Evaluating Finishing Pig Growth During Summer and Winter in Bedded Hoop and Confinement Buildings

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Finishing pig growth in hoop and confinement buildings during summer and winter was evaluated using serial
ultrasound measurements of backfat (BF) thickness, loin muscle area (LMA), and serial weighing. It was found that in summer, BF accretion rates were greater for hoop pigs than confinement pigs 80 to 90 kg (P < 0.05), but did not differ 95 to 115 kg. In winter, BF accretion rates were similar 80 to 105 kg, but hoop pigs had less BF accretion 110 and 115 kg (P < 0.05). In summer, LMA accretion rates were similar 80, 85, and 100 to 115 kg, but were less for hoop pigs 90 and 95 kg (P < 0.001). In winter, the hoop pigs had greater LMA accretion rates 80 to 115 kg (P < 0.05). In summer, bodyweight gain was similar 80 to 95 kg, and was greater for hoop pigs 100 to 115 kg (P < 0.05). In winter, bodyweight gain was similar 100 to 115 kg, but was less for hoop pigs 80 to 95 kg (P < 0.05). Finishing pig growth is dependent on thermal environment. It is concluded that hoop‐reared pigs (particularly in winter) may compensate for an early lag with faster muscle growth and slower fat deposition later in finishing.

Relationship between myosin heavy chain isoform expression and muscling in several diverse pig breeds

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The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of the relative abundance of transcripts of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms and muscling in 3 pure breeds (Pietrain, Duroc, and Mongcai) and 2 crosses [Duroc × Pietrain (DUPI) and Duroc × Berlin Miniature pigs (DUMI)]. The results of this study are that MyHC IIb fibers are the most prominent in pigs having large LM area and implies that MyHC IIb is the determining fiber contributing to the differentiation of large and small loin eye muscle area in the pig.

Genetic variation at the alpha-1-fucosyltransferase (FUT1) gene in Asian wild boar and Chinese and Western commercial pig breeds

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Analysis of Cough Sounds for Diagnosis of Respiratory Infections in Intensive Pig Farmining

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The aim of this research is to compare the acoustic features of cough sounds originating from the mentioned infections and non‐infectious cough sounds provoked by inhalation of citric acid by means of labeling and sound analysis. The acoustic parameters investigated are peak frequency and duration of the cough signals. The differences resulting from the sound analysis confirm the variability in acoustical parameters according to health status or disease in the animals. In infections, there is a change in the status of the respiratory system; consequently, infectious coughs are different from non‐infectious coughs.

Influence of guanidination on apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in pigs fed diets with soybean meal, rapeseed meal or peas as a protein source

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The objectives of the present study were to determine
the effect of guanidination on the chemical composition,
AA profile of protein and apparent ileal AA digestibility
values of soybean meal, rapeseed meal and peas in diets
for pigs. The results show that the contents of crude protein and NDF in the protein
sources increased after guanidination and the content of
ash decreased. The effect of guanidination on the
chemical composition was different among the protein sources with larger changes in soybean meal and rapeseed
meal than in peas. Guanidination resulted in minor
changes in the AA profile of the protein sources. The AID
of CP and AA in soybean meal were higher than in
rapeseed meal with intermediate values for peas. The
uniformity and randomness of guanidination of rapeseed
meal may be questioned on the basis that the AIDof lysine
(Pb0.05) was lower in the guanidinated test meal than in
the diet. Further, guanidination increased the AID of CP
and most AA in soybean meal and peas but there was little
effect on the values in rapeseed meal.

Influences of lipopolysaccharide-induced immune challenge on performance and whole-body protein turnover in weanling pigs

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The present study was conducted to determine the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune challenge on performance and whole-body protein turnover in weanling pigs. It was found that the determination of protein turnover in weanling pigs would be useful in defining the effects of metabolic modifiers on protein accretion and refining protein requirements for growing animals. It has been already reported that immune stress alters nutrient requirements
(Williams et al., 1997). This study imply that regulating feed intake and providing sufficient amino acids for acute protein synthesis might be the nutritional strategies to alleviate the potential impacts of stress on animal health and production. But more researches are needed to quantify nutrient requirements for animals under stress.

