Manure Injection Systems

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

This article shows different manure injection systems that are currently available. This article includes manure injection equipment from the following companies, Hydro Engineering, Kongskilde, AerWay, Husky Farm Equipment Limited, Houle, Bourgault, Yetter, Veenhuis, Balzer, Ag-Chem, DM Machinery and Bazooka Farmstar.

Profit Sensitivities to Feed Price and Pig Price with Varying Production Levels

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Levels of production in a farrow to finish operation have significant impact on
the bottom line under two of the four scenarios we have analyzed. From our
observations, we have demonstrated that when the revenue per hog is below that of a variable cost structure, the advantages of chasing reduced fixed cost
are eliminated. When revenue does not cover variable costs, the advantages
of gained in fixed cost savings through high output are quickly eroded, and
this situation promotes financial losses. This would suggest that maintaining
high pig production levels during any combination of feed cost level or any
type of pig price level is not always the best option for the bottom line. Our
model has shown that there are significant disadvantages to maintaining
constant high production during periods of low pig prices/high feed costs and
low pig prices/low feed costs in a farrow to finish operation. It is impossible to show all scenarios and the reality is that each farm has its
own. We have tried to keep a simple approach by showing the relationships
among fixed and variable costs, and productivity and income, in a few
scenarios.

Protein turnover in lactating sows

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Lactation demands a very high input of energy and protein for the production
of milk. It is difficult for sows to consume enough dietary energy to support
lactation and, thus, sows are forced use body tissue reserves. However,
excess catabolism of body protein for energy and amino acids is undesirable
for the productivity and longevity of sows. Protein turnover and energy
metabolism was simultaneously measured in sows on d 7 and 17 of lactation. It was found that their was a higher dietary intake of energy and protein on d 17 which reduced both whole body protein breakdown
and protein synthesis. This higher dietary energy intake on d 17 (13.4 MJ/d) was entirely accounted for by milk energy output (13.8 MJ/d). Also as energy and protein intake increased in these sows, it was
used almost exclusively for milk production. Milk energy production on d 17
was supported almost entirely by dietary energy intake. Nearly 100% of the
dietary protein intake was utilized for milk production in late lactation.

Growth performance of pigs fed on diets containing Acacia karroo, Acacia nilotica and Colophospermum mopane leaf meals

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Studies in which leaf meals have been included in the diet of pigs have shown that inclusion
levels of up to 10 % lead to weight gains and feed conversion efficiencies that are superior to
conventional control diets (D’Mello 1995). However, most studies have shown that inclusion of
leaf meals may increase growth rate but depress feed conversion efficiency (Ravindran 1993;
Halimani et al 2005). Most of the studies have assessed the response of the pigs over relatively
short periods (Halimani et al 2005; Leterme et al 2005). The objectives of the study were to
investigate the growth performance, feed intake, digestibility, production of salivary proline rich
proteins and indices of mitosis in the small intestine, liver and the kidneys in pigs fed on diets
containing 10 % Acacia karroo, Acacia nilotica and Colophospermum mopane over a 56-day
fattening period taking pigs to market weight. The hypothesis to be tested was that inclusion of
10 percent leaf meal in pig diets had no effect on growth performance. It is concluded that feeding leaf meals at low (10%) inclusion levels in the diet of pigs leads to a depression in digestibility of nutrients, an increase in endogenous protein secretion and an increase in the activity of liver enzymes. Also, inclusion of leaf meals in the fattening diets of pigs did not reduce growth rate and is, therefore, a potentially feasible technology that farmers can include in their pig production strategies.

Drinker to Nursery Pigs Ratio: Effects on Drinking Behavior and Performance

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The effect of cup waterer to pig ratio was evaluated to determine changes on nursery pig drinking behavior and performance in 7-week-old gilts. Pigs were housed 25 per pen and allotted 0.22 m2/pig in a nursery facility located in central Missouri. Pen was the experimental unit with 3 pens per treatment group. Ratios of 1:25 (Treatment 1), 1:12 (Treatment 2), and 1:8 (Treatment 3) were studied. Pigs were individually identified and their drinking behavior was videotaped on November 15–16, 2006, for subsequent behavioral quantification and statistical analysis.
A pig was defined as drinking when the head was over the drinker for at least 5 consecutive seconds. Treatment 3 pigs drank significantly more frequently (13.88 ˙ 0.84 in 6 hr) than those provided with 1 or 2 cup waterers per pen
(10.32 ˙ 0.95 and 10.60 ˙ 0.84 respectively; p D .0209). There was a trend (p D .06) for pigs provided 2 or 3 cup waterers per pen to have increased average daily gain compared with those provided a single drinker. This study
demonstrated that when pigs were offered more places to drink they visited the water bowl drinker more frequently during a 6-hr period, which tended to increase average daily gain in nursery-age pigs. Although further research is
needed to confirm these findings, a nursery providing a ratio closer to published guidelines may lead to increased performance.

