Survival of Pathogens During Storage of Livestock Manures

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on July 16, 2007 | No Comments

This study looks at the effects of different manure storage systems and how pathogens survive in each different system. Methods were developed to sample and analyses the manure. Several different storage systems and manure types were reviewed, and they were: dairy and swine liquid manures, dairy solid, poultry solid, and beef solid. For each type typical and modified methods were compared. For liquid manure, storage without fresh manure additions appeared to reduce some of the pathogens. Results from the dairy solid trials indicated that storage of calf manure separate from the milking herd manure resulted in a much greater degree of pathogen decline. The poultry manure composeted very quickly to the point that E.coli was below detection level. Pathogen decline in the solid beef manure piles appeared to be greater in covered piles, but the results varied depending on locations of the piles.

Evaluation of the prevalence of coccidia in Ontario suckling piglets and identification of a preventive treatment

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on July 6, 2007 | No Comments

In Europe, coccida has been found to cause enteritis, diarrhea and varying weight gain in suckling pigs. Most countries use the drug Baycox as a prevention to coccida, but in Canada the drug was banned in 2005. Also there is little to no information on the prevalence and impact of the parasite. The objectives of this study are to determine the importance of coccidia infections in suckling pigs, identify the preventative treatments used by Canadian veterinarians for coccidia infected pigs and to evaluate the efficacy of the most practical method. For objective one 50 swine herds were selected, the sizes of the operations ranged from 30-1700 sows. About 10 litters were randomly selected on each farm. A fecal sample was collected on 3-5  pigs in every litter and then tested to see if it was diarrheic and if coccidia was present. Coccidia was found in 70% of farms and on those farms the infection rate ranged from 5-100%. On farms that had tested positive for coccidia the average weight at 21 days of age was 400g less compared to negative farms. Discussions with swine vets revealed that the two most common treatment protocols were ad libitum provision of Deccox mixed with oral iron throughout the suckling period and a single treatment of Clinacox in the first week of the pigs life. These two treatments were evaluated and found that neither reduced the risk of coccidia infections or the risk of diarrhea. Also neither had beneficial effects on growth rates. The research concluded by saying coccodia is common among piglets aged 7-21 days of age and causes diarrhea and the current treatment methods appeared to not have any beneficial impact.

Environmental Characterization of Selected Dead Animal Disposal Methods

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on June 29, 2007 | No Comments

Disposal of dead farm animals has seen changes in the past few decades. Formally a farmer would get paid to have his dead animals picked up because there was value in the by products. Now a farmer must pay to have dead animals removed from the farm because of prion-related diseases that have almost eliminated the market for bone meal and meat products of dead animals. Many farmers have turned to cremation or composting. This study looks at the environmental impacts of on farm disposal of dead stock. Multiple cremation sights were tested for several contaiminets using ta consistent methodology. For contaminants that have provincial or federal emission guidelines or limits, the emissions from the units were typically close to or do better than the standards when a secondary chamber was installed that had sufficient temperature and residence time. Insufficient time and temperature and poorly designed facilities were found to have increased toxic contaminants in the stack discharge.

A Review of Gene Expression in Porcine Endometrial Lymphocytes, Endothelium and Trophoblasts During Pregnancy Success and Failure

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on June 13, 2007 | No Comments

In sows, the majority of fetal loss occurs in the implantation stage (G11-12), or later in mid-gestation. Angiogenesis must occur to provide nutrients to the growing fetuses, and can be done by increasing the surface area of the endometrial tissue or by increasing the density of blood vessels. VEGF binds to one of its two receptors on the maternal-fetal interface, and is responsible for endothelium cell proliferation, migration, and capillary permeability. Studying receptors for VEGF is complicated by the existence of a human, soluble VEGF-RI, and by PIGF which also binds VEGF-RI. Porcine endometrial cells have 2-3 times as many uterine natural killer cells (uNK), and studies on the purpose of this have mostly been performed for species other than porcine. Endometrial lymphocytes also contribute to angiogenesis, as indicated by VEGF and PIGF. In arresting conceptuses the levels of VEGF were lower, or not present, in lymphocytes; whereas, PIGF became elevated when failure was occurring. Increased PIGF could increase bioavailable VEGF, or help maturation of uNK cells. The level of transcription of either VEGF receptor was unchanged in conceptuse, but levels of VEGF-RI were higher in healthy sites to begin with. Endometrial endothelial cells attach to capillaries and make the blood-tissue interface, as well, they contribute to angiogenesis, provide paracrine signals for stem cell and organ development, and activate proliferation. Endothelial cells migrate by releasing degrading enzymes into the surrounding matrix, and moving into the opened area. Endothelial cells have increased PIGF and VEGF when pregnancy is occuring, and in fetal arrest VEGF transcription declines, but PIGF remains constant. Both receptors are transcribed, although VEGF-RII is done so at a higher level indicating endothelial cells and lymphocytes have different responses to VEGF. Porcine trophoblast research is limited, but in other species contributes to blood vessel development through angiogenesis, anti-angiogenesis, and vasoactive factors. Trophoblasts release the cytokines IFN-γ and IFN-δ, which are likely targeted to endometrial cells and could help activate and recruit lymphocytes. Trophoblasts transcribe higher VEGF than PIGF, but still at a lower level than lymphocytes. VEGF-RII is transcribed more than VEGF-RI, and VEGF-RI varies depending on gestation date, but does not vary during conceptuse failure. VEGF, PIGF, and VEGF-RII all decreased during conceptuse failure. Trophoblasts likely release stress signals to lymphocytes, which then withdraw angiogenesis and result in conceptuse failure. Lymphocytes, endothelial cells, and trophoblasts contribute to angiogenesis through transcription of VEGF, PIGF, VEGF-RI, and VEGF-RII. Angiogenesis is responsible for providing nutrients to conceptuses, and changes in transcription can indicate or contribute to pregnancy failure.

