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Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Continuous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Effects on the Gut-Brain Axis in Swine
Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2007 | No Comments
Influence of different types of environmental enrichment on the behaviour of finishing pigs in two different housing systems 2. Ratio of pigs to enrichment
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Exploration is a biologically important behaviour used to gain information about the surrounding environment and available resources (Wemelsfelder and Birke, 1997). Pigs have developed foraging strategies that depend on high levels of exploratory behaviour involving the mouth and snout (Arey, 1993). Current EU legislation (Directive 2001/93/EC) requires that ‘‘. . . pigs must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat, . . .’’. Since the use of most particulate rooting materials in slatted systems can cause difficulties for slurry management, it is necessary to identify other forms of enrichment that meet the requirements of both the animal and the producer within the confines of the system as failure to provide adequate enrichment has been implicated in the development of adverse behaviours. In pens without bedding, exploratory behaviour is redirected towards pen-mates (Beattie et al., 2000; Kelly et al., 2000; Lyons et al., 1995) and pen components (Guy et al., 2002; Lyons et al., 1995). Tail-biting behaviour is also more prevalent under these conditions (Van de Weerd et al., 2005; Scott et al., in press). The aims of this experiment were to assess the effects of: (1) environmental enrichment with either straw bedding or a hanging manipulable toy and (2) the ratio of pigs to environmental enrichment when in the form of a hanging toy, on the behavioural responses and synchrony of behaviour in finishing pigs. One thousand and twenty four (Large White x Landrace) x Large White pigs were housed contemporarily, in 32 pen groups of 32 pigs (16 pens in each housing system), in matched straw-bedded (ST) or fully slatted (FS) buildings from 35 kg to slaughter at 104 kg liveweight. In the ST building, only the straw bedding enriched half of the pens and half received additional enrichment in the form of a single hanging ‘toy’. In the FS house, half of the pens were provided with the same hanging toy, whilst the remaining pens were provided with four such toys. Time spent in toy manipulation was <2% in both housing systems, and did not differ in comparison of the same toy in different housing systems, or the different numbers of the toy per pen within the FS house. Manipulation of straw bedding occupied a much higher proportion of time (21%). In the absence of straw, significantly more investigatory behaviours were directed towards pen components, with a similar tendency in behaviours directed at pen-mates. It was concluded that environmental enrichment in the form of a hanging toy failed to provide the same level of occupation as seen with straw bedding. Since the ratio of pigs to enrichment object had no effect on the level of enrichment manipulation, or on pig or pen-directed behaviours, this difference cannot be attributed to spatial limitation. Functional enrichment should occupy animals to a great extent to prevent them from performing adverse behaviours; therefore the reasons behind the difference in occupation time between straw manipulation and enrichment object interaction require further investigation.
Hyper-Prolificacy and Acceptable Post-Natal Development – A Possible Contradiction
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Although the components of litter size (ovulation rate, embryonic survival and uterine capacity) responsive to genetic selection are well established. However, the reality in existing “hyper-prolific” sows is that increased selection pressure for numbers born has led to indirect negative effects of intra-uterine crowding, reprogramming of fetal development, less efficient post-natal growth performance and adverse effects on carcass quality at slaughter. Therefore, a considerable amount of the variation in growth performance after birth may be pre-programmed during fetal development in the uterus (see Foxcroft and Town, 2004). The effects of prenatal programming on postnatal performance are not limited to effects on muscle development and growth. Harding et al. (2006) showed that the organs most notably affected by pre-natal programming in stillborn pigs with low birth weight were the heart, liver and spleen, with obvious implications for post-natal health outcomes generally. Both birth weight of the individual pig and between litter variation in birth weight are of considerable economic interest for pork production, as post-natal growth in the pre-weaning, nursery and grow-finish stages of production is impaired in low, compared with high, birth weight pigs (see review of Foxcroft et al., 2007). Available results indicate that pigs of low birth weight have poorer carcass and meat quality. Unfortunately, although selection for improved prolificacy has resulted in an increase of litter size at birth in most breeding populations, this has been associated with increased within-litter variation in piglet birth weight, as well as an overall decrease in average birth weight of the litter. The proportion of live-born vs. dead-born pigs within the litters of one population of hyper-prolific French sows suggests that the growth potential of the live-born pigs that survive to weaning will be seriously affected by intra-uterine competition with the increasing number of fetuses born dead. A better appreciation of the characteristics of prolific dam-lines is clearly needed. This information, and an increasing focus on the need to maximize total net revenues per sow in terms of the value of saleable pork products relative to the input costs involved per kg of pork sold, should drive the management of appropriate terminal dam-lines in the future. Ultimately, selection of sows with increased uterine capacity offers the best opportunity for increasing the number of pigs born per litter, without compromising the post-natal growth performance of these pigs. A comparison between the largest and smallest pigs within a litter has most frequently been used to study impacts of birth weight on postnatal growth performance. However, limitations in functional uterine capacity in hyper-prolific sows are predicted to result in prenatal programming effects on entire litters (Foxcroft et al., 2007). If this assumption is correct, then the origins of increasing variance in postnatal growth performance needs to be clarified as the basis for developing selection and production strategies that effectively address the problem. Innovative approaches to addressing the problems, as well as the opportunities presented by pre-natal programming of post-natal performance, will likely be the benchmark of the most profitable pork production systems in the next decade. In particular, these approaches will need to address the possible conflict between continued selection for hyper-prolificacy and increased variance in post-natal growth performance.
