Feeding flaxseed to sows during late-gestation and lactation affects mammary development but not mammary expression of selected genes in their offspring

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Mammary gland
composition and mammary gene expression were measured in pubertal gilts whose dam were fed a control (CTL) diet or a
diet with a 10% supplement of flaxseed (FS) during late-gestation and throughout lactation. Parenchymal weight
expressed as a percentage of body weight tended to be greater in offspring from FS compared with CTL sows (P<0.1) and to contain less fat (P<0.1). Offspring from FS sows had more parenchymal protein, whether expressed as a percentage (P<0.05) or total amount in tissue (P¡Ü0.05), than offspring from CTL sows. No changes (P>0.1) in mammary gland
expression of the studied genes were observed with dietary treatment.

Optimum duration of performance tests for evaluating growing pigs for growth and feed efficiency traits

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The optimum duration of test for the measurement of ADG, ADFI, feed:gain ratio and residual feed intake was examined in growing pigs. The results indicated that for growing pigs under good nutrition and ad libitum feeding, a 28-
day test was adequate for the measurement of feed intake, whereas a 35-day test was required to measure ADG,
feed:gain ratio, and residual feed intake without compromising the accuracy of measurement.

Changes in haptoglobin, C-reactive protein and pig-MAP during a housing period following long distance transport in swine

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a housing period following long distance transport on haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pig major acute phase protein (pig-MAP) in swine. The results indicate that stressors associated with transportation and new accommodation can cause an increase in Acute phase proteins that could be useful indicators of welfare during transport and routine management.

A note on genetic parameters for estrus symptoms in sows

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The aim of the study was to estimate genetic parameters and breeding values for estrus symptoms, a trait which included
swelling and reddening of the vulva, interest in the boar and strength of the standing reflex. This paper concludes that it seems that a selection for the trait estrus symptoms is possible but is not accompanied by a change in the litter size.

Consequences of pig domestication for skeletal muscle growth and cellularity

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Long-time domestication of the pig has lead to
substantial changes in the ontogenic development and
the contractile and metabolic properties of skeletal
muscle. Skeletal muscle of domestic pigs appears less
mature at birth and contains a lower number of
myofibers compared with wild-type pigs. The later
superiority of domestic pigs over wild-type pigs in skeletal muscle mass results mainly from accelerated
myofiber hypertrophy and protein accretion at the level
of transcription during postnatal growth. To less extent
there is a contribution by additional myofiber formation
shortly after birth in some muscles. In addition,
domestication was associated with a clear shift of
skeletal muscle to fast-twitch glycolytic properties.

The effects of feeding level upon protein and fat deposition in Iberian heavy pigs

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Beware a truck carrying gilts that hasn't been washed, disinfected and dried

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The role transportation of gilts can play in the spread
of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
(PRRS) is just one of the findings beginning to emerge from
an ambitious project that is looking at the spread of the
disease in Ontario. Launched in 2005 by University of Guelph
researchers Dr. Cate Dewey, chair of the Ontario Veterinary College’s department of population medicine, and Dr.
Zvonimir Poljak, an assistant professor with the department,
the project has mapped clinical problems linked with PRRS
in Ontario herds from September 2004 to August 2007. One of these is the recognition that if a truck carrying
gilts visited other farms before visiting your farm and
if it wasn’t always washed, disinfected and dried before it
arrived, “you were put at an increased risk of getting PRRS,”
says Dewey.
The problem is Ontario-specific, she adds, pointing out
that in some North American jurisdictions, “they wouldn’t
dream of putting gilts on a truck which hadn’t been cleaned.”

Effects of on-farm diets for organic pig production on performance and carcass quality

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In recent years, economic pressure on pig production
has resulted in intensification of production methods
in order to decrease production costs. As a consequence,
animal health and welfare and environmentally
friendly production have been pushed into the background.
Furthermore, the production of lean carcasses
to meet consumers’ demands for low-fat pork has resulted
in a substantial decrease of intramuscular fat
levels and an increased concern that eating quality may
be consequently reduced (Cisneros et al., 1996).
To face these new challenges, alternative production
methods such as organic livestock farming have been developed. Due to the extensive production
system there is doubt whether organic production can
meet the demands of high carcass quality (Branscheid,
1996). There is, however, very little information on the
impact of organic feeding regimes on growth, carcass,
and meat quality characteristics of pigs. The results from this experiment suggest that the organic livestock production standards do not necessarily
result in lower pig performance. The exclusion of synthetic
amino acids can be compensated for by other
protein sources such as potato protein. The avoidance
of supplementation with amino acids favors the production
of meat with high intramuscular fat without causing
an overly fat pig. The strategy to increase intramuscular
fat by a reduced supply of limited amino acids
requires further studies in relation to the impact on
palatability. The organic approach provides a tool for
producers to manipulate intramuscular fat levels to
meet specific market requirements with limited impact
of on-farm performance. The higher intramuscular fat
content has higher production costs than the conventional
product but is in tune with the philosophy of
organic agriculture.

Purdue begins national study of air quality at animal feeding operations

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Research has officially begun in the largest study ever conducted to measure levels of various gases and airborne pollutants emitted from poultry, dairy and swine facilities across the nation. Led by Purdue University, the 2.5 year, $14.6 million study is measuring the levels of hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter and ammonia, among other chemicals, released from livestock facilities. Measurements have started in locations throughout the country and will be underway at all 20 study sites in eight states by mid-summer. The National Air Emission Monitoring Study, conducted under the advisement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will record two continuous years of emission data at concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO). These comprise barns and manure storage units, such as lagoons. Using advanced measurement tools and methods; this study will fill gaps in EPA’s database, Dr. Heber says, since little quantitative research has been done on these emissions. Researchers will also measure emissions from open-air sources, such as dairy corrals and manure basins and lagoons. Specialized sensors, including lasers and reflectors, will measure levels of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia released. Other studies have shown that levels of emissions vary by temperature and time of day, factors that can be considered in developing better air emission controls, Dr. Heber says. Many of the producers whose farms are being monitored in the study have indicated receptiveness to follow-up studies on such mitigation strategies, he says. A pork operation located in the Oklahoma Panhandle has already been chosen as a research site. Dr. Casey and his crew from Texas A&M will monitor ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter, continuously, from the buildings while another researcher will periodically monitor emissions from the lagoon. Purdue has already sent a trailer fully equipped with instrumentation to the site, Dr. Casey explains. It will take about two months to install and calibrate the system. Dust at the pork operation will be measured by a piece of equipment called tapered element oscillating microbalance, the researcher says, which gives a continuous measurement of the air being exhausted from the fans on the building. Likewise, Dr. Casey says, samples from representative fans in each building will be drawn continuously by monitors to the instrument trailer and be analyzed for ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The Agricultural Air Research Council, a non-profit organization funded by livestock industry groups, is funding this study. The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards are overseeing the project.

Hydrogen Sulfide and Ammonia Receptor Concentrations in a Community of Multiple Swine Emission Sources: A Preliminary Study

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A Mobile Ambient Laboratory (MAL) was placed at a residence in a community with two swine‐barn emission sites and one land application area to observe real‐time atmospheric stability, ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations surrounding and within the residence during a 12‐week period. It was found that the concentrations and durations of NH3 and H2S measured in the ambient air surrounding the residence were far below recommended Minimum Risk Levels published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, for the protection of sensitive populations.