Isolation, expression patterns and SNP frequencies of the porcine PHKG2 gene

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

With the development of molecular genetics, genes involved in the main metabolic pathways related to animal
growth and development need more detailed studies. This study was planned with an objective to reveal the sequence, expression profile, genotypes and haplotype frequencies harboring three polymorphisms of the PHKG2 gene in pigs.

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

Designer Feeds & Supplements

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Included in this article are the results from different feeds and supplements including: Micro-Aid, Desert King International, Zeolite, Agroin, MicroSource S, DUA from Helfter Feeds, NutriDense, SHAC’s Feed Additive for hogs,

Ventilation on the move

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The difficult part about getting a handle on your ventilation system is that air is
invisible. In a big barn, it’s hard to see what’s really taking place. Dale Ricker, swine
program specialist with Ohio State University Extension, and his colleagues have
made it easier to visualize this problem. He and his team have built a trailer that uses
smoke to let farmers see up close how to improve their systems. Ricker’s goal is to have farmers walk away with the skills to make improvements to their own ventilation systems and experience better performance.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

“MRSA” is a short form for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In the
media, MRSA is often described as a “superbug”. It is definitely a serious
human health issue that is evolving from a problem confined to hospitals to a
much more general concern and certainly deserves attention. A variety of spa types have been isolated from pigs and their human
contacts, however the majority of those spa types are classified as sequence
type (ST) 398 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), suggesting that ST398
strains are somehow more adept at colonizing pigs and can be transmitted
between pigs and their human contacts. It is now thought that ST398 S.
aureus is truly a pig (or food animal) origin strain. It is becoming increasingly clear that MRSA is widely distributed in the pig
population internationally. Currently, there is no information about whether
MRSA eradication is possible (or necessary) on farms. The possibility that MRSA may be a foodborne pathogen is of concern for the pork industry, largely because of concerns about consumer confidence given
the high profile nature of this pathogen. Studies are ongoing to determine
sources of pork contamination and determine the relevance of contamination.
Realistically, safe meat handling practices that are already recommended
should be adequate for MRSA, and education of consumers may be the main
need.

Possible reasons for the high variability of the digestible energy content of field peas in pigs

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

A sequential in vitro hydrolysis of starch was carried out to mimic digestion in
the stomach and small intestine of the pig (pepsin 120 min + mixture of
pancreatin, isomaltase and maltase for 240 min). Samples were taken at
different times and analyzed for glucose. The rate of fermentation of the
residues of hydrolysis was measured after incubation in a solution containing
bacteria collected from pig large intestines and estimation of the amount of
gas produced after fermentation. Differences in starch hydrolysis were
observed after 140 min of incubation. The Camry and Cooper pea cultivars
presented the highest rate of hydrolysis (98 and 91%, respectively) and Midas
and Montero the lowest (75 and 74 %, respectively; P < 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between the rate of starch hydrolysis and the NDF content of peas (r = -0.55; P = 0.036). The residues of hydrolysis of the Midas and Montero cultivars presented the highest rates of fibre fermentation (P < 0.001) in the large intestine, expressed by the total amount of gas produced after fermentation (252 and 254 ml, respectively; P < 0.001) and Sage, the lowest (232 ml of gas produced). The latter cultivar had also the highest NDF content (205 vs 132-186 g/kg DM for the other cultivars).

Community Impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Indiana

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The expansion of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Indiana has been controversial. The purpose of this research was to learn more about the issues and the impact of CAFOs on local communities. It was found that CAFOs in the survey are mainly operated by younger more well‐educated managers than what we broadly see in agriculture. Also, placement of a CAFO will provide rural jobs, including part‐time, flexible hours work. Rural managerial opportunity for beginning farmers and opportunity for local sale of feed grain products. Finally, impacts of a CAFO on the community economy will be unevenly dispersed as only a few individuals & businesses will realize direct impacts. However, indirect impacts will be realized such as through the net change in economic activity and through the impact on public costs and receipts.

Effect of Corn price on Profitability of Control Vs Phytase Enhanced Diet of Hogs

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The purpose of this research is to document the findings of the recent field trials in Oklahoma that tested the effect of phytase enhanced diets on reducing phosphorus emission. An economic simulation model (SIMETAR) was constructed to investigate whether reduced nitrogen and phytase enhanced diets had a significant effect on reducing feed cost. In particular, the effect of future corn price on cost of control vs Phytase enhanced diet of hog will be documented. It is found that the lower excretion diet will be less costly than the control diet during this unprecedented level of soaring corn prices. Also, previous researchers have found that the control diet is not environmental friendly diet. . A key issue that has emerged is the role of animal waste products. During the “cheap energy” era of the 1990’s animal waste products were internalized by hog producers as costs. Given the rise in energy prices and its commensurate effects on fertilizer prices, it’s possible that animal waste products have crossed the threshold from an internalized cost to an external benefit. Swine effluent is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous and can be a substitute for inorganic sources of nutrients if economic conditions are sufficiently favorable. It is necessary to assess economic profitability under high energy and feedstock prices.

Influenza: yet another surprise

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The H1N1 influenza virus causing the outbreak has evidently never been seen before and has been described as having components of human, avian and swine sources in its genome. If true, this would strongly suggest multiple reassortant events in the past. A recent Pro-Med Mail posting, dated April 28, however disputes that, and claims that a Columbia University laboratory analysis revealed only components of swine origin. The actual origin of this virus is but one of the unknowns that await clarification. remain for the future. Meanwhile, the 2008-2009 seasonal influenza outbreak has all but ended. It consisted of mostly H1N1 and B infection, with very little H3N2. Hence there was no excess pneumonia and influenza mortality, and the other parameters of surveillance were quite mild compared to previous years.

Manure Value and Alteration of Composition

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Powerpoint slides on typical manure nutrient concentration, value based on fertilizer price, manure as fertilizer: rules for success, how to sample lagoons, and where to get manure tested. He then explains why manure is valuable as fertilizer and how many acres are already fertilized this way.

Greenhouse Gas Microbiology in Wet and Dry Straw Crust Covering Pig Slurry

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

Liquid manure (slurry) storages are sources of gases such as ammonia (NH3) and methane (CH4). Danish slurry storages
are required to be covered to reduce NH3 emissions and often a floating crust of straw is applied. This study investigated whether physical properties of the crust or crust microbiology had an effect on the emission of the potent greenhouse gases CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2O) when crust moisture was manipulated (“dry”, “moderate”, and “wet”). The dry crust had the deepest oxygen penetration (45 mm as compared to 20 mm in the wet treatment) as measured with  microsensors, the highest amounts of nitrogen oxides (NO2 – and NO3–) (up to 36 &#956;mol g–1 wet weight) and the highest emissions of N2O and CH4. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and gene-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to detect occurrence of bacterial groups. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were abundant in all three crust types, whereas nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were undetectable and methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) were only sparsely present in the wet treatment. A change to anoxia did not affect the CH4 emission indicating the virtual absence of aerobic methane oxidation in the investigated 2-mo old crusts. However, an increase in N2O emission was observed in all crusted treatments exposed to anoxia, and this was probably a result of denitrification based on NOx – that had accumulated in the crust during oxic conditions. To reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, floating crust should be managed to optimize conditions for methanotrophs.

For more information the full article can be found at https://www.agronomy.org/publications/jeq