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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:
Socio-economic characteristics of pig farmers as determinant of pig feeding pattern in Oyo state, Nigeria
Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments
Is There a Market for Selenium-Enriched Pork?
Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that is required in very minute amounts by all
animals, including pigs. Certain soils in the U.S. and Canada are low in selenium,
including the north central and eastern regions of Canada and the northeastern, Pacific,
southwestern, and extreme southeastern regions of the U.S (see figure). The consumption of selenium-enriched meat could have direct health implications for
humans. In research conducted at the University of Arizona, a large group of men were
given a pill containing either organic selenium or a placebo for an extended period of
time. For the group that was given a daily supplement of organic selenium, there was a
63% decrease in prostate cancer, a 58% decrease in colon and rectal cancers, and a 45%
decrease in lung cancer. In addition, the overall cancer death rate in this group was
reduced by 50%. Other researchers have reported benefits of adequate selenium nutrition
on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, immunity, fertility, and heart disease.
Time will tell whether or not selenium-enriched pork will catch on as a “health food”.
The meat industry has been touting meat’s virtues as a superior source of nutrients,
compared to food of plant origin, for many years. It looks like, with regards to selenium,
the meat industry may have the upper hand.
Balancing the Availability of Nutrients in Manured Soils
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Animal manures are a valuable source of plant nutrients in crop production in western Canada. Significant yield responses to nutrients added as swine manure and cattle manure have been reported in field trials in Saskatchewan. Increased availability of nitrogen in manured soils is the primary factor associated with reported yield and protein increases in these studies, particularly with liquid swine manure. In some instances, part of the yield response to manure addition may be attributed to the enhanced availablility of othernutrients such as phosphorus when soil availability of those nutrients is limiting. Thereofre manure addition can make a signifiant contribution to crop nutrition by increasing the availability of many nutrients in the soil. However, the amounts, forms, availability and therefore the balance of available nutrients in the soil following manure addition is controlled to a large extent by the compostion of the manure. This compostion is variable depending on factors such as the animal physiology, feed rations/additives, manure handling and storage as well as environmental conditiions which effect nutrient retention. As such, when manure is applied, nutrients are applied in proportion or balance thy are present in the manure source, hcih amy be different than the relative proprtions required by the crop to be grown.
Odor and Gas Release from Anaerobic Treatment Lagoons for Swine Manure
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Producers Increasingly Turn to Manure Haulers
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Spreading manure is becoming cost prohibitive for individual producers who don’t want to incur hefty fines for making mistakes since Iowa lawmakers passed legislation last year toughening environmental laws. Commercial manure haulers and businesses that will draw up manure management plans and take soil and manure samples, etc are now becoming lucrative businesses to be in. New legislation where producers can incur fines of $5,000 for each day of violation if their manure management plan is not updated annually has made these businesses vital for future production. Other regulations include, top-applied manure cannot be spread closer than 750 feet from a neighbor’s home and 200 feet from sink holes and drainage ditches. It is not only producers who are incurring some new costs but the haulers as well. They must be certified and pay $200 to attend a yearly refresher course on rules and regulations given by Iowa State University Extension. Even with these extra costs, there still are saving being seen. ISU Extension estimates that applying manure instead of commercial fertilizer to your crops still saves $50 to $60 per acre.
Animal Waste Treatment Using Duckweed
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Water quality impacts of burying livestock mortalities
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Economic–Environmental Tradeoffs in Swine Finishing Operations
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This study examines the cost effectiveness of 81 alternative manure management systems for a swine
finishing operation in reducing three pollutants associated with livestock waste: ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus. The results are presented in terms of the tradeoff between the levels of these pollutants (environmental indicator) and the economic returns to the producer. The levels of the three manure residuals cannot be reduced by more than half from the present levels under the profit-maximizing system for each farm size. Further reduction would require changes in hog numbers to reduce the volume of manure and consequently residual levels. However, the feasible reductions in residuals can be achieved at relatively low cost. Larger farms tend to have lower abatement costs as the percentage reduction in residuals increase. The attempt to reduce more than one of the residuals simultaneously is complicated by the conflicting effects of alternative manure management systems on ammonia and nitrogen levels.