An Integrated Index of Electrical Energy Use in Canadian Agriculture with Implications for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Posted in: Energy by admin on January 1, 2006 | No Comments

Electricity is fundamental to many farm chores. In this paper quantitative indices of electrical energy use were developed which reflect direct on-farm decisions for measures that farmers can adopt to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With commonly available historical agricultural records as inputs, the indices allowed extrapolation backward in time with the same analytical methods as used for current energy use estimates. Each index was derived from one or more literature sources dealing with energy use in operations associated with different farming systems. Development focused on six major Canadian farm types, including two for crop production systems and four for livestock. The scale of application is national with required inputs being populations of pigs, poultry, beef and dairy cows, and crop production for small grain cereals, grain maize and canola, and greenhouse floor area. The indices were initially compared to the 1996 Farm Energy Use Survey (FEUS) of Canada and were within 5% of the FEUS electrical energy value. The integrated index was then converted to equivalent CO2 emissions for comparison with two independent sources CO2 emissions from farm energy. It agreed more closely with the 2004 Energy Use Data Handbook from Natural Resources Canada than with the 1999 Health of our Air report by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, but was between these two sources. The comparisons of CO2 emissions took account of energy use for household as well as farm operations. The impact of the changing share of electrical energy generated by fossil fuel, rather than by nuclear or hydro-power plants was also considered. Between 1996 and 2001 Canadian farm and household use of electrical energy resulted in GHG emissions from 1
8 to 2
4 Tg of CO2, while use for farm operations only (household excluded) remained at 1
1 Tg from the 1980s to 2001 when electrical generation by fossil fuel was fixed at 1996 levels. The integrated index is well within the required accuracy to be a useful tool for reporting on the Kyoto Protocol.

Detection of Swine Torque Teno Virus in Italian Pig Herds

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Anellovirus is a recently created, floating genus of viruses. Torque teno virus (TTV), the type species in the genus, was first discovered in a human patient with a post-transfusion
hepatitis of unknown aetiology. Recently, TTV genetically related to but distinct from those discovered in humans have also been found in animals, including pigs. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of swine TTV in Italian pig herds and some risk factors possibly associated with this infection. Serum samples from 179 healthy pigs from 10 farms located in north-central Italy were tested by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of swine TTV DNA. Viral DNA was
found in the sera of 43 pigs (24.0%), coming from eight of the 10 farms examined. Prevalence was significantly higher in finishing herds (40.1%) than in farrow-to-finish herds (11.0%) and did not depend on the size of the herd. Within the finishing herds the prevalence was significantly higher in weaners (57.4%) than in fatteners (22.9%), but this difference was not observed in farrow-to-finish herds. No relationship was observed between the prevalence of swine TTV and the implementation of some general hygiene practices and biosecurity procedures within the herds.

Pig’s responses to repeated social regrouping and relocation during the growing-finishing period

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Mixing of unfamiliar animals with a change of physical environment is a common practice in pig husbandry. The pigs have to cope with novelty in their life environment, whereas it is well known that pigs exhibit novel-induced anxiety when submitted to a novel area (Janczak et al., 2003). At the same time, pigs have to cope with social challenges, which may cause injuries and physiological reactions of acute stress. Fighting between newly mixed pigs over the first 24 h is part of the process necessary to establish a dominance order (Meese and Ewbank, 1972). As for other domestic mammals, once established, this social hierarchy regulates aggressive interactions, improves the predictability of social relationships between animals and thus reduces stressful social encounters in stable groups (Tennessen, 1989). However, the abrupt breaking of a stable social group leads to the re-establishment of a new hierarchy (Ewbank and Meese, 1971; Tan and Shackleton, 1990; Puppe, 1998) that may be detrimental for animal welfare. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of repeated mixing and relocation in growing pigs using production, behavioural and physiological indices of stress. Thirty-two growing-finishing pigs were housed in pairs. Animals of half of the pairs were placed in a new pen with a new partner three times a week during 4 weeks (R pigs, n = 8 pairs). Other animals stayed in the same pen with the same partner (C pigs, n = 8 pairs). During the first 90 min following each regrouping, vigorous fights were frequent in R pigs (same pen same partner). Those pigs exhibited more agonistic behaviour than C pigs (new pen with new partner) throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). The number of offensive acts realized by R pigs decreased throughout the experiment (P < 0.05) whereas the number of defensive acts did not vary (P > 0.1). The time-budget determined during 24 h 2 days after the third, sixth, ninth and 12th regrouping was similar in both groups of pigs except the percentage of standing that was higher in R pigs after the last regrouping. R pigs tended to have a lower daily liveweight gain at the fifth regrouping (P = 0.07). Salivary cortisol concentrations were higher in R than in C pigs 4–5 h after the second and fifth regrouping (P < 0.05) but were similar in both groups after the ninth and 11th regrouping. Basal cortisol measured 2 days after the last regrouping in plasma and saliva was higher in R than C pigs. In response to a dexamethasone/ACTH challenge, cortisol in saliva and plasma was similar in both groups (P > 0.05). The behavioural and cortisol responses to regrouping and relocation in pigs decreased over time but were still obvious after 12 mixings. Repeated regroupings induce a chronic stress in pigs without altering severely growth rate.

