The increase of slaughter weight in gilts as a strategy to optimize the production of Spanish high quality dry-cured ham

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

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of increasing the slaughter weight of gilts with regard to that of the barrows on the production of high quality dry-cured hams from Spain (Teruel ham). It is concluded that increasing the slaughter weight of gilts by 4 kg with respect to that of barrows optimized the criteria used for the selection of carcasses destined for the production of Teruel ham.

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

Farm Payments in the EU – their Distribution and Justification

Posted in: Economics by admin on | No Comments

This paper provides an overview of the development of past and present research and findings on the distributional aspects of direct payments. Used are the theory of federal fiscal relations to identify the policy agendas that should be handled at the EU level, at national levels, and at sub-national levels. It is then analysed how measures of concentration are affected if the criteria of direct payments are changed. Given the results of our simulations it is evident that changing the rules on the allocation of direct payments as the Commission suggested in the ‘health check’ process will affect the distribution. The interesting finding is that changes of the distribution within member states are happening ‘relatively’ easy while the relative ranking of concentration between member states is relatively stable. Only in a scenario of minimum payments of 500 € per holding and year the ranking of concentration between member states changes significantly. Currently CAP payments are hardly motivated by distributive considerations alone. Currently
they are justified to ease the process of integration for the agricultural community of
Member States that have recently entered the EU. Another purpose is to facilitate structural
adjustment of farms that are exposed to freer market conditions after decades of CAP interventions.
Moreover, as direct payments are only granted if standards of good agricultural and
environmental condition (“cross compliance”) are met, such payments have an environmental
facet as well. The current debate about strengthened modulation or abandoning the historical
model provides possibilities to improve the distribution of direct payments. At the same time,
taking into account the principle of “fiscal equivalence” could give guidance for
the question which of the issues currently addressed by direct payments should be addressed at
EU level or at the level of Member States. Income goals and environmental objectives are
brought forward to justify direct payments financed by the CAP budget. From a ‘fiscal equivalence’
perspective both objectives should be handled by Member States, and financed as well.

Swine Economics Report

Posted in: Economics by admin on | No Comments

USDA’s latest survey of the U.S. swine herd said the market herd was down 1.9% on June 1 and
the breeding herd was down 2.7% compared to 12 months earlier. The total inventory of hogs
was down 2.0%. The breeding inventory was smaller and the market hog inventory was a bit
larger than the average of trade forecasts. Hog slaughter will be down 3-4% this year and hopefully even more in 2010. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight to the string of financial losses plaguing producers.

Livestock Transport Conference tackles animal care at the front line

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

A North American focus on achieving humane, safe and effective livestock transport was the centre of discussion at the Livestock Transport Conference, Jan. 29, in Calgary, AB. The conference, themed “Are we there yet?” was hosted by Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). Livestock care is a growing focus of industry and consumers worldwide, and livestock transport is one of the most critical and visible components, AFAC board member Dr. Duane Landals told a packed house of over 120 people including transporters, livestock producers, researchers and other industry leaders. “Today there is increasing focus on animal welfare globally. But the
people in this room have shown we don’t need a global spotlight to force us to take care of the issues. When it comes to livestock care and livestock transport, we do what is right, because it is right.”

Evaluation of bacteriophages for prevention and treatment of diarrhea due to experimental enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O149 infection of pigs

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of selected phages individually and in combination in prevention and treatment of diarrhea due to experimental O149:H10:F4 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in weaned pigs. The findings indicate that the selected phages were effective in moderating the course of experimental O149:H10:F4 ETEC diarrhea in weaned pigs when given prophylactically or therapeutically.

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

Effects of dietary cysteamine supplementation on growth performance and whole-body protein turnover in finishing pigs

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Cysteamine (CS; mercaptoethylamine, HS–CH2–CH2–NH2) is biologically derived from cysteine metabolism. It can be used as a feed additive in animal production to stimulate the endocrine system and improve the growth rate of fish, piglets, and finishing pigs. Thus, CS can be a viable alternative in promoting the growth rate of pigs. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the growth promotion effect of dietary CS supplementation in finishing pigs and measure protein turnover in finishing pigs. It was found that the average daily gain and feed intake by CS supplementation
were increased by 19.5% and 15.4%, respectively. However, body weight and feed efficiency were not affected. The nitrogen balance trial indicated that nitrogen retention, nitrogen retention efficiency, and efficiency of digestible N utilization were increased to 62.8%, 54.6%, and 50.6% in CS supplementation group. Nitrogen intake, nitrogen
in feces and urine, and apparent nitrogen digestibility were not affected. CS supplementation affected
the whole-body protein turnover and resulted in a decreased protein breakdown rate (1.61 vs. 1.18 g N/kg W 0.75/d). Net protein gain in nitrogen was increased by 63.5%, however, protein synthesis rate, nitrogen flux, and endogenous urinary nitrogen were not affected. Therefore, dietary CS supplementation may improve growth performance
in finishing pigs.

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

Effect of sire and sex on the intramuscular fatty acid profile and indices for enzyme activities in pigs

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sex and sire differences on the intramuscular fattyy acid (FA) profile in slaughter pigs. Particular attention was paid to differences in the indices for enzyme activities (desaturases and elongases) involved in the n−3 and n−6 PUFA metabolism. Strong relationships were found between the IMF content and Δ9, Δ5, Δ6 desaturase and elongase activity indices in pork Longissimus muscle were apparent. Sex and sire had no or moderate effects on Δ9 desaturase and elongase activity indices in MUFA metabolism, but both animal factors significantly affected the long chain n−6 and n−3 PUFA metabolism.

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

The effect of sanitary status degradation and dietary tryptophan content on growth rate and tryptophan metabolism in weaning pigs

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

This experiment investigates the effects of low grade inflammation and dietary Trp on growth and Trp metabolism. The results indicate that a moderate inflammatory response was obtained by degrading the sanitary quality of environment. Additionally, poor sanitary conditions modified Trp metabolilsm, this means that the amount of Trp available for growth and other metabolic functions might be reduced.

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

Evaluation of corn grain with the genetically modified input trait DAS-59122-7 fed to growing-finishing pigs

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

A growth performance experiment was conducted to assess the feeding value of a double-stacked transgenic corn grain for growing-finishing pigs. This modified transgenic grain is resistant to western corn rootworm and is also tolerant to herbicides containing the active ingredient glufosinate-ammonium. It was concluded that the nutritional value of the modified transgenic corn grain containing event DAS-59122-7 was similar to that of the nontransgenic near-isoline control.

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

Genetic relationships of body composition, serum leptin, and age at puberty in gilts

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The objective of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEPR), paired box 5 (PAX5), aldo-keto reductase (AKR), and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) genes were associated with age, leptin concentration, backfat as an indicator of body condition, or BW at puberty in 3 lines of gilts and to characterize genetic relationships among these traits. The results are that a QTL that can decrease age at puberty without increasing BFP and BWP at puberty may exist in this region.

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