Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability for Field-Applied Slurry from Swine Fed Traditional and Low-Phytate Corn

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2007 | No Comments

The objectives of this paper is to compare in situ availability of nitrogen and phosphorus content at two field sites. One site received three annual additions of manure from swine fed low-phytate corn or traditional corn diets or inorganic fertilizer, surface applied to rainfed no-till sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. A second site received a one-time application and incorporation of the same nutrient treatments to irrigated corn. Potentially mineralizable N was 70% of applied N and extractable P was 100% of applied P for manure from both diets. Incorporation of swine slurry reduced potentially mineralizable N to 40% the year of application and 30% the year after application and reduced extractable P to 60% the year of application and 40% the year after application for both diets. Modified diets reduced the P content of the manure but not the availability of N or P.

Hog Manure and Domestic Wastewater Management Objectives

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The objective of this publication is to identify the differences and similarities between managing municipal wastewater and managing the manure from grow-finish pig systems. There are two defining differences between domestic wastewater treatment and animal manure systems:1. Domestic wastewater systems discharge large volumes of treated water directly to surface waters of the state, whereas it is illegal to discharge manure from storage facilities or in runoff
from agricultural fields into surface waters of the state. 2. Manure is a valued fertilizer on many hog operations, whereas human excreta are a component of a waste stream that is a net cost for homeowners, towns and municipalities.
Hog manure typically has little added wasteewater,
resulting in a product that has substantially higher concentrations of nutrients and organic matter than human wastewater. These higher concentrations make it feasible to use the manure as a fertilizer source for crop production.

What is a Nanoparticle: An Overview of Prairie Swine Centre Research

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Impact of piglet birth weight on the eating quality of pork

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Piglets born in large litters are, on average, smaller (PSC Annual Research Report 2006; p. 36-38). Low birth weight has been associated with fewer total muscle fibres, and fewer primary muscle fibres. The specific objective of the study was to determine if the eating quality of pork obtained from pigs with low birth weight differed from that of their larger litter-mates. Birth order, birth weight, total number born and total number born alive were recorded for 98 farrowings at PSC Elstow. Except for constant monitoring during farrowing and periodic measurements of body weight (BW), farrowing and piglet management were according to normal barn practises. From 24 litters, selected because they had at least 12 piglets born alive and which represented a range of body weight, 4 pigs were chosen and sent to Lacombe Research Station when they reached 120 kg, for extensive meat quality and sensory analysis. It was concluded that there was no effect of birth weight on carcass quality, physical, or histological properties of the meat or overall eating quality. Therefore, increasing litter size can be used by producers to increase productivity with no adverse effect on pig performance or meat quality.

L’ÉLIMINATION DES CARCASSES

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Les animaux morts sur une ferme de production porcine peuvent être la source de pollution et de nuisance
s’ils ne sont pas éliminés de manière convenable. Comme la taille des cheptels augmente, le nombre de
carcasses, qui devraient être enterrées, devient important même si le taux de mortalité est très bas. Si l’on
considère l’environnement, la collecte des carcasses par une compagnie d’équarissage est le moyen le
plus efficace de les recycler. Une prise en charge rapide des carcasses prévient l’émission des odeurs.
Lorsque la reprise n’est pas faite fréquemment, des installations de réfrigération ou de congélation
devraient être considérées. L’accès aux carcasses doit être donné au service d’équarissage, cependant ce
site doit être à l’extérieur du site de production et hors de vue de la route ou des habitations voisines et ne
pas présenter de risques pour la biosécurité par le transport de maladies pouvant provenir de d’autres
fermes.
L’enterrement des carcasses est une autre alternative (Swine Odor Task Force, 1995). Le site choisi
comme fosse pour l’enterrement doit être sélectionné correctement et doit être géré de manière à prévenir
les lessivages pouvant survenir de la dégradation des carcasses et qui pourraient rejoindre les eaux de
surface ou souterraines. Dans les zones où la nappe phréatique est élevée et/ou que les sols sont très
perméables, l’enterrement de carcasses doit être évité. Dans les conditions d’hiver, cette solution n’est
pas disponible car les sols sont gelés et l’accumulation de neige rendent l’enterrement impossible ou très
difficile (Glanville, 1995). La législation provinciale dicte les conditions qui doivent être respectées
lorsqu’il y a enterrement des carcasses.
Le compostage est une technique qui peut être considérée pour l’élimination des carcasses en assumant
que les conditions de compostage sont adéquates. Cette méthode peut être une alternative qui permet
l’élimination des carcasses sur la ferme et le compost qui en résulte peut être valorisé comme fertilisant
s’il est épandu à des taux adéquats. Des travaux ont été réalisés et plusieurs facteurs ont été définis pour
maximiser le processus de compostage (Fulhage 1997; Fulhage et Ellis 1996; Morris et al. 1996a). Le
bran de scie est le matériau qui fournit les meilleures conditions pour un processus de compostage rapide
et complet car la température à l’intérieur de bran de scie reste plus haute que dans la paille. Le processus
de compostage sera efficace durant l’hiver pour des conditions de l’Ontario en autant que le cycle de
compostage n’est pas commencé durant les mois les plus froids de l’année (Morris et al., 1996a). Au
moins six mois sont nécessaires pour produire un compost mature en autant qu’il y a eu brassage et
aération de la pile après trois mois (Fulhage 1997; Fulhage et Ellis 1996; Morris et al. 1996a; Glanville
1995). Un peu d’attention doit être portée à la surface sur laquelle repose la pile de compost car de
l’écoulement peut être produit durant le processus (Morris et al., 1996a, b), et peut contaminer les eaux de
surface et souterraines.
La fermentation des animaux morts est présentée par la Swine Odor Task Force (1995), comme étant un
moyen de recycler les carcasses comme aliments sur la ferme. Les carcasses sont hachées en petits
morceaux et mélangées à une solution fermentable de’hydrate de carbone et de bactéries acidifiantes. Un
équipement spécial est utilisé pour hacher les carcasses et le mélange doit être entreposé dans un
contenant non-corrosif non hermétique. Les bactéries vont acidifier rapidement les tissus pour en faire un
mélange stable de boue ensilée lorsque fermentation est faite dans les bonnes conditions. Le produit
obtenu peut être utilisé comme ingrédient dans la ration. Ce processus a été utilisé en Europe pour traiter
les boues provenant d’abattoirs. Cependant, cette technique nécessite une gestion rigoureuse et un
entretien quotidien. Cette technique n’est pas utilisée présentement au Canada.

