Reduction of High Soil Test Phosphorus by Corn and Soybean Varieties

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

Top 10 cost cutters and revenue generators

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Many producers may already be implementing changes and new ideas to lower costs and increase revenues. In many cases, this is the key to success in maintaining an operational pork production system. This article looks at 13 ideas focused on changes that can be implemented and monitored easily and inexpensively. For example, ideal feed formulation is dependant on animal weight and performance, as well as the cost of ingredients. If diets have not been updated recently, ingredient prices will likely have changed and may be costing the producer more than is required. Effects of these changes have been calculated in terms of dollars/pig marketed.

Variation in pig performance: Can we do anything about it?

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Variation in the hog barn is becoming an increasing topic of interest in the pork industry. Variation within the barn is a cost to the producer as it reduces barn utilization and causes a loss of revenue market. Variation can be the result of many causes, but most often fits into the categories of genetics or environment. Birth weights, weaning weight, litter of origin, gender and the parity of the dam all genetically affect the individual pig. Ideally, negative environmental impacts would all be eliminated. However, this is not usually the case. The producers goal should be to minimize negative environmental impacts by ensuring access to resources such as feed and water and minimizing exposure to pathogens. Statistically, variation can be defined in many ways. Most commonly, variation is measured as the standard deviation or coefficient of variation. The more dispersed the weights of the pigs, the larger the standard deviation. Certain management practises can be employed to reduce variation; however, this depends on the existing coefficient of variation. One suggestion to manage variation is to house barrows and gilts separately since barrows tend to eat more feed than gilts and reach market weight 5-7 days sooner.

The influence of adverse or gentle handling procedures on sexual behaviour in fearful and confident sows.

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This experiment examined if sows’ fearfulness of humans can inhibit sexual behaviour when humans are or are not present. Also, the effects that adverse versus gentle handling may have on the sexual behaviour of sows was examined. During the third week of lactation forty-eight sows were classified as confident or fearful of humans based on a forced three-step human approach. Six days prior to weaning and until the termination of oestrus, sows were either handled adversely or gently twice daily. At weaning, a human approach test was conducted in the sows’ home pen and in a novel arena. Three days after weaning until the end of oestrus a T-maze test was conducted to examine proceptive behaviour with and without the handler being present. The sows were monitored for standing heat during the T-maze test, in her home stall and trans-rectal ultrasonogram was conducted to ensure ovulation did take place. Whether the sow was confident, fearful, gently or adversely handled, all sows came into heat. In the human approach test, regardless of whether the sow was fearful or confident, adverse handling made the sows more fearful of humans. There was a tendency for fearful sows adversely handled to be more fearful of humans than a confident sow adversely handled. In the T-test conducted before the onset of oestrus, adversely handled sows spent less time standing near the boar pen when the handler was present. The presence of the handler had a similar effect on fearful sows. The opposite reaction to the handler was seen in gently handled or confident sows. During oestrus, fearful adversely handled sows spent significantly less time standing near the boar pen when the handler was present. All other sows spent similar amounts of time close to the boar pen regardless of whether the handler was present or not. This illustrates that fearful sows handled gently can overcome their fear of humans during oestrus.

Decreasing aggression with increasing group size in young domestic fowl.

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The overall objective of this study was to look at the social strategy of domestic fowl living in larger groups use in commercial production systems. The aggressive behaviour of white leghorn female chickens was observed in groups of 15, 30, 60 and 120 in 3, 6, 12 and 24m2 at a constant density of 5 birds/m2. Focal observations of 12 birds per group were carried out from 3 to 18 weeks of age. At all group sizes, aggressive pecking peaked between 6 and 12 weeks and then declined. Regression analysis on means across all ages showed a linear reduction in the frequency of pecks and threats given per focal bird with increasing group size. However, the frequency of pecks and threats received per focal bird showed the opposite pattern, being higher in larger than smaller groups. There was evidence that birds’ to adapt different social strategies with increasing group size. It could be speculated that, while the majority of birds may adapt a tolerant strategy in larger groups, a minority may be despotic, directing aggression indiscriminately towards other birds.

Impact of lameness on behaviour and productivity of lactating Holstein cows.

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Cows from two commercial dairy farms were studied to determine how lameness effects behaviour and milk production. Pens that were far from the milking parlour were used. Locomotion scores were given to each cow within the test pens. The cows were colour marked based on the severity of lameness. Return time from the milking parlour, whether the cows were standing or lying, and milk production/composition were recorded. The results indicated that the percentage of cows lying increased at an increasing rate, distance from the pen entrance was highest in intermediate locomotion score groups, return time tended to increase linearly, and milk and protein production decreased linearly as the locomotion score groups increased. A second experiment showed that the percentage of cows lying increased linearly, distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate and return time increased at an increasing rate, as locomotion score groups increased. Cows in the farthest pen from the milking parlour were lying the most, distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate, and cows return time increased as pen distance from the milking parlour increased. A higher locomotion score (greater lameness) and a greater distance from the milking parlour were found to have negative impacts on behaviour and productivity. However, the authors would not recommend that lame cows be housed in pens that are closer to the milking parlour, because they did not find interactions between locomotion score and pen distance.

