Effect of covering pig slurry stores on the ammonia emission processes

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments

Nitrogen Distribution in Soils of Constructed Wetlands Treating Lagoon Wastewater

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MANAGING MANURE: New Clean Water Act Regulations Create Imperative for Livestock Producers

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Nutrients from livestock and poultry manure are key sources of water pollution. Since regulations for livestock and poultry operations under the 1972 Clean Water Act were first developed, operations in general have become more concentrated and specialized. Ever-growing numbers of livestock and poultry per farm and per acre have increased the risk of water pollution, with manure being disposed of in ways not adequately addressed in the original regulations. In 2001, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations that would compel operations with the largest number of animals to manage their manure according to a nutrient management plan. These regulations were signed by the
Administrator of EPA on December 15, 2002, and are expected to be implemented in 2003. The new regulations were called for in the Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations, developed jointly in 1999 by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and EPA. The Strategy outlined USDA and EPA actions to minimize water quality and public health impacts from improperly managed animal
manure. Much of the Strategy’s focus was on the largest animal feeding operations. For smaller operations, a nutrient management plan would be recommended but not required.

What is the proper stall size for gestating sows?

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Stalls remain the primary form of housing in North America. The Canadian code of practise states that stall sizes should increase as the sow increases in body weight. This study looked at the suitability of stall size by examining the relationships among sow size, stall width and sow behaviour. Four widths of gestation stalls were used to house four classes of females based on parity and body weight. It has been suggested that gestating sows be able to lie laterally without having their udder extend into the next stall. At week 3 and week 14 a 24-hour behavioural observation was conducted concerning animal posture and whether the udder extended into the next stall while lying laterally. It was found that in early gestation, week 3, gilts and small sows in 22 inch stalls spent less than 20% of the time with udders extended into the next stall while lying laterally. Medium and large sized sows spent 30% of the time with udders extended into the next stall. At week 14, gilts and small sows housed in 22 inch stalls spent 38%-49% of the time with their udders extended into the neighbouring stall. While following the criterion that udders should not extend into the next stall more than 30% of the time, the results from this study suggest that gilts and small sows be housed in 24 inch stalls and medium and large sows be housed in 26-28 inch stalls. If it is not an option for producers to install different stall sizes, it is suggested that a stall width of 65cm be used to accommodate all sizes of gestating gilts and sows.

Voluntary feed intake and growth performance between grower pigs fed diets containing mustard meal or canola meal

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A sample of either mustard meal (Brassica juncea) or regular canola meal was included at 15% in diets fed to grower pigs for 28 days. Pigs fed mustard meal tended to have a 5% better growth performance and had a 2.5%-unit better feed efficiency and an equal fee intake than pigs fed canola meal. Mustard meal might thus be a good opportunity ingredient with minimally a nutritional value equal as canola meal.

Salmonella on pig carcasses: positive pigs and cross contamination in the slaughterhouse

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Effect of retention time on gas production and fertilizer value of biodigester effluent

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Comparison of injuries in sows housed in gestation stalls versus group pens with electronic sow feeders.

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Most of the challenges to housing pregnant sows are to balance between providing enough space for free movement and control aggression. Both inadequate space and aggression can cause injuries in sows. There are mainly 2 types of gestation housing systems: individual stalls and group housed pens. Individual stalls may not provide adequate space, but preventing sows from aggression. Group housing, on the other side, provides open space for free movement, but not preventing sows from aggression. The current study was to compare the location and severity of injuries in pregnant sows housed in individual gestation stalls with that in pregnant sows housed in groups in pens with electronic feeders. A total of 100 pregnant sows in parity 1 to 3 were used. Fifty sows each were randomly allotted to gestation stalls or group pens with electronic feeders. Injures were scored on the basis of location, number, and depth of wounds. Injury scores for sows in both housing systems were compared during a period of 90 days. The influence of factors such as duration of stay in the housing system, parity, and body weight on sow injuries was also examined. The results indicated that injury scores were higher in group pens. As body weight increased, injury scores decreased for sows housed in group pens and increased for sows housed in gestation stalls. To evaluate welfare of pregnant sows in individual stalls vs. in group pens, multiple measurements are needed.

Grouping and social preferences in calves, heifers and cows.

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In order to improve animal welfare, a growing number of calves, heifers and dairy cows are reared in loose housing systems. However, regrouping unfamiliar animals may result in aggressive interactions and distress. Increased knowledge about grouping and social integration would make it possible to develop effective management techniques that reduce the amount of problems occurring during social integration of cattle. The aim of this paper is to review recent literature on social integration of calves, heifers and cows and how this is influenced by early social environment, group size, introduction method and competition level. Grouping unfamiliar animals is found to increased aggression, social stress, locomotion behaviour and to have negative effects on feed intake and milk yield. Problems related to social integration are normally higher for the introduced animals than the resident animals. Previous social experience, number of animals that are mixed and the group composition are important factors that can influence social integration. Calves reared in groups are more social confident and show less fear than calves reared in single boxes or in isolation. Repeated grouping seem to accustom the animals to these procedures.

Behavioural and adrenocortical responses of dairy cows toward novel food: effects of food deprivation, milking frequency and energy density in the daily ration.

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One aspect of farm animal adaptability is behavioural and physiological responses toward challenging situations, often implying elements of novelty. Dairy cows show strong behavioural responses when presented with novel food and the behavioural responses reflect the degree of novelty in the food and have an acceptable repeatability. In the present study two experiments were conducted to examine whether the behavioural responses toward novel food were affected by short-term food deprivation or whether the metabolic load in terms of increased milking frequency and decreased energy density in the food affected behavioural and adrenocortical responses of dairy cows toward novel food. The effects of metabolic load and 12 h of food deprivation on the behavioural and physiological responses toward novel food were examined in dairy cows provided with 4 kg of carrots as novel food. In Experiment 1, effects of 12 h of food deprivation were tested using dairy cows provided with 4 kg of carrots as novel food after 0 h versus 12 h of food deprivation. Food deprivation did not affect the approach-avoidance behaviour toward novel food but led to increased attempts to steal usual food from neighbours as well as decreased self grooming. In experiment 2, effects of milking frequency and energy density in the food on behavioural and physiological responses toward novel food were examined. The cows were milked either twice or three times daily. The energy in the food after calving was low or high. An extra daily milking affected the approach-avoidance behaviour of the cows as shown by reduced time spend away from the novel food and reduced frequency of sniffing the novel food. Low energy density in the food led to increased time spent away, increased latency to eat novel food, decreased food intake and a higher proportion of cows performing self-grooming. Provision of novel food did not affect the plasma concentration of cortisol sampled after food provision, and no differences were found between treatments. In conclusion, 12 h of food deprivation did not affect behavioural responses toward novel food in dairy cows, suggesting that this test of behavioural responses toward novelty is rather insensitive toward day-to-day changes in eating motivation. Low energy density in the daily ration and increased milking frequency affected the behavioural, but not the adrenocortical responses toward novelty but there was no evidence for a simple relationship between the energy balance of dairy cows and their responses toward novel food.