SEARCH
Industry Partners
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:
Comparative sequences of the canine and feline vasopressin prohormones
Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 2007 | No Comments
Cognitive enrichment affects behavioural reactivity in domestic pigs
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Environmental enrichment can be defined as an increase of the biological relevance of captive environments by appropriate modifications resulting in an improvement of the biological functioning of captive animals (Newberry, 1995). In general, enrichment should present objects or situations to act with a rewarding outcome. In applied ethology improved animal welfare and health as well as an adequate coping with stress are major indicators for assessing the relationship between farm animals and their housing environment. Animals interpret their interactions with the environment in an emotional way on the basis of present and previous experience (Wiepkema and Koolhaas, 1992). This will be the case especially if an animal can expect a rewarding result (Spruijt et al., 2001). Up to now, the development of cognitive tasks to study emotional or hedonic states in animals is rather rare and predominantly restricted to laboratory animals (e.g. Harding et al., 2004; Van der Harst et al., 2005). Therefore, there is an urgent need for increasing experimental research on this field, which should necessarily include farm animals. For this purpose we have recently developed a food-rewarded learning system for pigs using acoustic cues in a combination of classical and operant conditioning techniques (Ernst et al., 2005). The purpose of the present paper was to verify that automated feeding by offering cognitive challenges is functioning reliably and does not impair weight development in replicated trials with pig groups, as should be expected by a successful learning behaviour. However, the main goal was to investigate the effects of a sustained cognitive enrichment on the general behavioural reactivity of domestic pigs. The present study investigated the characteristics of learning behaviour in seven experimental groups (n = 8 individuals each) of growing pigs in postnatal weeks 7–20. The behavioural budget of each group was observed weekly within the housing environment and compared to seven conventionally fed control groups (n = 8), which were supplied with an equal food amount. The alterations of individual behavioural responses after 6 and 12 weeks of cognitive enrichment were analysed in combined open-field/novel-object tests and compared to controls. All experimental pigs were able to discriminate reliably an individual tone that was associated with a locally changing feeding site. Generally, the animals were also willing to work for food (push a button) but this motivation varied considerably between the groups ranging from FR 1 to 10. Sustained cognitive enrichment also affected other behavioural patterns within the housing environment as indicated by an increased locomotor behaviour and less belly nosing. Behavioural test responses were altered towards a greater reduction in open-field activity as well as a reduced excitement and fear behaviour compared to control pigs. Behavioural differences seem to be more pronounced the longer pigs were faced with the cognitive challenge. However, with equal food intake, the weight gain of the experimental pigs was not different compared to the controls. The present study suggests that, in domestic pigs, the presented cognitive enrichment may induce repeated positive appraisals in pigs by the association of successful coping with a demanding behavioural task rewarded by several small portions of food during the day. This appears to agree very well with pigs’ motivational needs and may also be applicable for animal welfare enhancing management of feeding.