Porcine Circovirus Disease (PCVD) – Have we won the war in Europe?

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

The objective of the present review is to describe the nowadays situation of PMWS in Europe and to compare it with that of late 90s and beginning of 2000s, when major outbreaks of disease were diagnosed. Speculation on the effect of the implemented control and prevention strategies on PMWS evolution is discussed. Since a centralized database on PMWS occurrence is not available at a European level, some of the information given in this review is based on personal observations, discussions and information given by veterinarian colleagues throughout Europe. Countries in Europe can be divided into five main different categories in regards to PMWS at present (adapted from Segalés, 2006): Countries in which the impact of the disease has been or it is still severe or very severe, countries in which, despite describing cases of PMWS, the disease does not seem to represent a major problem, or it is absent nowadays, countries that have reported PMWS cases but have no data to establish how important the disease is in their respective swine populations, countries that have never reported the disease, although surveillance systems have been implemented and finally, countries with unknown PMWS status. The prevalence and incidence of PMWS in most significant pig producing countries has decreased during the last 3-4 years. Some factors that may explain the lower number of PMWS diagnoses are: Veterinarians have learnt how to clinically diagnose or suspect the disease much better that in the past, so they do not confirm the diagnosis with laboratory analyses, both veterinarians and farmers have learnt to “live together” with higher rates of postweaning mortality, so the same levels of mortality that in the past deserved laboratory analyses do not deserve them today, laboratory diagnostic submissions have been limited to those cases where a reasonable doubt regarding “to be or not to be” PMWS exists or to those where the objective is only to rule out PMWS. In fact, herds affected by PMWS rarely return to postweaning mortality rates existing before the first detection of the disease, in the opinion of a significant proportion of veterinarians. Therefore, it would not be surprising that a more enzootic form of PMWS (not so easy to diagnose as before, from a clinical point of view), with lower levels of mortality and less severe clinical signs, is nowadays present in those countries that first experienced severe outbreaks of disease. Common sense indicates that the best way to control a viral infection would be using vaccines if such products were available. However, only one PCV2 vaccine is currently commercially available and in use under special license in France, Germany and Denmark, indicating that most European countries still demand a vaccine product to control the disease. PMWS is defined as a multi-factorial disease that involves infection of pigs with PCV2 and the influence of infectious and non-infectious factors or triggers for the development of clinical disease (Segalés et al., 2005). The most studied co-factors and triggers in relation to disease progression or protection are: The implementation of the Madec’s 20-point plan (a list of management measures to lower the impact of the disease), control of concurrent viral and bacterial infections in the postweaning area, the induction of clinical disease following immunostimulation in conventional pigs reared under commercial conditions, an increase in the nutrient density of young pig diets and addition of commercial feed additives, also, subcutaneous injection of PCV2 hyperimmune sera from commercial slaughterhouse age pigs in suckling or nursery pigs. Field observations from farmers and veterinarians suggested that certain genetic lines of pigs were more or less susceptible to PMWS, and PCV2 vaccination. Definitively, many different measures have been implemented across European countries and an overall significant improvement has been noted from the point of view of disease evolution. However, it is rather difficult to establish the specific measure(s) that helped to diminish the impact of the disease in Europe. Moreover, normal disease evolution (epizootic to enzootic scenarios) may have played a role independently of those measures.

