Dilute acid pretreatment of rye straw and bermudagrass for ethanol production

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

Valuing animal welfare with choice experiments: An application to Swedish pig production

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Influence of gentling on lamb immune response and human-lamb interactions

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The quality of the human-animal relationship may affect the animal’s response to stressful conditions. In this study two components of human interaction with lambs were examined to determine if they have an impact on behaviour and stress response. Lambs were reared either by their mother or artificially. Half of each rearing treatment was handled by stockpersons in a ‘gentling’ treatment. The animals were then tested in a novel, isolated environment. Artificially reared lambs engaged in more investigatory behaviour when in the novel arena than did those reared by their mothers. Among the artificially reared lambs, those that were also handled repeatedly by stockpersons also recovered more quickly (return to normal cortisol levels) than did the other three treatment combinations. They also had stronger immune responses than did the other treatments. Both artificial rearing, and gentling within the artificial rearing condition, improved the lambs ability to cope with novel environments.

Avoidance of atmospheric ammonia by domestic fowl and the effect of early experience.

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Intensification of poultry housing systems and the need to maintain a high ambient temperature have resulted in an atmosphere that is polluted with ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, dust particles and endotoxins. This experiment was carried out to determine if broiler fowl, when given a free choice, would avoid ammoniated environments. The effect of rearing aerial environment on these preferences was tested subsequently during a similar free choice experiment. Firstly, the birds were given a free choice of 4, 11, 20 and 37 ppm atmospheric ammonia over a period of 16 days. Data were collected in two different light levels (bright or dim light). The birds avoided the two higher ammonia concentrations, choosing to spend equal amounts of their time in 4 and 11 ppm during the bright phase. During the dim period, broiler fowl spent more time in 4 ppm. Secondly, broiler fowl were exposed to either 2 or 19 ppm ammonia from 1 to 26 days of age. Following this, the birds were given a choice of compartments containing 4, 12, 20 and 37 ppm of ammonia. Birds again avoid the two higher concentrations of ammonia. In summary, broiler fowl avoid ammonia at concentrations commonly found on poultry units regardless of previous experience, suggesting that it to be aversive at concentrations above approximately 10 ppm.

Suckling behaviour in domestic foals and the development of abnormal oral behaviour

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Foals at pasture with their dams were studied during the preweaning and postweaning periods to determine whether their behaviour was associated with their gender, mare rank, and the development of abnormal oral behaviour. The behaviour of males and females hardly differed, but mare rank affected social interaction patterns and suckling behaviour of foals, with foals of subordinate mares involved in more subordinate behavioural interactions. Foals of subordinate mares spent more time in perisuckling activities such as teat nuzzling than foals of higher ranking mares. Eighteen foals (out of 186) developed abnormal oral behaviour before weaning, and 42 developed such behaviour after weaning. The development of abnormal oral behaviour in the preweaning phase was associated with suckling behaviour. Foals exhibiting abnormal behaviour during the preweaning phase were involved in more suckling terminations within suckling bouts and pushed the udder with their nose most often compared with normal foals or foals that developed abnormal oral behaviour in the postweaning phase. Foals that did not exhibit abnormal oral behaviour in the preweaning period, but exhibited the behaviour in the postweaning period, spent more time suckling and twice as much time teat nuzzling as other foals. The results of this study provide further evidence that there is an association between digestive function and abnormal oral behaviour in horses.

The development of harmful social behaviour in pigs with intact tails and different enrichment backgrounds in two housing systems.

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The behaviour of pigs with undocked tails housed in either a straw-bedded system or a partially slatted system enriched with a commercial device. The pigs had been introduced to different enrichment treatments either before or after weaning. Following mixing at 10 weeks of age, behavioural observations were conducted every two weeks. The pigs were mainly observed for harmful social behaviour and enrichment use. Straw bedding prevented tail biting from occurring in pigs with undocked tails. Pigs in the partially slatted housing were at higher risk for tail biting. Introducing enrichments early in life and adding a simple enrichment device to an otherwise barren environment were not sufficient enough to prevent tail biting. The author suggest that functional design of environmental enrichment is required if tail biting is to be prevented.

Leptin: A metabolic signal affecting central regulation of reproduction in the pig

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The influences of vertical integration and scale of production on profitability of pig production

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Challenges & Opportunities in a Highly Productive Herd

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The goal of 30 pigs weaned/sow/year is a standard goal in the industry. Genetics, nutrition, and a good working staff are all essential to this target. Breeding should occur at the peak of ovulation to obtain 13.5 to 14 total born and farrowing rates should be targeted to exceed 90%. Good quality semen is a must-have, and it should be stored at 17°C and re-suspended twice a day. Correct environmental attributes must be in place to minimize sow stress, provide extra heat for piglets to lower pre-weaning mortality, and stimulate lactation for the sow. Replacement gilts should be more productive and only brought in to replace sows of less productivity. Good colostrum, low pre-weaning mortality, and low stillborns are all the result of good farrowing supervision. Cross fostering of piglets will allow them to be weaned in an even group size, lower pre-weaning mortality, and brings them up to roughly the same weight. Lactation feeding of the sow should ensure maximum piglet growth and large litters for the next breeding. Reduced levels of feeding for the first 7 to 10 days stimulates the appetite for the remainder of lactation. Good record keeping, reliable products, teamwork, and training are all essential for reaching targets.

TSAA Requirements for Nursery and Growing Pigs

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The use of synthetic amino acids in swine nursery and growing diets is a common practice implemented throughout the world. The majority of the research to date has focused on the use of synthetic lysine. With the present knowledge of lysine requirements, it is becoming important to know the requirements for the next limiting amino acid (methionine and cystine, the two sulphur amino acids). Past research on the sulphur amino acid requirements indicates that optimum performance was between 8.7 and 11.9 mg/g of average daily gain. Recent research has concluded that gain and feed efficiency are maximized with a Synthetic Amino Acid: Lysine ratio between 60 and 63%.