Effects of low-phytic acid corn, low-phytic acid soybean meal, and phytase on nutrient digestibility and excretion in growing pigs

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This study evaluated the effects of feeding low phytic acid (LPA) corn, LPA soybean meal, normal corn (NC), normal soybean meal (NSBM), and phytase on nutrient digestibility and excretion. It is concluded that feeding any combination of LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and the phytase additive would improve phosphorus digestibility and would dramatically decrease phosphorus excretion thereby reducing the potential impact of phosphorus from pig manure on the environment.

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

Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter in the U.S.

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Powerpoint presentation. Presented at the Livestock Transport Conference 2009.

Early deposition of n-3 fatty acids from tuna oil in lean and adipose tissue of fattening pigs is mainly permanent

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The objective of this study was to test for different tuna oil feeding regimens, focusing mainly on the efficiency to enrich lean and adipose tissue with n-3 fatty acids and the expression of the adverse side-effects on performance, carcass, and pork quality. It was concluded that tuna oil feeding resulted in a lighter, less red and less yellow backfat and was found to increase the proportion of n-3 fatty acids to total fatty acids in treatments. The results show that, particularly under the condition of a continuous supply, much of the n-3 fatty acids ingested in early fattening can be recovered in pork.

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

Torque teno virus infection in the pig and its potential role as a model of human infection

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Torque teno viruses (TTVs), of the genus Anellovirus, are single-stranded circular DNA viruses that infect many vertebrate species. Although viruses of this type have quite a stable genome, they exhibit low nucleotide homology. Torque teno virus infection has not been consistently linked to specific diseases, although there is epidemiological evidence of an association with disease in humans. The recent recognition of naturally occurring TTV infection in swine and its epidemiological resemblance to human TTV raises the possibility of using the pig as a model to study human TTV infection. Such an approach will require the development of novel investigative tools to study the epidemiology, transmission, immune responses and potential pathogenesis of TTV infection. The present review summarises
research on animal TTV infection, focussing in particular on TTV infection in the pig, and considers how a porcine experimental infection model might assist in the study of human TTV infection.

For more information the full article can be found at  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10900233

Acanthopanax senticosus extract as a dietary additive enhances the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in weaned piglets

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Our previous study indicated that Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) extract modified the cellular and humoral immune responses of weaned piglets by modulating the production of immunocytes, cytokines and antibodies (Kong et al., 2007a). Based on these results, we hypothesized that dietary supplementation with AS extract enhanced the digestibility of AA inweaned piglets. In the present study, this hypothesiswas tested by determining the serum contents and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of AA in weaned piglets on days 7, 14 and 28 after the initiation of treatment. It was found that AS extract is a promising alternative to antimicrobial agents, and could effectively enhance the digestibility and absorption of amino acids in weaned piglets.

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

Foraging of Iberian fattening pigs grazing natural pasture in the dehesa

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The purpose of the present study is to determine the daily grazing time, the components of diet, the voluntary
intake and the nutrient balance obtained by finishing Iberian pigs grazing in the dehesa pastures during the montanera period without any supplementary feed. It was found that the proportion of grass and acorns influences nutritional balance and fatty acid profile, which is the present official system (MAPA, 2007) to assess the absence of any supplementary feed during the montanera fattening of Iberian pigs. However, it has shown an individual and year variability in diet composition and these results can contribute to explain final fattening performance differences and meat quality. Considering that acorn production has been quantified in 8–14 kg per tree an Iberian pig should eat approximately the acorn production of 0.5–1 tree per day during montanera fattening. These results are useful to determine set stocking in order to guarantee the traditional finishing system without concentrates or any supplementary feed.

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

Manure Injection Systems

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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.