Alternative Pork Production Systems: Overview of Facilities, Performance Measures, and Meat Quality

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Intensive outdoor pig production systems have been considered in recent years in some
parts of the world. These alternatives to traditional slatted-floor indoor systems may become
more common as environmental and/or animal welfare regulations increase. The objective of this paper is to compare outdoor and indoor pig finishing systems. The results were variable. Some reasons for this variation include differences in pig birth environment, seasonal effects,
and quality of ground or bedding surfaces. Research from Texas Tech University indicates that
outdoor born pigs have higher growth rates but more backfat. A possible advantage for outdoor
rearing may be linked to increased a* values and decreased L* values of the loin muscle. Darker
colored pork is more desirable for export markets because of the increase in water holding
capacity. A careful economic analysis should be conducted to determine if increased backfat and
feed:gain that is associated with outdoor finished pigs could be offset by higher market prices for
meat products from pigs finished in an outdoor environment. Alternative nutrition research
could lead to decreased backfat levels of outdoor finished pigs. If consumers are willing to pay
more for products that are produced as “sustainable”, “natural”, or others, then these production
systems could be very successful in the future. There are some real differences in pork quality noted in the literature. However,
differences in pork quality vary among the different environments that were investigated.
Consumer perception is such that when they enter a retail environment they are willing to buy
pork products with social assurances. In some cases, consumers may believe the alternative pork
products will taste better. We can say quite clearly that alternative products do not taste worse
than conventional products. Pork produced from pigs born and reared outdoors was equal to or
better than pork from conventional systems under some circumstances in our experiences.
Success of alternative production systems will depend on many factors and consumer
“willingness to pay” for these products would certainly increase economic benefits for these
production systems.

A note on the use of odor manipulation to facilitate the adoption of alien lambs by ewes bearing twins

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Artificial odorants such as neatsfoot oil has been used to facilitate adoption of alien lambs by ewes bearing single natural offspring because the oil provides a common odor for the lambs. Use of cloth stockinette jackets to exchange natural odors between lambs has also aided this adoption. Both methods were tested on lambs within 12 hours of birth. On the day following birth, the jackets were exchanged between own and alien lambs, and the alien lambs were fostered. The incidence of acceptance and rejection behaviors of ewes was monitored using ten-minute acceptance tests. In 5 days, 85 % of the ewes had met the acceptance criteria of no butts or butt attempts directed at the alien lamb, and they allowed a sucking time of 20 seconds or more by the lamb in each of two successive daily acceptance tests. Thirsty-six percent of the ewes adopted the alien lambs immediately. The study indicated that alien lambs could be successfully fostered in Friesian x Targhee cross ewes with natural twin lambs using a combination of neatsfoot oil to establish a common odor between own and alien lambs, and cloth stockinette jackets to exchange natural odors between natural and alien lambs.

A systematic approach towards developing environmental enrichment for pigs.

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This study made use of 222 groups of 3 weaner pigs (~ 5 weeks old, ~ 12 kg) and 222 groups of 3 grower pigs (13-14 weeks old, ~ 50 kg). A comparison of 74 different enrichment objects and substrates were presented in four ways, depending on object/substrate use: 1) substrate in a metal box attached to the pen side, 2) object loose on the floor, 3) object attached to the wall, and 4) object suspended from a metal bracket so that the object appeared at eye or floor level. The aim of this study was to determine which enrichment device characteristics were favored, and which of those favored characteristics were age-dependent. The object interaction for both weaner and grower pigs varied from 0.1-11.9 % on day 1, and from 0.2-9.3 % on day 5. On day 1, growers spent an average of 22.3 % of their active time on object-directed behaviour, while weaners spent an average of 16.4 % of their active time on object-directed behaviour. On day 5, active time spent on object-directed behaviour was 8.6 % for growers, and 7.5 % for weaners. Growers had a tendency to interact with the objects more often than weaners, and had a lower latency to interact with an object than weaners on day 1. The mean length of time spent on object interaction was significantly higher on day 1 than on day 5, and was higher among growers. A pig’s motivation to explore, to forage, and to manipulate objects may explain the reason for objects with characteristics such as ‘ingestible’, ‘odorous’, ‘chewable’, ‘deformable’, and ‘destructible’ to be used so extensively among the pigs. A high interaction (6-9 %) with edible objects validates the statement. Furthermore, objects that were not only ‘chewable’ but ‘odorous’ as well, became even more attractive. Renewing a substrate each day also helped to hold a pig’s interest in the enrichment device. Pigs often lost interest in an object that became soiled, such as objects that were provided loosely on the floor. Presenting substrates and objects in a box reduced this problem. Pigs habituated to some objects as early as 3 days after their initial introduction. Analysis of the data in this study concluded that there were 2 different sets of characteristics required of objects on day 1 (day of object introduction) and day 5, indicating that there was a separation between initially attractive characteristics and characteristics that kept the pigs’ attention over a number of days.

Farm Labor Legislation – How Does It Affect You?

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Government has allowed the agriculture sector more lenience in the labor department. In 2002 the Saskatchewan government imposed Labor Standards on agriculture employees. This resulted in unhappiness among the agricultural employees because of the way it changed long-standing procedures. Pork producers were having a difficult time implementing these into their operations. A significant problem with administering Labor Standards is the conflict that results from different interpretations of how the rules should apply. Employee termination has become more standardized and difficult because the terminated employee has the Division of Labor to fall back on. This can result in additional payment being made to the terminated employee as an unnecessary cost of the producer. Occupational Health & Safety must be adhered to and the Human Rights Code must be followed.