Substituting energy crops with organic wastes and agro-industrial residues for biogas production

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

The aim of this work was to evaluate the advantages of different substrates used in a full-scale biogas plant situated in a farm in northern Italy, by considering their potential biogas production and their prices in the market during the year 2007. For feeding the considered biogas plant, substitution of EC with some BR and OW was proposed as an example for other similar applications. It was found that a variety of residual biomasses, such as various BRs, AMs, and OWs, can substitute for ECs in AD for the purpose of biogas production, and may thus facilitate future development of agrarian economy. Biogas plants at farm level are good candidates for treating organic residues of municipalities and the agro-industrial sector in a cost-effective way and for providing territorially diffused electric and thermal power.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03014797

Cash Flow Hedges Have Accounting Implications

Posted in: Economics by admin on | No Comments

Hedging and key risk management principles have become mainstream financial tools for many pork producers as they look to manage the risks associated with buying grain and selling hogs. Hedging is an investment to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in an asset. Derivative contracts, such as futures, forwards, puts and calls are now a part of everyday operations as lenders encourage producers to implement risk management strategies. From a financial reporting perspective, these cash flow hedges are accounted for as purchase commitments, derivative contracts not electing hedge accounting and derivative contracts electing hedge accounting. Each of which are summarized in the article. However, make sure you discuss your strategy with your broker, accountant and those who utilize your financial statements to ensure you have considered all issues that may arise from the selection of these methods.

Assessing Consumer Preferences and Attitudes toward Imported Pork in Urban China

Posted in: Economics by admin on | No Comments

The objective of this study is to assess and measure consumers’ preferences and attitudes
towards U.S. pork. It was found that age had a negative effect on willingness to pay (WTP) for U.S. pork, relative to domestic or Chinese pork. It is plausible that older Chinese citizens are more reluctant to purchase foreign produced
goods because they are either less understanding of imported food products or due to nationalistic and patriotic reasons. The aggregate model also indicated that individuals that shop at international supermarkets have a higher willingness-to-pay for U.S. pork. The food safety variable is insignificant in the WTP model, indicating that consumers
have not established a clear link between U.S. pork and food safety issues.

Societal concern related to stocking density, pen size and group size in farm animal production

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

In this study available survey data from Flemish citizens, collected by the researchers during the period 2000–2006, in different waves and with different purposes, are explored in order to gain insights in the societal concern and perception of space allowance as an animal welfare issue. It was found that found that the societal concern of both stocking density and pen size is imperative within the full picture of farm animal welfare. In comparison with other animal welfare related aspects, both stocking density and pen size rank high in terms of perceived importance and receive relatively low evaluative belief scores. The perceived importance for group size is considerably lower as compared to stocking density and pen size, and citizen judgments are milder towards this aspect.

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

Infections with weakly haemolytic Brachyspira species in pigs with miscellaneous chronic diseases

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

The prevalence of infections with different Brachyspira species was assessed in 202 pigs with various chronic herd problems using different methods. It was shown that infections with weakly haemolytic Brachyspira spp. may contribute to colonic pathology in pigs with chronic herd problems and that mixed infections seem to occur more frequently than previously noticed.

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

Effect of a synthetic plate in the lying area on lying behaviour, degree of fouling and skin lesions at the leg joints of finishing pigs

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Flooring type may have a major influence on thermo-regulatory behaviour in finishing pigs, as well as on the occurrence of skin lesions at their leg joints and pen fouling. In this study, we compared the lying behaviour, pen fouling and the occurrence of leg lesions in finishing pigs kept in partly slatted pens with a concrete lying area covered with either a non-deformable synthetic plate or a small amount of straw (100 g per pig an day), or left bare, whilst controlling for the effects of temperature and pig weight.

Eighteen groups of 10 finishing pigs each were kept in six replicates in three pens with different floor types as described above. Lying behaviour was video recorded for 48 h at weights of <35 kg, 50–70 kg and >80 kg. A fouling score for the lying area was estimated daily. Pigs were examined for skin lesions around the carpal and tarsal joints upon introduction into the experimental pens at a mean weight of 28 kg (±3.9 S.D.) and four times thereafter at regular intervals until they reached 100 kg. Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed-effects models taking the hierarchical experimental design into account.