A rotational hot gas heating system for bioreactors

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A rotating arm made from Teflons pipe perforated with slots for distributing hot gas in a
bioreactor was developed. The rotating movement helps spread the
hot gas to the slurry, which assists in mixing the suspended solids in the reactor. It was found that using Teflons parts and a low oxygen flue gas burner, the
system has the potential to lower the cost of heating bioreactors, aerobic or anaerobic.

Mexico’s Changing Pork Industry: The Forces of Domestic and International Market Demand

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Once dominated by traditional and small-scale production
systems with little regulation, Mexico’s pork industry
now includes modern, vertically integrated production
systems and federal inspection of packing and processing
plants. Recent structural changes have resulted in three
distinct segments within the production and processing
sectors as the industry works to adjust to international and
domestic demand for better product quality, stricter sanitary
practices, and increased supplies yet continue to meet
the needs of low-income consumers. As the structural
changes continue, the industry faces several challenges that
will affect its ability to become both internationally and
domestically competitive. To meet these challenges, the
Mexican government is faced with decisions about implementing
and enforcing regulations and providing incentives
to encourage continued development and best serve
domestic consumers.

The welfare of gestating sows in conventional stalls and large groups on deep litter

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Confinement of breeding sows and gilts is one of the most controversial issues in livestock production, together with floor space allowance and lack of bedding (Barnett et al., 2001). However, consideration of the welfare implications of group versus stall housing during gestation is complex. Both housing systems have some clear advantages and disadvantages in relation to pig welfare. For example, individual housing in stalls restricts the sows’ opportunities to exercise, socially interact and interact with other features of the environment, but on the other hand, group housing raises welfare issues concerning space allowance and level of aggression. About 70% of the breeding sows are kept in stalls during gestation (Barnett et al., 2001). The ongoing welfare debate about stall housing has led to the examination of alternative housing systems for breeding sows. There is little information in the scientific literature on the welfare of gestating sows in groups of more than 40 animals and there is no scientific literature on housing breeding sows or gilts in large groups on deep litter. The present experiment measured aspects of the welfare of gestating sows housed in either large groups on deep litter (Hoops) or conventional stalls (Stalls). Six hundred and forty sows were studied, with 40 recently mated sows weekly entering each treatment over an 8-week period; groups of 85 were formed using 40 experimental and 45 non-experimental animals. Sows in Hoops had a higher number of scratches, a higher return rate to oestrus after mating (13.20% versus 7.35%) and there was a trend for higher salivary cortisol concentrations in week 1 of gestation (6.29 nM versus 4.03 nM). Sows in Stalls had a higher incidence of lameness at weeks 9 and 15 of gestation (13.8% versus 0.8% at week 15). There were changes in some leucocyte sub-populations in the Stalls treatment late in gestation: the percentage of neutrophils was higher (46% versus 41% of WBC), the number and percentage of lymphocytes was lower (41.6% versus 46.5% of WBC) and consequently there was a higher neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (1.22 versus 0.94). There was a trend for a lower reproductive failure in the Stalls treatment (14.5% versus 27.3%); farrowing rate was higher (76.8% versus 66%), and while sows in Stalls weaned fewer piglets per litter (8.31 versus 8.97), the average weaning weight of these piglets was higher (8.69 kg versus 8.01 kg). The combination of these reproductive parameters resulted in sows in the Stall treatment weaning the equivalent of 39 more piglets per 100-mated sows. The results suggest that sows in large groups on deep litter faced greater welfare challenges in the early stages of gestation based on the findings of increased scratches, a higher rate of return to oestrous and a trend for higher cortisol concentrations early in gestation, all possibly a consequence of aggression. In contrast sows in stalls faced greater welfare challenges later in gestation based on a higher incidence of lameness and an increased neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio perhaps as a consequence of increased stress. In conclusion, these data suggest that in both housing systems the welfare advantages and disadvantages change overtime.

