Differential vocal responses to physical and mental stressors in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa)

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Focussing on vocal expressions of distress, the present study examined vocal responses of 10-week-old domestic pigs during a classical conditioning paradigm, where a neutral light stimulus (conditioned stimulus) was repeatedly followed by a short electric shock (unconditioned stimulus). It is concluded that vocalisation elicited during stressful situations can serve as a differentiated indicator of stressor quality and can be used for the instantaneous assessment of the internal states of pigs.

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

Effect of δ-aminolevulinic acid on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters and the immune response of weanling pigs challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide

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In this study, the effect of dietary supplementation of ALA on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and
blood characteristics was assessed in weanling pigs. A secondary objective was to evaluate whether dietary
Delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) supplementation could improve immune responses during a period of inflammatory challenge. This study found that exogenous supplementation of δ- aminolevulinic acid in weanling pig diets resulted in
elevation of iron status and specific immune system parameters. Results suggest that δ-aminolevulinic acid has potential as a immunity enhancer in the diet of weanling pigs. This study was conducted under normal conditions (without iron deficiency); therefore, further research is necessary to evaluate the effect of δ- aminolevulinic acid on iron-deficient nursery pigs and its efficacy under commercial farm conditions where a greater disease challenge is present. In addition, the exact mechanism of δ-aminolevulinic acid action needs further investigation.

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

Estimates of genetic parameters for kyphosis in two crossbred swine populations

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This study estimated genetic parameters for degree of kyphosis from Duroc-Landrace F2 population and from a composite population composed of Duroc, Large White and 2 sources of Landrace. It was concluded that selection to decrease kyphosis should be effective and would not be expected to affect the number of ribs, lumbar vertebrae, nipple, or carcass length. Also, the selection for growth should not affect the incidence of kyphosis.

Response to dietary phosphorus deficiency is affected by genetic background in growing pigs

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This study was conducted to examine how genetics influence phosphorus utilization. At the end of the trial, carcass traits, meat quality, bone strength, and ash percentage were determined. The data indicated different mechanisms of phosphorus utlization between the genetic lines. Elucidating these mechanisms may lead to strategies to increase efficiency of growth in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Citrulline and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein: Longitudinal markers of postweaning small intestinal function in pigs?

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The objective of the current study was
to investigate whether plasma citrulline or intestinal
fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) concentrations
might be used as longitudinal markers for small intestinal
function in piglets after weaning. Plasma citrulline
and I-FABP concentrations were measured longitudinally
in weaned and unweaned piglets, and related to
intestinal absorption values (i.e., plasma mannitol and
d-xylose concentrations in a sugar absorption test).
Within each litter (n = 10), 2 piglets with a close-tolitter-
average BW were selected. At 20.8 ± 0.4 d of age,
the selected piglets per litter were either weaned conventionally
(CW) or remained with the sow (UNW).
One day before, and 0.5, 2, 4, and 7 d after weaning
of the CW piglets, the selected piglets of both groups
were subjected to a sugar absorption test. After a 2-h
fast, piglets were administered an oral dose of 2 mL/
kg of sugar solution, containing 50 mg/kg of mannitol
and 100 mg/kg of d-xylose. One hour after administration,
a blood sample was collected from a jugular vein
for determination of plasma I-FABP, citrulline, mannitol,
and d-xylose concentrations. Plasma I-FABP concentration
showed great variation within treatments,
and no difference was observed in plasma I-FABP concentrations
between the CW and UNW treatments (P
= 0.63). The absorption of d-xylose was not different
between treatments (P = 0.83). Mannitol absorption,
however, was less in the weaned CW piglets compared
with the UNW piglets (P = 0.003), with the nadir on d
4 postweaning. Weaning also reduced plasma citrulline
concentrations in the CW treatment compared with the
UNW treatment (P < 0.001). On d 4 and 7 postweaning, plasma citrulline concentrations of CW piglets were less (P < 0.001 and P = 0.0013) than preweaning values. Furthermore, in the CW treatment, plasma citrulline concentrations correlated with plasma mannitol concentrations at d 4 postweaning (r = 0.89, P = 0.008) and overall (r = 0.76, P = 0.001). Based on these results, plasma citrulline concentration seems to be a possible marker for monitoring intestinal function in pigs after weaning.