Breeding Room: Achieving a 95% Farrowing Rate

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Duane Dewhurst of Fast Genetics explains how bacterial contamination of semen (e.g. – feces) can reduce productivity in several ways, information you should know about your semen supplier, and guidelines used at Fast Genetics to maintain top quality semen production. Mike Tiede from Elite Stock Farms explains how they achieve a 95% farrowing rate. Proper training of staff is essential as well as letting them know where production stands and how to reach those targets. Sow body condition is important to monitor to ensure a long breeding life and good heat detection is key to their success. Artificial insemination should be done as hygienically as possible, and it should not be rushed or given too slowly. Proper training here is essential.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Ground source heat pump technology has been in existence for over 20 years. It harnesses the stable temperatures of the earth to provide a renewable source of heat and cooling throughout the year at substantially lower life cycle costs than conventional building heating and cooling systems. This technology offers reliable means of reducing operating and maintenance costs as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The decision to ultimately install a ground source heat pump will depend on site conditions, local energy costs, energy loads, and the type of application, the availability of qualified professionals, and the commitment of the user. No system is perfect, however with proper research, users should be able to make an informed decision on whether a GSHP system will meet their application needs.

Vaccination of Pigs against Swine Influenza Viruses by Using an NS1-Truncated Modified Live-Virus Vaccine

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Show Me the Money—Optimizing Production

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

As with other industries, pork producers have looked to improve their performance with improvements in quality, but quality has different meanings for different people in different areas. Such differences in the interpretation of quality allude to the challenges of system optimization. Priorities differ among different segments of production and different functions within an operation. Some objectives may be easier to balance than others, and with an imperfect system, is it better to focus on least cost or strive for most profit? In the absence of a universal definition of quality throughout a system, how can system-wide optimization be achieved? A true or full optimization is a worthwhile goal and yet virtually impossible under current circumstances. We are limited by the measurements that we can and do make of swine production. We must identify the full range of the challenge and then choose those factors that are most likely to affect the outcome. This can be done subjectively, but is often limited, in large enterprises, by the lack of knowledge of the full system. Moreover, nonlinear relationships between inputs and outputs are rarely assessed correctly if left as a subjective concern. The concept of Quality Management has evolved over the last several decades. The core principles of Quality Management, as adopted by the International Organization of Standards are customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, factual approach to decision making, and mutually beneficial supplier relationships. There have also been three general assaults on quality management in swine farming over the last number of years. They include, expansion of size and localization of responsibility, lack of measurement for factual assessment of quality, and a lack of management accounting. There’s a general reluctance to admit to the high level of complexity of pig production. There are very few manufacturing processes that involve such a broad range of inputs with variable quality and interactions with outcomes. Given this high level of complexity, the swine industry is particularly reluctant to invest in production monitoring methods, as well as analytic protocols. Optimization of production processes requires adequate investment in records, people and methodological skills. When such resources are available, the opportunities for improvement in swine production rise to a new threshold. There is a technique in quality management called the “Five Why’s”. When there is a problem, there should be not only one why but a set of at least five why’s linking the system together. These sequences are difficult to do but highly advantageous when solved. For instance pigs die in the nursery because of H. parasuis. They die of the disease because they were weaned too light. They were too light because they were too young. They were too young because too many sows farrowed. Too many sows farrowed because there were an excess number of sows rebred with a subsequent high farrowing rate. These were returns because of seasonal infertility. Seasonal infertility occurred because of a low farrowing rate caused, at least in part, by single matings during the summer. And so we can go on. Optimization of the system is recognizing the links and emphasizing them as common responsibilities. It is something that we are starting to do, but the opportunities are endless.

20 Years of Progress

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Tweny years of Checkoff-funded programs have made their mark on the pork industry, from the launch of the innovative Pork. The other White Meat campaign to the successful eradication of speudorabies. Turn to pages 8 through 38 for an overview of some of the programs made possible by the Pork Checkoff and the impact they have made

The Take Care Program and Responsible Use of Antibiotics

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The Take Care—Use Antibiotics Responsibly program is an industry initiative to address antibiotic use in pork production. The program has the potential to impact the ways in which antibiotics are used in US pork production. Success of the program will be dependent on the effectiveness of delivery channels of the program to the approximately 70,000 pork producers in the US. Because the program is not a certification or assessment program it will be hard to assess industry compliance with the principles and guidelines. The program does, however, demonstrate the industry’s good faith effort to address concerns about antibiotic use. Information about the program has been delivered to public health and regulatory audiences to emphasize the industry’s efforts. The program has been endorsed by producers supplying over 45% of the hogs marketed in the United States as well as by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.