How Pigs are Raised

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Farmers know that responsible and humane care is important to the well-being of pigs. They know from experience that a content and healthy pig also makes good economic sense. After all, raising pigs is a farmer’s livelihood, one that will support him and his family for years to come. Farmers follow recommended codes of practice, complete how-to manuals that help them provide all the important elements of proper animal care. Manitoba’s pig industry has been a leader in promoting welfare practices and researching new and better ways of doing things. Manitoba’s Animal Care Act requires farm animals and pets to be treated humanely. Regulations under the Act draw upon various codes of practice to protect livestock. Today, pigs are raised through their growth stages indoors in various kinds of specialized barns. A barn housing pregnant sows is called a gestation barn. A pregnant sow delivers her piglets in a farrowing room, which has supplemental heat and an appropriate floor surface for the sow and piglet. The piglets are raised in a nursery barn. Again, supplemental heat is provided. There are specialized feeders and drinkers for the small piglets. Once the piglets grow to be 27 kgs (60 lbs), they are moved to a feeder barn. They will stay there for up to 18 weeks or until they reach a market weight of 113 kgs (248 lbs). Some farmers raise hogs through the entire process in a “farrow to finish” operation; others simply buy weanlings or piglets and feed them to market weight. Most pigs today are raised with fewer diseases than years ago. In the past, when pigs lived outside, they had parasites and trichinosis. Now, pigs live in facilities that have biosecurity programs such as a shower-in policy. Barns are sheltered, the environment is computer controlled, and water is treated and tested. This means that minimal medications are needed to keep pigs healthy. These “high-health” farms have restricted access and employees in these facilities shower in and change clothes daily to maintain high herd health. It is in the farmer’s best interest, both economically and from a swine welfare standpoint, to keep animals healthy. Each sow is identified with a numbered ear tag. Health, reproduction, and breeding records are kept for each animal. Sow health is checked at least twice a day. Fresh water is available at all times; some pens are fed automatically, others by hand. When sows are brought to group pens, there may be some fighting as they establish a pecking order. Sows should not be further mixed with other groups during breeding. It’s important to keep the sows as stress free as possible to prevent litter loss. Producers keep floors clean by washing them down regularly with high-pressure hoses. Clean, dry, non-slip flooring minimizes injuries and helps keep the air fresh. Animals are moved in an orderly fashion through aisles with gates opened and closed to direct them. Individual dry sow stalls reduce competition for food and prevent fighting or tail and vulva biting. They also help in reducing stress to the sow during the early critical stages of pregnancy. In stalls, sows can easily be examined individually for health and treated if necessary. Pregnancy tests are conducted by ultrasound and, if found negative, sows return to the breeding area. The ability to pregnancy test greatly increases farm productivity. Cleanliness helps keep pigs healthy and thriving. Most hog barns collect manure in holding pits beneath the barn. Floors are slatted so liquids and solids fall through to the pit. Barn workers regularly sweep and shovel pens and stalls to push the manure into pits. Floors, pens and walls are pressure washed and disinfected between each group of pigs. The pits are emptied routinely to an outside storage facility. The liquid manure is held in storage and applied to fields to feed crops. Hog manure is a valuable organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. Farmers follow provincial regulations to ensure manure is handled in an environmentally acceptable manner. Western Canada’s hog industry looks to the future as both a challenge and an opportunity. Our producers have been leaders in responsible environmental stewardship and animal care initiatives. Farmers are innovators. They always find better ways of doing things. Current swine housing systems are continuously evolving to improve efficiency, herd health, and productivity. Farmers are committed to developing new alternatives and providing for increased welfare and comfort for their pigs.

COCCIDIOSIS: Effective treatment remains in limbo

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Studies are currently underway to determine the level of coccidial activity in swine herds in Canada, which in turn could form the basis for obtaining approval for a suitable anti-coccidial drug, hopefully Baycox, for pigs. Preliminary results from these studies by Dr. Andrew Peregrine and his research team at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, show that cocci is present and active in about 70 per cent of herds in Ontario, a level consistent with reported infection levels in many European and other countries around the world.
This level of cocci activity would also indicate that considerably more than the paltry two to four per cent of the pigs reportedly being treated with Baycox prior to its removal could benefit from treatment for cocci, a debilitating disease even at the subclinical level. So what can the producer do? Is there a suitable alternative drug for use against cocci? The first thing is to develop a plan of action. The plan can be laid out in a simple, straightforward, four-step format:
• Observe and recognize the clinical signs of cocci.
• Get a definitive diagnosis.
• Establish disinfection, hygiene and management procedures.
• Use an alternative treatment, if available.