InraPorc: A model and decision support tool for the nutrition of growing pigs

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Nutritional systems, such as the net energy system or the ideal amino acid profile are widely developed in swine nutrition. These systems are based on the premise that the feeding value of feed ingredients and nutritional requirements of animals can be expressed on the same scale. However, it is generally acknowledged that nutrient utilisation is a dynamic phenomenon, implying that ‘value’ and ‘requirement’ are in fact the result of an interaction between the feed and the animal. To illustrate the existence of such an interaction, the current INRA-AFZ database of feed values (Sauvant et al., 2002) includes two digestible energy values for each feed ingredient: one for growing pigs and one for sows (Noblet et al., 2002). The systems approach (of which modelling is a formalisation) is ideally suited to account for interactions and to study different aspects of a system. Even though considerable progress has been made in the development of models of nutrient utilisation, application of these models beyond the context of research has been relatively modest. Over the past 25 years, different research programs have been carried out in our laboratory with the objective to develop response curves of animals to nutrient supplies. Animal production is facing new challenges that call for a more integrative approach towards nutrition. The objective of the InraPorc® project is to integrate the current state of knowledge in a nutritional model for growing pigs and sows, and make it available as a decision support tool to end-users. The objective for the growing pig (15–150 kg BW) model is to analyse nutrient utilisation for characterized pig types and to evaluate the effects of using different nutritional strategies in terms of nutrient utilisation, performance and carcass characteristics. As model parameters related to feed intake and growth potential are adjusted by the model user, growth (in an absolute sense) is not predicted. The model is based on the transformation of dietary nutrients to body protein and lipid, which are then used to predict body weight, lean body mass and backfat thickness. The representation of nutrient utilisation is mostly based on concepts used in net energy and ideal protein systems. Driving forces of the model include feed intake, the partitioning of energy between protein and lipid deposition, and availability of dietary protein and amino acids. Using literature data, the model appeared reasonably well capable of predicting the consequence of a nutrient intake restriction. The decision support tool is available at http://www.rennes.inra.fr/inraporc/. Through a user-friendly interface, the tool can be used to visualise different aspects of nutrient utilisation and excretion.

An evaluation of natural (RRR-{alpha}-tocopheryl acetate) and synthetic (all-rac-{alpha}-tocopheryl acetate) vitamin E fortification in the diet or drinking water of weanling pigs

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Three experiments conducted with weanling pigs evaluated the effects of vitamin E added to the drinking water or diet on plasma and tissue ƒ¿-tocopherol concentrations. It was found that when vitamin E was not added to the diet or water, plasma ƒ¿-tocopherol declined over the 21-d period. Although there were some interactions (P < 0.01), tissue and plasma ƒ¿-tocopherol concentrations increased linearly when vitamin E was added to the diet or water. The results from the second experiment indicate that plasma ƒ¿-tocopherol concentrations increased (P < 0.01) as vitamin E increased, with greater tissue ƒ¿-tocopherol concentrations (P < 0.01) when natural vitamin E was provided. The conclusions from experiment three plasma ƒ¿-tocopherol increased quadratically (P < 0.01) and plateaued at 8 to 10 h for each treatment group. These results indicate that adding vitaminEto the pigfs water supply at weaning was more effective in increasing plasma ƒ¿-tocopherol than when it was added to the diet during the initial 14 d postweaning, and that natural vitamin E was a superior source compared with synthetic vitamin E.

Optimal utilization of non-additive quantitative trait locus in animal breeding programs

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Idiopathic vesicular disease in swine in Manitoba

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In June of 2007, a ruptured vesicle, rounded with necrotic edges that were blue-grey, was noted on the snout
of a pig from a trailer load of 187 Canadian market hogs that arrived at a harvest facility in Minnesota from Manitoba. Further investigation of these pigs identified 12 animals that had red coalescing erosions on the snout. Another 25% to 30% of the pigs had broken vesicles along the coronary band that were swollen and blanched white, with tissues separating from the edge of the hoof and dewclaws sloughing from their attachments. Testing identified the presence of porcine circovirus and porcine enterovirus. Unfortunately, little is known about the causation
of idiopathic vesicular disease, outbreaks of which occur sporadically.

Effects of low-protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids on performance and intestinal development in piglets over the first 2 weeks after weaning

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The results of this study confirmed that reducing the dietary CP level associated with AA supplementation could
improve the utilization of dietary nitrogen in piglets. Intestinal morphology and some digestive enzyme activities were not influenced when dietary CP concentration was reduced from 23.1 to 18.9% in weaned pigs. However, some amino acids may be at insufficient levels to meet piglet requirements when reducing dietary CP concentration from 23.1 to 17.2%. This resulted in reduced feed intake, villous atrophy and reduction of some digestive enzymes activities leading to poor performance during the immediate post-weaning period. Therefore, the ideal protein profile should be further studied in low-protein diets and the correct balance of arginine or glutamine may be required to ensure optimal gut development and performance in weaned piglets when reducing dietary CP concentration from 23.1 to 17.2%.