Effects of yeast culture supplementation on growth performance, intestinal health, and immune response of nursery pigs

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

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of YC on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, intestinal ecology, and immune function changes of nursery pigs compared
with an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP). The results this study indicated that supplementation of 5 g/kg of YC improves growth performance of pigs probably by improving villus height, gut immune response, and nutrient digestibility. The results of the study also suggest that YC could be an alternative to AGP in diets for the weaning pigs.

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

Nest-building behaviour in sows and consequences for pig husbandry

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A better understanding of behaviour patterns in general and farrowing behaviour, including nest-building in sows, is essential for an economically successful pig production. Compared to their ancestor, the wild boar, domestic sows perform nest-building as part of maternal behaviour in a nearly unmodifiedway. However, the pre-parturient behaviour is considerably affected by the husbandry system and is only shown to its full extent when environmental circumstances allow it. If the sow cannot follow her natural behavioural need, for instance when no material is available, she redirects her nest-building behaviour towards the pen or crate equipment. This results in stereotypes and stress, followed by a reduced reproduction performance. With regard to animal health and welfare, loose farrowing systems provide a
good alternative while maintaining a high production performance. As long as these systems are not implemented, the
farmers should provide at least suitable nest-building material like straw. Concluding, further research should evaluate and promote alternative enriched systems in order to support the economic use of these systems for the farmers.

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

Will additional straw bedding in buildings housing cattle and pigs reduce ammonia emissions?

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Buildings housing livestock are the second largest source of ammonia (NH3) emissions from UK agriculture. In the UK c. 42% of NH3 emissions from buildings are from those in which cattle and pigs are bedded on straw. Additional straw may reduce NH3 emission by reducing airflow across surfaces soiled by urine, and by immobilization of ammonium–N.

The object of this study was to quantify the effects of increasing straw use on NH3 emission from buildings housing cattle or pigs. The extra straw was applied in increments of up to 100%, either over the entire floor (broadcast) or targeted to the areas where most excreta were deposited. An increase of 33% straw, broadcast over the entire floor, reduced NH3
emission from cattle by 50%, but greater addition did not give any further significant reduction. However, for pigs only the broadcast addition of 100% more straw reduced NH3 emission and then by only c. 20%.

Targeted use of an additional 33% straw reduced emission from cattle by 22%, compared with broadcasting the same quantity of straw, but further additions of targeted straw use did not increase abatement. When the straw was targeted in the pig buildings there was no benefit from using additional straw. Thus optimum results may be obtained from an addition of 33% extra straw, targeted to the soiled areas for cattle, but 100% extra straw broadcast over the whole floor for pigs.

For more information the full article can be found at  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15375110

Prevalence of Mycoplasma suis in slaughter pigs, with correlation of PCR results to hematological findings

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles by admin on | No Comments

This study examined the prevalence of M. suis in post-weaning pigs by employing a quantitative real-time LightCycler PCR. The study showed that M. suis infections are often under-diagnosed in pig husbandry and can therefore lead to considerable economic profit losses in pig husbandry. Furthermore, our study has shown that the LightCycler PCR could be an appropriate tool for a sufficiently coherent identification of M. suis in latent carrier animals in view of introducing effective treatment and disease control measures.

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

Breeding programme for Piétrain pigs in Bavaria with an estimation of genetic trends and effective population size

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The objective of this paper is to analyze the current population structure, performance testing and breeding scheme of the Bavarian Piétrain as a basis for further optimization studies of the breeding programme. Also current breeding programme, genetic trends and effective population size were estimated. It was found that the Bavarian Piétrain population, its effective population size and the performance testing capacity on station are large. Thus, there is great potential to achieve substantial and sustained breeding progress in the future. The breeding scheme and performance testing leave, however, room for improvement.

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

Genetic correlations and expected response for intramuscular fat content in a Duroc pig line

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The aims of this study were to estimate the genetic correlation of intramuscular fat (IMF) content with economic traits in a Duroc line used for producing high valued cured retail cuts and also to experimentally assess whether selection for body weight at restrained backfat depth is a good strategy for improving IMF content in this line. The opportunity was taken to examine the consistency of the model used for predicting the IMF breeding values and the expected selection response for IMF under different scenarios. The results from this study indicate that IMF can only be efficiently selected if it is systematically recorded. The pig lines aimed at producing elite cured products are the best candidates where investments in this kind of recording systems may pay off.

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

Do alternative marketing arrangements increase pork packers’ market power?

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In this article, we use structural econometrics to formally test whether the use of the AMAs by pork packers is the source of their market power on the spot (cash) market for live hogs. We extend Schroeter’s (1988) beef packing industry model and specify the packers’ conjectures of the change in total market procurement of live hogs through the spot market with respect to their own changes as the explicit functions of their AMAs supply stocks. Testing whether these stocks are significant determinants of the packers’ equilibrium conjectures can be taken as a test of whether the
use of the AMAs is a source of market power on the spot market for live hogs. The test is carried out using the USDA mandatory price reporting data. Our results show statistically significant market power of pork packers on
the spot market for live hogs, but the source of that market power cannot be narrowed down to the existence of AMAs stocks.

For more information the full article can be found at http://ajae.oxfordjournals.org/content/by/year

June 2009 Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report Summary

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The major problem in the hog industry is not the supply of pork, it is production costs. Corn price near $4
per bushel and soybean meal comparably high have increased the cost of producing pork $12 to $13 per
hundredweight compared to 5 years ago. High priced crude oil resulted in high priced gasoline and high
ethanol prices resulted in high corn prices relative to the 35 years prior to 2008. In fact, the profit per hog
in the second quarter would have been $7 to $12 per head with $2 corn. In the June Hogs and Pigs report, the inventory of 180 lb. and heavier market weight hogs was relatively
close to the June slaughter. However, slaughter in the second quarter has been larger than indicated by the
March 1 market inventory when one considers the smaller live hog import from Canada. Hog weights
indicate marketings were not kept current in the second quarter with a year earlier by at least 2 days and
possibly 3 days. Barrow and gilt carcass weights for the most recent week in June were 4 lbs. heavier than
last year. The bottom line is that the June Hogs and Pigs report confirms our belief that producers need to reduce the
breeding herd another 5% or more to get the industry profitable.

Health is King in Good Times and Bad

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One consistent theme continues to be true through good times and especially during bad times — health
is king. Be diligent in lowering costs.

However, protect herd health. Diseases can strike quickly or cause slow, nagging problems that increase production
costs. Herd health decisions are very difficult and shouid not be made without an accurate picture of the disease risks
on your farm. Work with your local veterinarian to identify which diseases are risks to your herd and which can
be effectively controlled with vaccines or other control measures.

Effect of age on the behavioral and physiological responses of piglets to tail docking and ear notching

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This experiment compares the effects of processing piglets during the first 24 hours versus 3 days of age on suckling and pain related behaviour as well as the passive transfer of immunoglobulines, and growth. It was concluded that processed piglets had decreased immunoglobuline serum concentrations compared to sham-processed and control piglets, and there was no interactio between treatment and age of treatment. Tail docking and ear notching do not appear to result in short-term pain and modulated immune status. Also, processing on day 1 appear neither better or worse than processing on day 3. 

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