Latest Developments In Alternative Feedstuffs for Pigs
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Few crops have been developed primarily for livestock production. Zero-tannin faba beans (tannin being the highest anti-nutritional factor in faba beans) hold advantages over field peas such as higher crude protein and ability to grow better in variable conditions. Crop fractionation consists of the separation of the product into a main portion and one or more by-products. 2 by-products of importance come from the ethanol industry (Dried Distiller’s Grains with Solubles) and from the dry milling of wheat. These do have some negative aspects, for example, dry milling by-products contain more phytate, which mobilizes the need for xylanase and phytase enzymes to assist in the breakdown.
Effects of dietary energy and lysine intake during late gestation and lactation on blood metabolites, hormones, milk composition and reproductive performance in primiparous sows
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The effects of energy and lysine intake during late gestation and lactation
on the reproductive performance of primiparous sows were evaluated using 36 gilts. Sows were allocated to six dietary
treatments according to a 32 factorial arrangement and each treatment had six replicates. Three energy levels [low (EL),
medium (EM) and high (EH)] and two lysine levels [low (LL) and high (HL)] were used. Gilts with HL intake had more
weight (P=0.004) and backfat thickness (P=0.047) gain during gestation. Similar changes in sow body conditions were
observed during lactation. HL intake resulted in higher litter birth weight (P=0.001), weaning weight (P=0.001) and
growth rate (P<0.001) and shortened wean-to-estrus interval (P=0.001). Energy intake influenced the fat and lactose
content while lysine intake influenced the total solids and protein content in milk and colostrum. Gilts with HL had higher
insulin and lower creatinine levels during postfarrowing and weaning, while triglyceride concentration at weaning
increased with increasing of energy intake. The basal and pulses of LH were also influenced by lysine intake. In conclusion,
higher lysine intake than those recommended by National Research Council (1998) could improve performance during late
gestation and lactation in primiparous sows.
Canadian PRRS Eradication: A dream or a future reality?
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Cost of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is estimated to be about $100 millions Cdn per year. This represents $10 to $20 Cdn per pig produced in a PRRS positive system. Besides its impact on sow reproduction, pig mortality and treatment costs, PRRS has a direct impact on expression of diseases such as PCVAD (Porcine Circo Virus Associated Disease). This is why it is imperative to control this disease. In 2005, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) took a position that placed the AASV in the leadership role in a long term PRRS eradication project. Twenty-four members from Mexico, Canada and USA have been appointed to the North American PRRS Eradication Task Force (NAPETF). The main goals of the NAPETF are to define the needs concerning PRRS research as well as the educational and farm surveillance programs that must be put in place in order to control PRRS. The other action items coordinated by the NAPETF are the elaboration of a standard set of PRRS definitions and guidelines on good biosecurity practices, including transport vehicle management. PRRS eradication is the long-term goal, but the first step is PRRS stabilization of the herds. In order to stabilize a sow herd against PRRS, subpopulations of PRRS naïve animals must be eliminated and entry of PRRS viruses must be prevented. Semen must come from a PRRS negative boar stud, replacement gilts must come from a PRRS negative multiplication source, gilts must be acclimatized to PRRS virus before being introduced into a PRRS positive sow herd, and strict biosecurity measures must be respected. In general, when the sow herd has been stabilized to PRRS virus, then eradication can be an option. The different techniques of eradication are: depopulation / repopulation, herd closure and roll over, gilt acclimatization and roll over, as well as test and removal. After the sow herd has been stabilized to PRRSV and an eradication program has been completed, it is imperative that the health status be maintained. The maintenance of a PRRSV negative herd status depends on the biosecurity practices and the cooperative work. Biosecurity is pre-eminent to prevent reintroduction of the PRRS virus. The regular rules regarding biosecurity are to change boots, coveralls and wash your hands when entering a herd; materials to be introduced into the herd, must be free of feces and dust; it must be ideally double bagged and disinfected at entry. Control insect introduction through efficacious screens and insecticides.
