Cross-sucking and other oral behaviours in calves, and their relation to cow suckling and food provision.

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

When calves are unable to suckle, it is thought that they begin to develop abnormal oral behaviour, although it is not known whether this behaviour occurs because the calf needs access to its dam or whether a multiple suckling system would suffice to prevent the behaviour from developing. An initial experiment examined the behaviour of calves that suckled their own dam or another cow for 15 minutes each day and compared that to the behaviour of artificially-reared calves that had no opportunity to suckle. Calves that were allowed to suckle consumed more milk than calves that were reared artificially. Cross-sucking behaviour was greater in non-suckled (artificially reared) calves than in suckled calves. Cross-sucking was at its highest frequency 1 minute after the end of milk feeding in the non-suckled calves, and declined linearly to negligible levels at 13 minutes after milk feeding had occurred. Most of the cross-sucking behaviour (78 %) was directed at the inguinal (udder/scrotal) region of other calves. For suckled calves, however, more of the cross-sucking behaviour (81 %) was directed at the mouths of other calves. Calves that had been artificially reared spent more time consuming concentrate feed and consumed more feed than suckled calves, suggesting that food ingestion could provide a replacement stimulus. A second experiment found that before weaning, the time calves spent licking their pen or bucket increased until feed intake was sufficient to stimulate significant amounts of rumination. After weaning, the behaviours decreased. Conclusions stated that cross-sucking of artificially-reared calves could be prevented by providing short access to either the calf’s dam or another cow for two short periods each day. When a cow was absent and no suckling could occur, the calves licked inanimate objects repeatedly until the consumption of solid feed was sufficient to stimulate rumination.

Repeated transport and isolation during pregnancy in ewes: Effect on the reactivity to humans and to their offspring after lambing

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The reactivity of ewes to their lambs and to humans after lambing was examined. Six weeks prior to lambing, the ewes were repeated exposed to several stressors that varied in intensity. The ewes were stressed by transporting them alone, isolating them or isolating them with a dog. The ewes were underwent a stressful session twice a week. Each session last one hour, and in total, each ewe underwent 10 sessions. The control ewes were not disturbed. Blood samples were collected during the first, fifth and ninth stress sessions, in order to measure their cortisol response. The ewe’s maternal reactivity and fear of humans was measured in seven scenarios. One hour after birth, a human approached the lambing site and the lamb. Five minutes after tagging someone held the lamb. Six hours after birth the ewe was forced across a hallway to reach her lambs. Six hours after birth, in order for the ewe to remain close to her lamb, she was forced to tolerate the presence of a human. The ewe was also separated from the lamb and forced to enter the lamb box. One month following birth, a human approached the ewe, and then measured the flight distance of the ewe. The highest cortisol response was measured in ewes that were transported, during the first and ninth sessions. The ewes did demonstrate habituation to every treatment over time. During the tests conducted one and six hours after birth, ewes that were isolated attempted to maintain contact with their lambs, while the ewes that were transported did not. The control ewes response was moderate compared to the transport and isolation treatment ewes. One month after birth, the isolated ewes continued to show less avoidance of humans than transported ewes, while the control ewes remaining intermediate between the responses of the other two treatments. There were also correlation found between the cortisol response during the stress and the responses made 1 hour, 6 hours and 1 month after birth. The variation in the ewes’ behaviour after lambing was likely due to the different stressors causing varying degrees of fear towards humans. The behaviour is not related to the ewe developing a weaker mother-young bond. Hence, repeated isolation reduced the ewe’s fear of humans, while repeated isolated transportation increases a ewe’s fear of humans.

Nitric oxide blunts the endothelin-mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction in exercising swine

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Nutritional and physiological responses of growing pigs exposed to a diurnal pattern of heat stress

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Understanding the impact of changes in the environment on the nutritional and physiological status of the pig will facilitate development of appropriate environmental management and feeding strategies (DeShazer, 1982). The objective of this study was to characterise the nutritional and physiological responses of growing pigs, with particular emphasis on effects on acid–base and thermal homeostasis, when exposed to a diurnal pattern of heat stress. It was found that a diurnal pattern of heat stress fluctuating between 20°C and 38°C within 24 h did not affect mineral
metabolism in growing pigs and had limited effect on acid–base balance. Therefore, pigs have the ability to recover from the effects of heat stress if periods of heat stress are followed by periods of thermal comfort. The diurnal pattern of heat stress had an effect on the physiological status of pigs resulting from the mechanisms (e.g., increased respiration rates) used to maintain thermal homeostasis and associated renal compensation. Therefore, strategies for managing pigs exposed to heat stress should focus on ways (e.g., provision of cool drinking water) of enhancing the pig’s ability to dissipate excess body heat, and should recognise the impact of thermal stress on acid–base parameters.

Crop Management to Reduce Fusarium Head Blight and Associated Toxins

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The Fusarium head blight (FHB) epidemic in 1993 continues to have negative effects on the entire agriculture sector. The impact on swine is the toxin (called DON) produced by the fungi that is incredibly bad for pigs. Implications put into place to reduce the risk of FHB include genetically disease-resistant cultivars, rotation with non-cereal crops, and doubling the standard seeding rate in order to reduce the amount of tillering.

FHB intervention cannot wait until visual symptoms occur. This can be done with a risk forecast map that takes into account meteorology, pathology, and geographical information systems. Fungicides have a less than satisfying effect. A visual assessment 2-3 weeks after flowering will give an idea of what might be expected in the harvested grain. Leaving the crop standing longer when there are shrunken, lightweight kernels, preferably for straight combining, will lead to more complete deterioration of infected grain.

Panel Presentation – OH&S

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Producer compliance with OH&S helps to reduce accidents and illness in the workplace. Don Kolla at CPIG has made an employer-employee committee to ensure a pro-active approach to problems and stop them before they happen. Employee compliance is the producers responsibility, and therefore should be enforced rather than a your own fault mentality. Blocked access to electrical panels and lack of fire alarms and/or drills are undesirable. In conclusion, a producer must understand risks, communicate risks with others, and provide information and training to ensure safety.

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

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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.