The Effects of Gender and Feeding Strategy on Growth Performance and Pork Quality

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on June 12, 2007 | No Comments

In this study three experiments were carried out to determine the effect that gender and feeding strategy had on growth performance and pork quality. The first trial consisted of 108 pigs in pens of six. They were either fed freely until they reached market or given a restricted diet of 70% or 85% of the free diet until they weighed 60kgs, at which point they were put on the free diet. Pigs on the restricted diet took longer to reach 60kgs than pigs on the free diet. But pigs on the restricted diet had faster growth after they reached 60kgs and were switched to a free diet, so in the end the days to market were fairly similar. The pigs on the restricted diet had less feed intake so feed efficiency was better. During the trail, compensatory gain during the finishing phase for barrows was more than gilts, but feed intake and feed efficiency was similar.Hot carcass weight, dressing percent and loin depth (final probe) were similar for each feeding strategy. Indicators revealed that meat tenderness was better for limit fed pigs. A disease outbreak made the second trials results uncompilable so a third trail was undertaken.The third trial consisted of one restricted diet of 70% of free diet based on body weight and one conventional diet that was free fed. Again it was found that the free diet had better growth results up to 60kgs, and the limited diet pigs had better gains after reaching 60kgs. Overall gains were less for the limited pigs as they were on a sustained limited feeding period. Overall intake was similar for each diet. Feed costs were lower for the restricted diet but after accounting for increased days to market the costs were similar. A proposed hypothesis was confirmed, stating that there should be 42 days of full feeding to maximize muscle protein degradation and improve meat tenderness.

Investigation of exposure to swine influenza viruses in Ontario (Canada) finisher herds in 2004 and 2005

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 30, 2007 | No Comments

The epidemiology of influenza in the North American swine population has changed since the emergence of a triple-reassortant H3N2 influenza virus. Although seen previously in North America, the Ontario swine population had likely been free of viruses of the reassortant H3N2 lineage until 2005. The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency and distribution of exposure to H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes in the Ontario finisher pig population prior to and after the H3N2 outbreak that occurred in 2005. This included investigating prevalence and spatial distribution of positive herds, assessing proportion of

random variation at different hierarchical levels, and evaluating selected demographic factors and management procedures as potential risk factors.

SEPT ENTREPRISES BRETONNES ET ~AFSSA DANS UN MEME PROJET

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 28, 2007 | No Comments

Sept PME specialisees dans I’equipement des elevages de porcs s’associent al’Afssa de Ploufragan dans un programme de recherche visant acerner Ie probleme de la qualite de I’air dans les salles de post-sevrage et d’engraissement.

On-Farm Feed Medication Use – Challenges and Opportunities

Posted in: Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 3, 2007 | No Comments

Medications in feed are regulated through Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Canadian Pork Council’s Quality Assurance Program (CQA), and feed manufacturer’s FeedAssure program. When using feed accredited by FeedAssure, record keeping is relatively clear, but bin changing bins is the producer’s responsibility. Premixes or supplements have more complex records, mixing, and cleaning regulations. The proposed federal Regulations Regarding the Manufacture of Medicated Feed will provide regulations for equipment testing and standardized equipment cleaning protocols.

On-Farm Feed Inspections

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) analyzes feed to ensure the ingredients, medication, contaminants, and ruminant feed material are all allowed and at acceptable levels. New medication regulations are in the process of being created, and acceptable medication levels are given in the Medicating Ingredient Brochure. Feed manufacturers are required to keep records on type and amount of medication used, and clean out procedures.

Recruiting and Training Employees

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Good employees can be hard to come by and to keep in the swine industry. Proper recruiting, training, and rewards can help retain good employees. Company goals should be set before hiring someone, so the new employee understands the goals before starting. Recruiting starts with finding people, interviewing, and a farm visit. After hiring, a clear job description and expectations should be discussed. Training should be done under a senior employee, and follow a set of SOPs. Theoretical training to improve knowledge about the animal and why things are done should also be included. Training new employees is expensive, so managers should work to retain them. This can be done by respect, motivation, and regular meetings to improve communication.