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Industry Partners
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:
Feeding Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Pigs
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments
Chemical Extraction Methods to Assess Bioavailable Arsenic in Soil and Solid Media
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Green House Gases and Odour Control
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Animal production units and manure storage structures are permanent sources of various gas emissions. The amount of organic matter in manure is substantial, and the decomposition of such organic matter can result in a number of gaseous by-products including acidifying gases (ex. NH3, CO2, N2O), toxic gases (ex. H2S) and offensive odours. Management and storage of manure actually contributes to green house gases (GHG). In fact, it has been estimated that production buildings are responsible for 50% of total GHG. However, the role of pork production in odour and GHG is becoming better understood. With increasing public concern regarding GHG, the Prairie Swine Centre is responding with up to date data and potential remedies. A current three year research program has been developed to demonstrate synthetic covers for earthen manure storage (EMS), reduction of GHG through diet manipulation, and installation and monitoring of shelter belt influence on air quality while making the findings available to the public.
A floating cover was installed on the two-cell EMS in July 2003. Fans were installed to provide a vacuum under the cover, sealing the plastic against the liquid. This in tern reduces the opportunity for odours or other gases to escape, while also increasing the value of manure as a fertilizer. Diet manipulation can be helpful to reduce additional emissions by incorporating current information on diet management. For example, substituting soybean meal with synthetic amino acids to reduce the available nitrogen in the urine and faeces. A shelterbelt will also be developed in summer 2004 to provide long term carbon sequestration on the site and disrupt air patterns to assist in odour dispersion from the site. Projects like this will allow pork producers easy access to promising technologies as well as valuable information on the cost and challenges of operating these best management practises.
Starch content and in vitro digestibility of barley and wheat samples differing in fibre content
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Starch content and in vitro starch digestibility were measured in three barely and three wheat samples differing in fibre content. Starch content was positively and fibre content was negatively related to DE content; however, in vitro starch digestibility indicated that starch was rapidly-degradable for all samples.
Intersucking in dairy cattle – review and questionnaire.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Large round bale feeder design affects hay utilization and beef cow behavior.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
To reduce feed loss during feeding could improve efficiency of feed use, and enhance animal performance and well-being. The objectives of this study were to evaluated: 1) hay dry matter loss when feeding large round bales in cone, ring, trailer, and cradle-type feeders, 2) feeding behavior for each feeder design, and 3) the relationship between feeding behavior, feeder design, and feed loss. One hundred sixty beef cows were used to evaluate the quantity of hay loss and feeding behaviors from different round bale feeders. Twenty cows were allotted by weight and body condition score to one of eight pens with four feeder designs: cone, ring, trailer, or cradle. All feeder types provided 37 cm of linear feeder space per animal. Alfalfa and orchardgrass round bales were weighed and sampled before feeding. Hay that fell onto the concrete surrounding the feeder was considered waste and was collected and sampled daily. At the end of a 7-d period, each feeder type was assigned to a different pen for a second 7-d period. Behaviors, such as feeder access, occupancy rate, and occurrence of agonistic interactions were recorded. Dry matter hay waste was 3.5, 6.1, 11.4, and 14.6% for the cone, ring, trailer, and cradle feeders, respectively. Both agonistic interactions of cows around the feeders and frequency of feeder entrances differed among feeders and were correlated to feed losses. Feeder design features including size, geometry, bar angle and spacing, and inclusion of a tip bar may affect cattle behavior and resulting feed utilization. Implementation of design strategies that reduce agonistic interactions and /or reduce feeder entrances would be expected to reduce feed losses and improve well-being.
Livestock, ethics, and quality of life
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Currently, the main objective of animal and agricultural scientists is to ensure biological efficiency. However, cheap food is no longer the main concern of people in the West. Other issues are taken into account when purchasing food: quality of life (including health and safety of foods; nutritional value; traditional, regional, locally produced, and organic foods; animal welfare; sustainable farming, environment, and rural resources. This paper illustrates how some recent unethical behaviour has caused the credibility of animal scientist to be lost. A new ‘Quality of Life Agricultural Era’ needs to be promoted with changes in research, teaching and application of animal and agricultural science (especially biotechnology), in order to replace the ‘Era of Intensification’. Animal scientists could be at the forefront of promoting and implementing this new agricultural ideology, with new assumptions, beliefs and leadership that will contribute to the emerging social agenda of the 21st century.
Technological Changes in Beef and Pork Production: Effects on Marketing Margins and Prices
Posted in: Economics by admin on | No Comments
Our study focuses on the effects of changing
meat packer and farm-level technologies on real
beef and pork farm-wholesale marketing margins
and on livestock prices. Results indicate cost savings
from meatpacking technologies increase real
livestock prices, while technological changes at the
farm level reduce real livestock prices. On balance,
the positive effect from meatpacking technology outweighs the negative effect of farm-level technological
change.