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Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Managing Feedlot Manure to Protect Water Quality and Human Health
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments
Management Practices to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Swine Production Systems
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Total greenhouse gas emissions from swine production systems in Canada are equal to about 3% of the total agricultural emissions (which is equal to 0.006% of the total world greenhouse gas emissions!). Today there are a number of technological and management options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with manure management within those systems. However, it is important that greenhouse gas mitigation in pork production systems be addressed from an integrated aspect that that involves other agronomic, economic, environmental, health and safety, social and technical considerations. In addition to greenhouse gas emission reduction, another important issue that will need to be addressed in the short term is the adaptation of Canadian pork production systems to climate change in terms of availability of feed materials and water and on the design and management of production facilities.
Modeling Ammonia Volatilization from Surface-Applied Swine Effluent
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
What is the proper stall size for gestating sows?
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
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
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
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.
Effect of retention time on gas production and fertilizer value of biodigester effluent
Posted in: Energy by admin on | No Comments
Comparison of injuries in sows housed in gestation stalls versus group pens with electronic sow feeders.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
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.