Taking care of the details

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When it comes to the overall management of their hog
operation—and the manure management aspects in particular
—Henry Moore III says they work to take care of those details,
using Best Management Practices as guiding principles. “It’s a good
benchmark for our operation,” says Moore, president of
family-owned Bobcat Farms.
Along with colleague Alan Williams, Moore oversees a family
partnership consisting of a 5,000 sow-to-wean farm, an
8,800-head gilt development facility, and—just to round things
out—a 150-head Angus cow/calf operation near the town of Clinton, North Carolina. From the start, Moore and Williams have taken to managing
Bobcat Farms with a high degree of professionalism—and
technology. They opt to utilize PDAs and PCs, rather than pad and
pencil, for record keeping. Utilizing the manure is a great fit for them. In addition to the
water aspect of the manure that is beneficial to the land in the
summer, the contents of the manure, especially the nitrogen, are
all beneficial to the forage they grow for their cattle. “And we’re
lucky in that we have plenty of land for applying manure,” adds
Moore. Of their 500 acres, 350 acres of it is used for their cattle
program. What they have in place now is a manure model that
works for them, notes Moore.

Meeting environmental requirements for the land application of manure

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In an effort to save regulatory resources, the US Environmental Protection Agency and individual
states have interpreted the Clean Water Act in a manner that authorizes discharges from concentrated
animal feeding operations without the review of nutrient management plans. Environmental groups have
objected to the abbreviated regulatory procedures, and courts have ruled that permitting agencies must review
substantive documentation of effluent limitations contained in nutrient management plans. Proposed new federal regulations prescribing the requirement of a meaningful review of appropriate documentation by the permitting agency respond to the judicial mandates. To facilitate regulatory approval, regulators might use a state certification program to achieve the obligatory meaningful review. Independent certifiers would ensure that an operation’s land application of
manure meets federal water quality requirements.

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

Assessment of airborne bacteria and fungi in pig buildings in Korea

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Inhalation of biological contaminants in a pig building can be detrimental to a farm worker’s health through effects such as infection, allergy or toxicosis. The principal aim of this field study was to determine the concentrations and emissions of biological contaminants, i.e. airborne bacteria and fungi, in the different types of pig buildings in Korea to allow an objective comparison with the other countries in terms of pig housing types. Pig buildings in this research were selected using three criteria such as manure removal system, ventilation mode and the growth stage of the pigs. Measurements of the concentration and emission of total airborne bacteria and fungi in the pig buildings were performed in 5 housing types and on 15 farms. The concentrations of total airborne bacteria and fungi in the pig buildings were averaged to 4.13 log(cfum-3) and 3.14 log (cfum-3), respectively, and ranged from 1.16 to 10.26 log(cfum-3) and from 0.48 to 6.86 log(cfum-3), respectively. The mean emissions of total airborne bacteria and fungi per pig (75 kg in terms of liveweight) and area (m2) from pig buildings were 0.98 log(cfu h-1 pig-1) and 0.73 log(cfu h-1 pig-1) and 1.32 log(cfu h-1 m-2)
and 0.96 log(cfu h-1 m-2), respectively. The pig buildings with a deep-litter bed system showed the highest emissions of total airborne bacteria and fungi (p<0.05). However, the emissions of total airborne bacteria and fungi from the other pig buildings were not significantly different. This study showed that the mean concentrations of total airborne bacteria and fungi in pig buildings situated in Korea were generally lower than those in other countries. The mean emissions of total airborne bacteria and fungi in the pig buildings showed little differences between Korea and other countries. It was concluded that the concentrations and emissions of total airborne bacteria and fungi were relatively higher in the pig buildings which are managed with deep-litter bed systems and those ventilated naturally than other pig housing types.

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

The Impact of Swine Lagoon Seepage on Shallow Groundwater Quality: Groundwater Remediation through Lagoon Closure and Pumping

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An earlier study tested an unlined swine lagoon and detected elevated mineral nitrogen concentrations 38 m down gradient from the lagoon. The current study conducted hydrologic and water quality monitoring of the site from March 1999 to September 2004, a period during which the lagoon went from being semi-active to completely closed out. It was found that the average hydraulic gradient decreased from 0.0033 m m‐1, prior to the activation of a groundwater pumping system (Mar. 1999 to Jan. 2000) to 0.0010m m‐1 after pumping was initiated (Sept. 2000 to Sept. 2004). Also, the average hydraulic gradient was reduced by 70%. Since the installation of the pumping system, approximately 17,900 m3 of subsurface water has been pumped, removing 1200 kg of TN from the groundwater plume. TAN concentrations steadily declined from 120 mg L‐1 at the onset of pumping in September 2000 to less than 6 mg L‐1 by September 2004.