Floor type in the lying area did not affect the proportion of pigs lying laterally or sternally, or huddling. However, the proportion of pigs lying on the slatted floor was higher in pens with synthetic plate flooring compared to those with a straw layer and was even lower in pens with concrete flooring (p = 0.015). Fouling of the lying area increased as room
temperatures rose. This increase was sharper in pens with straw on the floor than in those with bare concrete flooring (interaction: p = 0.017), but did not differ between pens with a layer of straw and those with a synthetic plate flooring (interaction: p = 0.324). The likelihood of pigs having hairless patches or hyperkeratosis on the carpal joints was similar
in pens with synthetic plate flooring and in those with a layer of straw, but higher in bare concrete- floored pens. This pattern was also found with respect to the higher prevalence of adventitious bursae at the carpal joints and wounds at the tarsal joints found in pigs kept in pens with synthetic plate flooring.

In conclusion, our results indicate that the synthetic plate flooring studied may cause heat-loss problems, and does not improve floor quality in the lying area as regards skin lesions. From the point of view of pig welfare, it cannot therefore be considered a better alternative to bare concrete floors.

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

Effect of Lameness in Pigs in Terms of “Five Freedoms”

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

The concept of “five freedoms” is viewed as a tool to evaluate and represent nonhuman animal welfare. These freedoms are not mutually exclusive and differ in their extent of attainment at the farm level. At the herd level, the freedom
from pain, injury, and disease may be the most complicated freedom. Painful conditions, such as lameness in pigs, are seldom mentioned as challenges to pig welfare, regardless of their high prevalence. A disease such as lameness may affect all of the five freedoms. Lameness is often closely associated with pain, an important constituent of the five freedoms. Pain may persist for longer than the clinical signs and may not be visible due to hiding behavior. Inflammatory pain alters nociceptive information processing, leading to long-term adverse welfare consequences. Lameness can cause poor welfare and contribute to disease in a vicious cycle. A lame pig may not be able to move about and meet its feed and water requirements, taking away the freedom from hunger and thirst despite feed and water availability. At the herd level, shelter and resting areas are provided, considering the normal healthy pig, and sick pens are often devoted to extreme cases only. The absence of a “gold standard” restricts diagnosis of lameness and evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic measures when practiced. Lameness also hinders an animal’s ability to perform normal behavior. Often, conspecifics increase competition for resources and may aggravate the condition. The freedom from fear and distress is also violated when a pig becomes lame as the ability to demonstrate the survival instinct is physically restricted. Despite these obvious links between the effects of lameness and five freedoms, pig welfare is often
determined on easily measurable, systematically applied terms such as space allowance.

Interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight in growing-finishing swine: III. Carcass and fatty acid compositions

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Crossbred pigs were used to test the interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight on dissected carcass composition and fatty acid composition of composite carcass samples. It was found that the fat source did not alter pork primal cut yields, nor were the percentages of carcass muscle, fat and bone affected by dietary fat source. However, percentages of the whole shoulder and ham decreased linearly and the percentages of loin and belly increased. Therefore, it was concluded that dietary fat source did not affect carcass composition; however, including 5% soybean oil in swine diets increased the polyunsaturation of pork, which could lead to economic ramifications associated with soft pork and pork fat.

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

Transport Benchmark Study

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Powerpoint presented at the 2009 Livestock Transportation Conference.

Genetic parameters for performance traits in commercial sows estimated before and after an outbreak of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV), is globally the most economically important disease in commercial pigs, and novel control strategies are sought. This paper explores the potential to use host genetics to decrease the impact of PRRS on reproductive sows. The conclusions of this research is that there are within-breed genetic variation for commercially relevant traits that could be expoited in future breeding programs against PRRSV infection. Selection for PRRS resistance would be desirable to the industry because effective control measures remain elusive.

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