Mitochondrial DNA sequence variations in some Italian wild boar populations

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In order to investigate the relationships between Italian wild boar and major pig breeds, the genetic variability of four wild boar populations in Italy (Arezzo, Pisa, Parma, Bergamo) using a 533-bp fragment of the mitochondrial control region was studied. The findings suggest that in Italy wild boar populations have a mixed origin, both EU and AS, and that an interbreeding between wild and domesticated strains has probably occurred.

For more information the full article can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1439-0388/issues

Protein digestibility of porcine colostrum by neonatal pigs

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Determination of the digestibility of amino acids in colostrum will provide information about the amount of each
amino acid available from colostrum to the neonate. Requirement of individual amino acids can be accurately estimated
considering digestible amino acid contents rather than total amino acid contents. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the digestibility of proteins in porcine colostrum when fed to neonatal pigs. Considering limited fermentation in neonatal hind gut and infeasibility of ileal cannulation of neonatal pigs within a short recovery period, total track digestibility was measured to provide meaningful values. It was found that nearly all of the proteins and amino acids in porcine colostrum were absorbed by the small intestine of neonatal pigs. The high digestibility of non-immunoglobulin proteins from colostrum is consistent with its enormous nutritional importance for the survival, growth and development of the gut, as well as whole body growth and development. Findings from this study with piglets provided new invaluable information about the bioavailability of proteins in colostrum for neonates.

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

Organic Food and Farming Certification

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In June 2009 the Canadian government published the Organic Products Regulation to regulate organic certification in Canada for organic products. Details on this new regulation are available on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Canadian Organic Office website and at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2009/2009-06-24/html/sor-dors176-eng.html. The new regulation will be implemented on June 30, 2009.

Competing in the International Pork Market

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On June 5, 2008, the provincial government unveiled the long-term strategy and announced an investment of $356 million to stabilize and strengthen Alberta’s livestock industry through the transition toward a new competitive model. This strategy also unveiled mandatory traceability and the development of a new Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA). Recognizing that producers are aware of the need to target a product that consumers are prepared to pay a fair price for, open access to these markets and consumers is essential. Production and processing are dependent not only on access to affordable feed grain; regulatory requirements; labor costs and availability; technology adoption and management expertise, but also on investment dollars. ALMA has recognized the need to attract investment into Alberta, particularly from end-users overseas who may have an interest in further integrating their supply chain with a Canadian supply capability. ALMA is still very much in the organization-building stage. We are anticipating full incorporation by January 2009 and to be operational as an independent entity by April 1, 2009. In preparation, we have been in discussion with industry to further align marketing, supply chain and research strategies. Programs for supply chain development, including automation and product development, should be ready to roll out with the new fiscal year.

Antibiotic Resistance – The Global Perspective

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Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health issue, but the magnitude of its
importance to animal health is poorly understood. Most of the resistance
problems in humans arise from poor antibiotic use practices in human medicine, nevertheless, there is good evidence that antibiotic use in animals
increases the prevalence of resistance in some important bacterial pathogens
of humans, including Salmonella and Campylobacter. There is increasing
pressure to ensure that antibiotic use in all fields, both human and animal, is
prudent. Regulatory authorities are also under pressure to increase controls
on approval and use of antibiotics in animals, but there is agreement that any
such controls must first be justified on scientific grounds. Particular attention
has focused on antibiotic growth promoters and antibiotics critically important
for use in humans. There is good evidence that reductions in use of growth
promoters in finisher pigs would have few adverse outcomes, but reductions in
weaned pigs should be accompanied by alternate methods to deal with
diarrhea. Critically important antibiotics should be reserved for therapeutic use
of serious bacterial infections in pigs, and group treatments of these drugs
should be discouraged.

Digestible and net energy content of regular and white flakes of canola meals of black and yellow Brassica napus and B. junceae in pigs

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An experiment (factorial 3×2) was conducted in growing pigs to
measure the Digestible Energy (DE) content and estimate the Net Energy (NE) content of 3 different Canola Meal (CM): yellow B. napus (YBN); black B. napus (BBN) and yellow B. junceae (BJ) that were
toasted (regular flakes) or not (white flakes). A basal diet and 6 CM-based
diets (2/3 basal diet, 1/3 CM) were prepared. Forty-two growing pigs (28 kg; 6
per treatment) were kept in metabolic cages for 18 d and their faeces totally
collected for the last 10 d. The digestibilities (DM, N and energy) and DE and
NE content were measured. The NE content was estimated by means of
prediction equations based on the DE content and chemical composition of
the CM. Differences in the ‘CM type’ effect were observed; the YBN
presenting higher DM and energy digestibilities than BBN (P < 0.05). This could be ascribed to a lower NDF content (162 vs 217 g/kg, respectively) of the yellow-seeded canolas. A higher DE and NE content was observed for YBN as compared to BBN and BJ (P = 0.007). No difference was, however, observed for the 'CM type x flake' interaction or a flake effect (P > 0.05).