Throughput and Economics: Challenges of Constipated Barns
Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments
Fungal survival in ensiled swine faeces
Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments
Effects of allometric space allowance and weight group composition on grower-finisher pigs
Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments
Efficient utilization of pen space without adversely affecting the productivity and well-being of pigs is important for pork production. Previous studies on floor space allowance for grower-finisher pigs have been based on production performance (Edwards et al. 1988; Gonyou and Stricklin 1998) without considering other measures of the welfare of pigs. Lack of space may lead to suppression or displacement of one or more activities causing aberrant behaviour and physiological changes leading to poor welfare and economic performance (Petherick 1983). However, how much extra space can be taken away to minimize cost and to ensure efficient space utilization without adversely affecting well-being and production is not yet well understood. Therefore, the space allowance recommended based on conventional space allowance treatments may not be able to ensure both satisfactory levels of production and welfare along with efficient space utilization. Avoiding weight variation at marketing is essential to minimize discounts for pigs (Payne et al. 1999; Brumm et al. 2002). The effect of rearing pigs of unequal weights together on the final weight of pigs and how space allowance can reduce final weight variation are elusive. In this study, it has been hypothesized that the performance and welfare of pigs improve with increasing space allowance. It is also hypothesized that the performance and welfare of pigs improve by allocating pigs of differing body weights to a group rather than allocating pigs of uniform body weight. The average daily gain, pen efficiency and welfare indicators (injury levels, salivary cortisol concentrations and behaviour) of grower-finisher pigs were evaluated in groups of 19 barrows, at four levels of floor space allowances calculated mathematically (area = k × BW0.667) using a constant k, (with values 0.027, 0.031, 0.034, and 0.037) for a mean final market weight of 116 kg and in two levels of group weight composition (uniform and varying weights – based on uniformity and variation of body weights of pigs within a pen at the beginning of the experiment). The corresponding space allowances at the market weight of 116 kg were 0.64, 0.74, 0.81, and 0.88. The data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVAs and independent sample T tests. The pigs in 0.64 had a lower average daily gain, spent a lower proportion of time lying in preferred areas and had higher total injury scores and higher number of aggressions than those in 0.88 and 0.81. Pigs in 0.64 had higher overall pen efficiency than those in 0.88, 0.81, and 0.74 allowance treatments. Pigs in the varying weight group spent a higher proportion of time lying in preferred areas than the uniform weight group. Pigs in 0.74 and 0.64 spent lower proportion of time lying isolated than pigs in 0.81. The uniform weight group exhibited more exploratory behaviour than the varying weight group. On fully slatted floors, space allotted considering the final market weight of barrows corresponding to k values of 0.037 and 0.034 were better than 0.027 in terms of growth rate and welfare indicators. The results suggest that grouping grower-finishers according to uniformity or variation in body weight may not provide any differential benefit in overall welfare, although a beneficial effect was observed in terms of injury scores, aggression and lying behaviour by increasing space allowance.
How to Keep Pigs Flowing when Space is Limited
Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments
As producers improve their reproductive herd performance with both genetics and management, the number of pigs weaned per litter and per week increases. At the same time, slaughter weights are increasing. Combined, these improvements mean too many pigs in the facility and other issues related to pig flow in facilities become a bigger concern. One option to deal with more weaned pigs is to fill a room at weaning to a fixed capacity, with the excess pigs beginning to fill the next nursery room. The challenge in this is that heating and ventilation systems are not designed for partial room fills. A second challenge to this option is that the number of days available for nursery pig growth decline. This creates tremendous stress on the grow-finish rooms since the pigs are now close to 3 kg (6.6 lb) lighter at placement into these rooms. To make this option work, the producer needs to add at least 1 more nursery and/or finishing room. This comes at a huge price since the number of days pens/rooms are not stocked with pigs increases in the system, adding to the capital expense of production. An option that some producers are using is to modify pig flow by going from a weekly farrowing system to a batch farrowing system. That is, instead of farrowing 30 sows every week, they are farrowing 120 sows once every 4 weeks. They accomplish this by breeding for a 2 week period with a 2 week non-breeding period. This keeps weaning age of pigs within a batch fairly close (within 2 weeks) and allows for a large number of pigs to flow through the system at one time (approximately1100 pigs every 4 weeks). Larger groups of pigs also solve the problems of small pig numbers in one or more rooms since there are larger numbers of pigs available for allocation across a number of rooms. One challenge in this scenario is the limit of 6 weeks of nursery capacity (6 rooms) when farrowing occurs every 4 weeks. The solution is to add 2 nursery rooms so that nursery capacity matches farrowing capacity. There then is 8 weeks of nursery capacity, with the pigs remaining in the nursery for 52 days before relocation to growing-finishing rooms. This often means the pigs are 7+ kg (15+ lb) heavier at placement into the growing-finishing phase of production, which results in more opportunities for the pigs to achieve the desired sale weights prior to the need for the space for the next group of nursery pigs. A second challenge is the altered labor intensity in the breeding/gestation and farrowing facility. With batch farrowing, instead of weekly matings, farrowings, weanings, everything is concentrated in a 2 week period with the other 2 weeks having a relatively light labor demand. With the recent approval for dietary inclusion of ractopamine (Paylean®, Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN) in finishing diets in Canada, growers in both the US and Canada can now use this product to improve daily gain and carcass lean. While use of Paylean® in late finishing diets will improve pig flow from finishing rooms, it doesn’t solve space issues associated with overcrowding in the nursery. Pig flow problems can become very real as the industrymakes genetic and management progress. While all-in/all-out pig flow is desired for maximizing pig health and minimizing disease transfer between multiple ages of pigs in a production system, the reality is that space becomes a very real limit to performance as productivity increases. Future investments in facilities must include consideration of pig flow options so that improvements in reproductive performance and/or further increases in sale weight can be accommodated more readily than is possible with current fixed flow systems.
