Hour of Weaning, Photoperiod and Weaning to Estrus Interval in Sows

Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 2002 | No Comments

Sows are usually weaned at a time of day most convenient for processing the weanlings, with little thought as to any effect it may have on the sow’s return to heat. However, with a goal of optimizing pregnancy rate and litter size, having better control over the weaning to estrus or heat interval (WEI) and time of breeding becomes extremely important. Research with the University of Manitoba sow herd at the Glenlea Research Station has been focusing on determining whether the hour of weaning, as well as the photoperiod the sows are in, can impact the WEI and the time of ovulation. Improving the predictability of WEI and ovulation will help optimize breeding management and reproductive performance of sows. In the first phase of the research, conducted as part of the Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree of Kelly Bowen, multiparous Cotswold sows were housed under a short photoperiod (9 hours of light) from entry into the farrowing barn at 105 days of pregnancy, throughout their 17-day lactation and during the rebreeding period. Sows were weaned either as soon as the lights came on at 8:00 AM or at 4:45 PM, just before lights went off, with the idea that any differences would show up by weaning at these two extremes of the day. Following from these initial studies, the recent M.Sc. research of Jennifer Burt has investigated the actual timing of ovulation, with real-time ultrasonography, following 8:00 AM weaning, as well as the influence of longer day-lengths (photoperiod) during lactation. Sows were kept under either long days (14 hours light) or short days (9 hours light) throughout their time in the farrowing barn until weaning at 17 days. Breeding barn photoperiod was at 9 hours of light as is routine in our Glenlea Swine Research Unit. Combined, these investigations clearly demonstrate that sows kept under short photoperiod during 17 day lactation and weaned as soon as lights come on, have less variable WEI than do those sows weaned later in the day or kept under longer photoperiod during lactation. In effect more sows under short day-lengths and weaned early in the day, began their standing heat period between 8:00 AM and noon when heat checks are routinely conducted. With time of ovulation being fairly consistent from actual estrus onset in these sows, being able to accurately determine the onset of heat ensures more reliable time of insemination to optimize conception and subsequent litter size.

Characterization of the productive performance in family pig farms located in Ayotzingo, State of Mexico

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Alternative housing systems for pigs: Influences on growth, composition, and pork quality

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A growing interest has been shown in alternative pig
production systems because of the low capital cost of
outdoor systems, which varies from 40 to 70% of the cost for conventional indoor systems. Concerns for animal welfare and awareness of niche
marketing opportunities have increased interest in the
production of free-range animals characteristics.
The overall objectives of these experiments
were to examine the effects of alternative pig housing
systems on growth and meat quality measures using
both controlled university trials and field studies. It was found that pigs finished in alternative and outdoor systems had
carcass and pork quality characteristics similar to those
of pigs finished in conventional indoor systems on slatted
flooring. In mild climates, pigs housed outdoors may
grow faster than pigs housed indoors during warm
months. Pig birth environment may play an important
role in growth and performance throughout the finishing
period. Alternative pig housing systems, such as
bedded facilities or outdoor finishing, can be successful
under proper management. Seasonal differences in
growth may exist with pigs finished outdoors. Further
research comparing pigs born outdoors and indoors
should be conducted to examine differences in growth,
meat quality, and pig welfare that may exist in conventional
and alternative finishing systems.

New Hulless Barley Promises to Reuce Pollution from Manure

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New lines of hulles barley being developed by the University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre promise to help reduce the potential pollution from hog manure while increasing the value of the crop. The goal is to develop a two row hulless barley variety for use as feed that is low in phytic acid and is adapted to Western Canada. The work invloves crossing CDC McWire hulless barley with low phytic acid varities developed by USDA scientists in Idaho based on Harrington. Crop Development Centre Barley and Oat breeder Dr. Brian Rossnegel says the new hulless variety will primarily target swine producers.

Effects of Low Phytic Acid Corn, Low Phytic Acid Soybean Meal and Phytase on Nutrient Excretion and Nutrient Digestibility in Pigs

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About 85% of the phosphorus (P) in a normal corn-soybean meal diet fed to swine is not utilized because it is bound as phytate phosphate and cannot be digested by the swine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding low phytic acid (LPA corn, LPA soybean meal and the Phytase enzyme on P digestibility and excretion with grower pigs.
This study suggests that the feeding of any combination of LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase can significantly improve P digestibility while dramatically decreasing P excretion. In addition, the feeding of LPA corn can reduce fecal K excretion while improving overall K digestibility. The modifications of commercial swine diets with LPA corn, LPA soybean meal and/or phytase can significantly improve P utilization and thus reduce the potential negative impacts of swine production on the environment.