Make Biosecurity a Priority

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With the pork industry already suffering major financial stress from 18 months of operating losses, the recent outbreak of Type A H1N1 influenza came at the worst
possible time. Although the virus has not been found in pigs, it is estimated the disease has cost the industry nearly $500 million due to the misnaming of the condition
as “swine flu.” It was announced last week that USDA is taking steps to make a viral master seed available to develop vaccines that protect swine from the Type A H1N1 influenza. In
addition, it has been announced that a human vaccine may be available by October.
Meanwhile, producers must continue to take every precaution in protecting their herds against introduction of the virus. “If a worker has been exposed to influenza from a friend or family member and they must enter a swine barn, they really need to be wearing a valveless, well-fitted N-95
respirator which will help prevent aerosol emitted from a sneeze being transmitted to the pigs,” says Wagstrom. If a person has body aches or is running a temperature
they may be pre-symptomatic for a flu infection. A sneeze increases the danger of virus transmission.
Employees must also be instructed how to put on, position, adjust, and remove respirators. In addition, the NPB recommends that all swine barn workers receive flu
vaccination in the fall.

Estimation of the metabolizable energy content of meat and bone meal for swine

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Differences in species of origin, quantity of bones, and other factors produce variability in the proximate composition
and energy value of meat and bone meal (MBM). An assay of MBM from different sources that are different in composition may provide a prediction equation that is robust enough to be used in the prediction of energy value of MBM. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the apparent ME (AME) and nitrogen-corrected ME (AMEn) of 21 MBM samples and establish equations for predicting energy values of MBM for swine. The result of this study showed that MBM is, in addition to being a source of CP and minerals, a good energy source with an average AME value of 3,070 kcal/kg. In addition, the current study highlighted the potential of using proximate compositions for predicting the AME and AMEn of MBM for pigs. The study also established that in addition to the proximate compositions, factors that influence the utilization of these fractions, especially fat and CP, may have substantial impact on energy utilization of MBM. We believe that although other factors extrinsic to MBM may have influence on its energy utilization, the use of proximate fractions as well as the characteristics of these fractions should be sufficient for predicting the energy value of MBM for swine.

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

Novel H1N1: The ‘pandemic’ evolves

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Finally, it appears all but certain that we shall have a swine-origin H1N1 influenza vaccine sometime in the fall.
Seed strains developed at CDC are now in the hands of manufacturers and both Sanofi -Pasteur and GlaxoSmithKline
have announced government contracts to produce a vaccine. Unfortunately, we are still a year or two away from using a tissue culture based production technology; hence, we must continue to rely on egg-based production.
October and November seems a reasonable target date, with a possibility of some doses being available in September.
More likely than not, it will be a two-dose series, perhaps with adjuvant added as an antigen-sparing measure. It
is not at all clear how this vaccine will be integrated with seasonal vaccine administration.

Integrated anaerobic/aerobic biological treatment for intensive swine production

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Nowadays, manure treatment demand is increasing due to N
surplus in most of the European areas. De-localization of piggery farms to less concentrated areas, for full fertilizing nutrient recovering
by land spreading, is very difficult for several reasons: the
presence in the same areas of traditional crops and typical productions,
like in Italy the parmesan cheese, and also for other reasons
related to food quality and safety market strategies. One possible
solution is to export manure nutrients to less concentrated areas.
Therefore, technologies for manure valorisation and volume reduction
are needed. Solid/liquid separation of raw manure is a key
technology, since it can concentrate a high quantity of nutrients
in a small volume, making transportation off-farm easier and
cheaper. The remaining liquid fraction could be used on-farm as
fertilizer. Rather often, especially for large, intensive swine farms,
N surplus still remains after soli/liquid separation, therefore many
farmers will benefit with further treatment to reduce nitrogen
load. C/N ratio represents the main treatment bottle neck. Better
electron donors use is needed, therefore solid–liquid separation
as pre-treatment allows a more balanced C/N ratio in liquid fraction.
Among the available biological technologies, SBRs showed
the most promising performances. According to lab-scale as well
as full scale results, SBR allows up to 98% removal of COD, N and
P, and moreover it’s easy to be managed and controlled. Thus,
the proposed process can represent a new chance for solving environmental
problems generated by large industrial piggeries. Economic
evaluations indicated that the operative costs are
affordable by most pig farmers, with minor impact on meat price.
Electric energy costs, that represent the biggest cost item, can be
greatly reduced if the separated solids are anaerobically digested
for cogeneration. Co-digestion with energy crops and/or organic
wastes can even increase the profitability of the process. For these
reasons, in Italy, several integrated anaerobic/aerobic biological
treatment for intensive swine production are going to be constructed
and revamped in the near future.