found that short-duration transportation elicited the expected endocrine and blood metabolite responses to stress in pigs, and improved color and pH values of pork, but reduced tenderness of meat, which may be related to increase of mRNA level of calpastatin in pigs subjected to transportation. Supplementation of magnesium aspartate (MgAsp) improved pork color, and had a trend to ameliorate tenderness impaired by the transportation stress, which may be partly due to a trend to increase mRNA level of μ-calpain with supplementation of MgAsp. However, the functional mechanism of MgAsp on pork quality needs further investigation.

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

Manure biogas developer ready for round two as green power trend grows

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Grant Meikle of Open Energy admits his first attempt at developing a manure- to- electricity project did not turn
out exactly as he planned, but he is not ready to throw in the towel on the technology. The technology to capture biogas from hog manure, imported to North America from Luxembourg by BioGem Power Systems, creates a pathogen-free dry compost as one by-product. It has been used as organic manure or dairy barn bedding. The Iron Creek Hutterite Colony was the first to apply the BioGem Power Systems anaerobic digester technology in North America, but low power rates and internal water supply issues made the project difficult to justify after three years in operation. These vessels are now used for manure storage. Also, BioGem Systems was wound down as a company, as lower energy prices and the slow pace of government support for green power made it hard to build a strong business case to move forward with the venture. However, Meikle and his Open Energy partners now feel re-energized given the current state of public interest  and a number of groundbreaking recent government initiatives that they believe are rekindling growth potential in such alternative energy projects as manure conversion to biogas.

Unilateral vs. Bilateral Incentives: Evidence from the U.S. Pork Industry

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This paper employs incentive theory and the concept of price discovery costs to offer a theoretical model and empirical evidence on the differential incentive effects of the two alternate organizational forms on the intertemporal quality of hogs in the production-processing stage of the pork value chain. The analytical results reveal that the net value of long-term contracts compared to spot markets increases when pork packers face difficulties related to the discovery and timely dissemination of optimal incentive prices for procuring certain quality attributes of hogs. Taking advantage of bundling a series of transactions and initiating lock-in relationship, the hog buyers find a way to economize on the costs of information incurred otherwise. It sheds light on how costly it is to discover an optimal price when the price should be determined beyond market demand and supply quantity dimensions, and thus informs the evolution of modes and design in organizing a particular transaction, which are distinguished from transaction cost considerations which emphasize safeguards against hold-up or misrepresentation incentives based on asset specificity or measurement imperfections. Second our theoretical and empirical exercise offers a novel method to measure the differential incentive effects of long-term procurement contracts versus spot transactions, which are rarely found in the existing literature. Based on behavioral models that capture key characteristics of distinct incentive structures across spot markets and two types of contracts, our analytical results account for why different organizational forms result in different economic outcomes, not merely describing them. However, the aggregate nature of the data precludes us from systematically controlling any noise factors from measuring the incentive effects, which may reduce the robustness of our empirical results.

Fluctuation and Cycle of Pork Price in China

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This study used a Census x12 Seasonal Adjustment Method and Hodrick-Prescott Filter Method as well as Frequency (band-pass) Filter Method. It was found that the fluctuation of pork price in China displays obvious and regular seasonal feature. Monthly price in May-June annually is the lowest point of the year, but in January- February and October- December price keeps at a high level. Secondly, unexpected event or contingency shocks make dramatic change in pork price and then damage consumer’s welfare and producer’s income in China. The occurrence and the spread of animal epidemic disease, which can cause large reduction in quantity of sows and the piglets, may be the main reason of price shake in later period. Thirdly, over the long term, pork price in China appears a rising trend reflect the increasing hog production cast due to high price of feed, labor and energy, which also fits with the growth and improvement of socio-economic development level and people’s living standards. Finally, pork price in China approximately experienced three complete cycles from 1996.1 to 2009.5. The cyclical length lies in 37-49 months; the average length is about 42.33 months. The fluctuation scope is similar between the first and third cycle, while the second cycle is relatively smooth and the fourth one is fair turbulent. It is in the falling trend now and may experienced long time in low price. But for most farmers, the hog price is almost break even point, if hog and pock price continuously declines, hog farmers will get loss again. It is urgent to make polices to protest hog farmers’ income.

Porcine circovirus type 2 in muscle and bone marrow is infectious and transmissible to naïve pigs by oral consumption

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The objectives of this study were to determine if pork products from PCV2-infected pigs contain PCV2 DNA/antigen and to determine if the PCV2 present in the tissues is infectious by performing in vitro and in vivo studies. Results from this study indicate that uncooked PCV2 DNA positive lymphoid tissues, bone marrow, and skeletal muscle from PCV2 viremic pigs contain sufficient amount of infectious PCV2 to infect naïve pigs by the oral route.

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

Reliability of temperament tests on finishing pigs in group-housing and comparison to social tests

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This study focused on temperament tests in group-housed finishing pigs, with the objective of validating measures that are readily applicable in commercial settings and potentially related to individual differences in stress response. At 24 weeks of age, animals were subjected to three tests of fear in the home pen: the human approach test (HAT), novel object test (NOT) and open door test(ODT). It was found that latency to perform all three fear tests decreased significantly over time. Comparisons between group fear tests and social tests showed that pigs which readily approach a human tended to have higher lesion scores and fewer feeding bouts in the feed competition trial. While test latencies decrease with repetition, the HAT and ODT show individual consistency over time, which suggests that these tests describe behavioural tendencies and may be useful for predicting fearful responses at slaughter.

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