PRRSV can travel 2.4 km through insects. Transport vehicles must be well washed, disinfected and dried (>8 h) between transport of PRRS positive and PRRS negative animals. Air filters are a new avenue in prevention of airborne transmission. This tool is now being used to protect boar studs all over the world. Long term PRRS control will rely on cooperative work between all the people from the industry; producers, veterinarians, transporters, researchers, etc. Each of us is sharing a role in PRRS control. To achieve these goals, sharing of information between veterinarians and producers is essential. PRRS status of the herds, PRRS virus sequence homology data and epidemiological studies are steps conducive to a better PRRS control. In conclusion, different PRRSV eradication techniques are available. However, before proceeding to eradication, herds must be PRRSV stable. Thorough follow up of the biosecurity measures will help to maintain the PRRSV negative status of the individual herds. Cooperative work is essential for long-term PRRS negative status of a whole region.
Containing Feed Cost Using Biofuel Co-products
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2007 was one of the most difficult years for swine producers in western Canada. Grain prices were record high and feed remains the single, most important cost of hog production. This paper briefly summarizes some recent research findings and reviews some feeding strategies to optimize the inclusion and utilization of biofuel co-products in Prairie hog diets. The primary feed issue with DDGS is what “truly” its dietary energy value is. The grain stock used to ferment has the greatest impact on the dietary energy value of DDGS. If a hog diet has a higher crude protein because that’s what has been least-cost formulated on using a DDGS mix, the nutritionist may not have a proper estimate of dietary energy. The only manner in which a nutritionist can predict animal growth when juggling such wide variation in ingredient nutrient provision is by utilizing the net energy system. Major contributors to DDGS variability are the amount of concentrated solubles added back and the drying process. Adding back the solubles creates lumps when a viscous liquid comes in contact with the drying, mash distillers’ grain. A way to dissolve the lumpiness of DDGS and prevent caking in storage bins thereafter is overdrying. The intensity of heat, the duration of heating, the speed of heating, and the equipment used for drying can cause amino acid (building blocks of protein) damage (i.e. reduced bioavailability); however, overheating at drying will increase the phosphorus availability (Batal 2006). Thus, the larger the inclusion level of DDGS in the diet, the lower the consequential need to supply phosphorus from inorganic sources (e.g., mono/dicalcium phosphate), resulting in feed cost savings. Assuming no detrimental effect on feed intake, the next concern with high inclusions of DDGS is the effect on carcass and pork quality. Feeding DDGS resulted in a marginal decrease in carcass dressing percent (Thacker 2006). Regarding pork quality, high corn DDGS inclusions are a greater concern than high wheat DDGS inclusions would be because corn DDGS contains nearly twice the fat content. Feeding unsaturated fats to hogs is known to cause soft or “fluffy” bellies. Bacon slabs don’t slide well and bacon strips tend to stick together at cooking. The taste and texture of lean pork become oily and mushy at chewing. Sausage quality is compromised, increasing the oily sweat off and reducing wiener firmness. Feeding decreasing levels of DDGS as hogs approach market weight is a strategy that should reduce feed cost and mitigate the negative effects on pork quality. Almost no research results are available yet for feeding canola press cake. It is an even more novel biofuel co-product in comparison to DDGS. The main issue with this co-product will be the variability in residual oil content after pressing. If cost were low, as per the DDGS trend, the two main issues restricting canola press cake inclusion rates in hog diets would be palatability (feed intake) and the effect on carcass and pork quality. We view the feeding of biofuel co-products as the way of the future as we enhance the food, feed and bio-industrial multi-use of raw agricultural commodities. The issues surrounding the nutrient variability of DDGS are a barrier to reliably predicting animal performance. Knowing the main grain stock, some processing details, adopting rapid scanning (NIRS) technology and formulating hog diets using the net energy system, should go a long way to containing feed cost for hog producers. But as the availability increases and co-product cost decreases, pork quality -if not voluntary feed intake first-, may be what will ultimately determine the highest levels of dietary inclusion of biofuel co-products.