A genome-wide scan reveals candidate susceptibility loci for pig hernias in an intercross between White Duroc and Erhualian

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The objective of this study was to identify susceptibility loci for umbilical and scrotal/ inguinal hernias using a genome scan in a White Druoc × Erhualian F2 intercross. Several previously reported chromosomal regions for scrotal/inguinal hernia were validated, and new evidence for linkage with this pig defect was found. Moreover, several susceptibility loci for pig umbilical hernia were detected for the first time. Further studies will be devoted to confirming the detected markers for scrotal/inguinal and umbilical hernias in outbred populations. Identification of causative mutations or closely linked markers for scrotal/inguinal and umbilical hernias could be used in marker-assisted selection schemes for removal of this genetic defect.

For the full text please subscribe to the Journal of Animal Science

Circovirus Vaccines Excel But Issues Persist

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Research trials reflect the integral role that vaccines continue to play.

Forms of P in Different Manures and Their Impact on P Runoff and Leaching Losses from Manure Amended Soils

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Final Report submitted to the Manitoba Livetock and Manure Management Initiative. Continuous application of manure P above crop removal results in a buildup of soil phosphorus (P), which increases the risk of P runoff loss from agricultural land, leading to environmental problems such as eutrophication of surface waters. There is little or no information about the forms of manure P that are correlated with risk of P loss after manure interacts with soil, especially for prairie soils. The objectives of this study were to quantify and compare P losses from liquid swine- and solid cattle- manure treated soils after incubating for 6 weeks, and to relate P losses to manure P forms and soil test P after incubation.

Application of Air Filtration Systems in Swine Operations

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There is a significant economic advantage to maintaining a PRRS negative herd, whether it is a boar stud, sow farm, or nursery-grow-finish. As the reality of aerosol transmission of PRRS, Swine Influenza, and Mycoplasma are being more accepted, any means to prevent aerosol transmission of these agents is of great interest. Our practice has taken an aggressive approach with our producers on air filtration systems. Six farms implemented filtration in 2005, five in 2006, eleven in 2007, and eleven in 2008. An important consideration for us from the start has been that we shouldn’t expect to never have a PRRS break just because we installed air filtration. However, if we can reduce the incidence of PRRS breaks significantly, it would be good return on the investment.

Influence of Pre-Slaughter Process on Pork Quality: An Overview

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The current review outlines the present knowledge of significant pre-slaughter factors affecting technological meat quality. It was found that in general, the recommendations would include feed withdrawal about 12–18 h
before transport and lairage to prevent dead losses and improve meat quality. Electric goads should not be used to make pigs move more rapidly and the load process onto the lorry deck should be facilitated within 1 h, for example by using collecting pens near to the lorry, hydraulic lifts, and reduced groups of pigs without mixing. The stress of animals during transport can be reduced by limiting the length of journey (around 1 h), guaranteeing an adequate preparation of animals (prior access to feed and water), a sufficient loading density (a maximum of 0.425 m2/100 kg) and adequate environmental conditions in the lorry (temperature, humidity, ventilation), and by ensuring good transport conditions (i.e., avoiding excess stops or waiting periods) that reduce stress to the animals. Prior to slaughtering, rest periods should minimize aggressive behavior and relax the animals. For that, recommendations include a lairage of 2–4 h, spraying pigs with cold water, adequate ventilation, supplying water ad libitum and no mixing pigs of unfamiliar groups. Special care must be taken during the transfer of pigs to the stunning system. These operations represent the main source of stress for pigs, especially when bad conditions are practiced. Here, sticks or electric prods to guide animals should be avoided and the animals should be guided in reduced groups along double corridors in order to have the best results in terms of carcass and meat quality.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lfri20