Clinical Signs are an Interaction of Host, Agent and the Environment

Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 2005 | No Comments

The clinical signs of any disease are the result of an intricate relationship between the infectious agent (virus, bacteria, etc.), the host’s immune response, and the environment. Professional epidemiologists devote themselves to investigating the factors associated with the distribution, frequency, transmission and risk factors of diseases in populations. There are many viruses, bacteria, and parasites that can cause disease in swine. Over the years, pathogens have evolved to better infect and dodge the host’s immune system. The most dangerous diseases to consider are those diseases that can jump between species. The host is the animal that is exposed to and infected by the pathogen. Age is an important determinant because most diseases affect certain age groups, mostly due to the changing of the immune system that age brings. The host’s immune system is an important determinant of clinical disease. More susceptible populations are at a greater risk of disease outbreaks.

Positioning Canada at the Leading Edge

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The Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program is a five-year, $240 million program aimed at positioning Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector at the leading edge to seize new opportunities. ACAAF was launched in April 2004 as a successor to the Canadian Adaptation and Rural
Development (CARD) Fund, and will continue CARD’s innovative and cooperative approach to funding
projects at the national, multi-regional and regional level.

ACAAF OBJECTIVES
-Expand the sector’s capacity to respond to current and emerging issues.
-Position the sector to capture market opportunities.
-Actively and continuously engage the sector to contribute to future agriculture and agri-food
policy directions.
-Integrate sector-led projects tested and piloted under ACAAF into future government or industry
initiatives.

Characterizing the feeding value of Wheat Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) – Part I: Nutrient Composition

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In 2003, legislation was passed in Manitoba that was designed to increase the production and utilization of Manitoba produced ethanol. The Biofuels Act sets in place requirements for the sale of ethanol-blended gasoline by 2007. In order to meet the increased demand for locally produced ethanol, consideration must be given to the effective utilization of the co-products from this industry, as this has proven to be a key determinant of the economic competitiveness of the process. The process of ethanol production results in a co-product, dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) that has potential as an ingredient for livestock feed. In North America, corn has been used as the main cereal grain in ethanol production and the resulting DDGS have been extensively evaluated as a feedstuff for swine. However, the feedstock generally considered for the Manitoba ethanol industry is wheat. The effective utilization of wheat based DDGS requires a complete appraisal of its nutritive value. In this first report, we will characterize the chemical composition of the DDGS produced from a local ethanol manufacturer. A subsequent report will provide more information as to the utilization of the product by swine. Samples of DDGS were obtained from the Husky Mohawk ethanol plant at Minnedosa, Manitoba. All samples were taken from different fermentation batches. In all, three separate samples of wheat DDGS (samples #1, 2, and 3) and one sample of a mixed corn/wheat DDGS were collected and analyzed for their contents of key nutrients, including crude protein, energy, fibre fractions, and mineral components. In summary, with respect to the nutrients measured, the wheat-based DDGS had a nutrient profile that was similar to that of canola meal, but contained higher amounts of crude protein and lower levels of calculated digestible energy than the corn DDGS. Soybean meal had higher levels of both protein and digestible energy than the wheat-based DDGS. The comparison of the nutrient profile of wheat-based DDGS to that of other plant-based protein sources is important, as this is the likely class in which this product will compete in least cost formulations. While the nutrient profile is critical for decision-making processes, a more accurate assessment of the value of the wheat-based DDGS requires their assessment during feeding studies with pigs.

Key Management Factors for Successful Swine Production in Hoop Structures

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Manitoba farmers now have more than nineteen years of experience with group
housing pigs in straw bedded shelters. The results are good and more farms are
constructing them in an effort to diversify farm income. Straw-bedded systems represent
a low cost alternative to conventional housing. These systems are not restricted to hoop
buildings however the principles which apply to management of pigs on straw will still
largely apply in other structures as well. Converted machine sheds, horse barns, and
poultry facilities are successfully being modified to rear pigs in groups of 500, 1000, or
even 2000 pigs. Ventilation issues and access to feed, water and sleeping areas need to
be approached differently in each type of facility.
Daily management and attention to the needs of the pig will be key to success in
straw based systems. Interestingly, this is both the attraction for some people, and a
deterrent for others who consider this approach to pig rearing.
This paper should be used in conjunction with the Manitoba Agriculture Food and
Rural Initiatives Cost of Production (C.O.P.) Budget for swine raised in hoop structures.
The COP budgets can be accessed from the MAFRI website
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/financial/farm/farm.html . These are updated annually.

New report released on swine manure management

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The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
recently released an in depth examination of how manure management practices have evolved
in the U.S. hog industry from 1998 through to 2004. The report is summarized in the .pdf file attached below. Visit www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib50 to access a copy of the full report.

Potential for Onsite and Online Analysis of Pig Manure using Visible and Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

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In this research, the feasibility of a mobile spectroscopy instrument (Zeiss Corona 45 visnir fibre remote) in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) wavebands for onsite and online analysis of pig manure was investigated. The sensor was calibrated using the one-out cross-validation technique on a set of pig manure samples collected in the spring of 2004 and validated for its ‘true’ prediction accuracy on a set of samples collected in the spring of 2003 from different Flemish farms. Based on the values of coefficient of determination r2 and the ratio of standard deviation of validation set to root mean square error of crossvalidation, the prediction results were evaluated as excellent for dry matter content, good for organic matter content and total nitrogen and approximate for ammonium nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium. The calibrations for potassium and calcium were only able to discriminate between high and low values. These are encouraging results to recommend the VIS–NIR spectroscopy instrument for onsite measurement of manure composition. This sensor could promote a better manure management based on onsite or even online analysis during haul-out or soil application stages.

Applying Alternative Technologies To Cafos: A Case Study. In: Symposium State Of The Science, Animal Manure And Waste Management

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Predicting ammonia losses following the application of livestock manure to land

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Integrated Waste Management Approaches (Integrated Waste Management Solutions)

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Higher energy prices have motivated some hog producers to switch to coal to heat their barns over winter. An alternative solution to this is hog manure. Three integrated waste management initiatives help to address public concern on odour, water contamination, and animal and people welfare. Bio-Terre Systems in Canada is taking the approach of low temperature anaerobic digestion of manure. This system uses special bacteria that require no oxygen to function. The digestion of manure will result in the emission of methane and biogas, which can be used to generate energy. Home Farm Technologies Inc. processes manure through their Enviro Reactor which mechanically and chemically separate solids from liquids. The solids can be either composted or used as fuel in the Energy Reactor or Gasifier to produce steam that runs a turbine generator producing thermal and/or electrical energy. Clear-Green Environmental Inc. has a project in Cudworth, Saskatchewan that produces biogas through anaerobic digestion of hog manure. This biogas is used to fuel a co-generation unit built and operated by SaskPower, producing electrical energy that is delivered into SaskPower’s electrical grid. The digester uses a portion of the thermal energy and a portion is sold to the hog facility. Their focus is to form partnerships with waste producers to build operating plants where the company brings the technology, capital and operations. The waste producer provides the site, contract, and can invest as a partner. Anaerobic digesters are well known and widely used. Advanced technology end-use applications can increase the economic value of biogas.

EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON ODOR EMISSION FROM PIG MANURE

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