Biofiltration of Odour and Ammonia from a Pig Unit, a pilot-scale Study

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A pilot-scale biofiltration unit was constructed at a pig finishing building on the University College Dublin research farm. The biofiltration system was investigated over three trial periods. Exhaust air from a single pen was extracted by a variable speed centrifugal fan and passed through a humidifier and biofilter. A 0
5mde pth of woodchips of over 20mm screen size was used as the biofilter medium. The moisture content of the medium was maintained at 644% (wet weight basis) for trial one and 694% (wet weight basis) for trials two and three using a load cell method. The volumetric loading rate varied from 769 to 1898m3 [air] m3 [medium] h1 during the three trial periods. Odour and ammonia removal efficiencies ranged from 77 to 95% and 54 to 93%, respectively. The pH of the biofilter leachate remained between 6 and 8 throughout the experimental periods.
The pressure drop across the biofilter ranged from14 to 64 Pa. It is concluded that a wood chipmedia particle size >20mm is suitable for use in biofiltration systems on intensive pig production facilities. This will minimize the pressure drop on the system fans to reduce overall operation costs. It is recommended that a filter bed moisture content (wet weight basis) of greater than 63% be used to maintain overall efficiency. An efficient air moisturizing system (humidification and bed sprinkling) along with a properly designed air distribution system must be incorporated in the overall design when operating at such high volumetric loading rates.

Enforce Existing Animal Feeding Operations Regulations to Reduce Pollutants

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Pilot Scale Study of Hog Manure Treatment Technology

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System Ecotechnologies Inc. has developed a hog manure treatment process (SEI Hog Manure Treatment Technology) which has the following environmental and economic benefits: significantly reduces odours from hog manure, produces recyclable clear water, produces nutrient-rich biosolids (sludge), recovers ammonia as a separate product usable as a fertilizer, eliminates E.Coli in the treated liquid and biosolids, eliminates the production of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from manure after treatment, and offers a better control on the use and disposal of treated liquid and biosolids. System Ecotechnologies Inc. received funding from Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative (MLMMI), Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, and CETAC-WEST which administered the funds from TEAM – Climate Change Action Fund, and the Western Economic Diversification (WD) of Government of Canada, to conduct this technology demonstration. The technology demonstration was conducted at the following hog operations in Manitoba: Landmark – Nevin Friesen’s farm coordinated by Elite Swine Inc., Niverville – Coordinated by Puratone Inc., Starlite Colony – Coordinated by James Hofer of Starlite Colony; Saskatchewan: St. Denis – Quadra Group; Ontario: London – Van Gorp Farm coordinated by Case and Jeff Van Gorp. Open houses were conducted at Landmark, Starlite Colony and London which were well attended by the print and broadcast media, hog operators and representatives from the hog industry (Manitoba Pork, Ontario Pork) and the government regulatory agencies. The technology demonstration received extensive media coverage which brought a number of enquiries from hog farmers from Canada, USA and Ireland for commercially implementing the technology. Dr. Qiang (Chong) Zhang of the Department Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba was consulted to evaluate the reduction in the odours in the manure due to the treatment process. Dr. Zhang and his team visited the site and took samples of raw (untreated) manure and the treated liquid for the laboratory evaluation using the ‘Dynamic Dilution Olfactometer’ and a panel of six screened assessors. Samples of untreated manure and samples of liquid and biosolids after treatment were taken after each demonstration and sent for analysis. They were analyzed for BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), TKN (Total Kjledahl Nitrogen), total phosphorus, total potassium, total sulphur for all samples. Samples were also sent to the Saskatchewan Research Council for bacterial analysis in terms of total coliforms and E.Coli.
The following summarizes the data obtained from these demonstrations: Clear recyclable water was consistently produced at all sites, the odour was reduced by more than 98% in the treated water compared to the raw manure, the bacterial contamination in terms of E.Coli and total coliforms was eliminated after treatment both in the treated manure and the biosolids, as a percentage of the raw manure nutrient content, the biosolids produced by the treatment contained 100% of phosphorus, about 55 to 89% of nitrogen, about 37 to 92% of potassium and about 47 to 84% of sulphur, the nitrogen content in the treated liquid was low, at less than 14%. It was possible to reduce this further to almost zero by allowing the sample to be exposed to air, the BOD in the treated liquid varied from a low of 5 mg/l to a high of 2500 mg/l, while the BOD values in the raw manure ranged from 30,000 to 45,000 mg/l, and the volume of biosolids produced by the treatment ranged from about 5 to 10 % depending upon the raw manure solids content.

The thermal inactivation of E. coli in straw and pig manure

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Measuring the Cost of Restricting Access to Cropland for Manure Nutrient Management

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