Management of High Prolificacy in French Herds: Can We Alleviate Side Effects on Piglet Survival?
Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments
In general the development of hyper prolific sows has been associated with a dramatic increase in perinatal mortality. Analysis of the performance of French sow herds (IFIP, 2007) indicates that total number of piglets born per litter increased from 11.9 in 1996 to 13.8 in 2006. Simultaneously, total mortality increased from less than 19% up to 21%, with about 25% of herds losing more than 25% of piglets born before weaning (Badouard, personal communication). Stillborn piglets (8% of total born) presently account for about 40% of total mortality. With 12.7 born alive per litter, mortality frequently reaches 15% during lactation, mainly due to crushing of starved and weak piglets. However, the size of weaned litters and sow productivity are still increasing with prolificacy, without an apparent negative impact on sow fertility or longevity (Boulot, 2004). In 2006, the 10% most efficient French farms weaned 30 piglets/productive sow /year, with 14.3 total born per litter and only 17.3% total piglet losses. That may represent a somewhat optimistic perception of prolificacy, despite negative ethical impacts and economic wastes. Recently, Quiniou et al. (2007a) described the association between litter size and heterogeneity in hyperprolific LWxLR experimental IFIP’s herd. When litter size increased from less than 10 piglets to more than 15, mean birth weight (BW) was reduced by 500 g. Variability was high with a coefficient of variation increasing from 15 to about 24%. Consequently, the proportion of piglets weighing less than 1 kg increased from 3 to 15%. It is still debatable whether these small piglets have a higher risk of being stillborn but they clearly have a lower survival rate than their heavier littermates. Techniques that may reduce stillbirths and enhance neonate survival have been extensively reviewed. IFIP’s inventory consists in 10 key points and not less than 100 technical proposals! Priorities may vary according to farms and can be investigated with mortality checkup grids. Successful managers of large litters avoid practices that may amplify detrimental effects of low birth weight (anticipated or lengthened farrowings, low ambient temperatures, low colostrum intake, competition for teats, etc). According to field studies (IFIP, 2005) these managers concentrate on best practices, with a special attention paid to birth and neonatal supervision, specific care of weak and supernumerary piglets and promotion of the sow’s health and high milk production. Despite a considerable amount of research, poor piglet survival slows down the progress expected from the move towards sow hyper prolificacy. Although very few management procedures may directly improve piglet quality, specific strategies may be implemented at farm level that will partly compensate side effects of large litters, before and after weaning. According to economic simulations, 0.85 kg is the minimum limit to save piglets from modern genotypes (IFIP, 2005). French solutions are time consuming and may be less efficient without batch management. However, things may change favorably in the near future due to re-orientation of selection objectives. Since 2002, born alive instead of total-born, and functional teat numbers, are included in LW and LR French breeding programs. The addition of new components of maternal ability such as sow behavior, farrowing quality, colostrum production, and piglet weight, vitality or growth rate may also improve survival and reduce the demand for human intervention.