Profitable Use of Ractopamine in Hog Production – Economic Evaluation Using a Pig Growth Model

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

Recently, a pig growth model has been developed, that incorporates the impact of RAC on pig compositional growth and nutritional requirements. The objective of this research was to utilize the compositional pig growth model to evaluate the economically optimal use of RAC with different marketing systems. The study confirms that under present economic conditions, the feeding of RAC is profitable to pork producers. The highest return from the use of RAC will accrue to producers with a better growth environment and those using a 3-diet, phase-feeding program after 154 lbs live weight.
Part of the additional profit due to the use of RAC comes from faster growth rate and less days on feed. As the payment for leanness increases, the return to RAC use also increases.
Greater payment for lean versus fat tissue results in higher optimal RAC concentrations being fed
for longer durations, given the same economic conditions.

Iron Deficiency in Outdoor Pig Production

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It has been claimed that outdoor-reared suckling piglets do not need iron supplementation. According to practical experience, outdoor-reared and non-iron-supplemented piglets show a lower performance in comparison with their iron-supplemented counterparts. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of iron supplementation on outdoor reared suckling piglets. In a large Hungarian outdoor pig production unit, 4691 piglets were assigned to one of two treatment groups. Piglets in group 1 (n ¼ 2344): received no iron supplementation, whereas piglets in group 2 (n ¼ 2347)
were intramuscularly injected in the neck on day 3 postpartum with 1.5 ml of Ferriphor
10% solution (TAD Pharmaceutical GmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany). Animal weights, morbidity, haemoglobin concentration and mortality were recorded and analysed. At weaning the iron-injected piglets were significantly (P<0.05) heavier. The iron-supplemented piglets also revealed significantly (P<0.01) less preweaning morbidity and mortality and higher (P<0.01) blood haemoglobin concentration compared with the non-injected ones. This study suggests that in order to prevent pre-weaning losses and support piglet health and weight performance, iron supplementation should be administered to piglets in outdoor pig production units.

Producing Pork Without Antibiotic Growth Promoters: The Danish Experience

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On January 1st, 2000, antibiotic growth promoters were removed from animal production in Denmark. Antibiotics were only to be used for therapeutic purposes. The effect on finisher pigs has been fairly unproblematic in the majority of the herds. The effects on weaner pigs has been significantly negative, with increased post-weaning diarrhoea, increased infections, increased nutritional overload, and reduced utilization of nutrients in the feed. Many herds find it necessary to apply medicine for treatment of diarrhoea in young stock, resulting in an increased consumption of therapeutic antibiotics. Increasing management and nutrition is aiming to reduce these problems without the use of medicines. Management practices include health promoting housing systems, reducing overcrowding, decreasing batch sizes, good ventilation and temperature, and higher weaning weight. Nutritional practices include restrictive feeding (during the first 14 days post-weaning), additives (such as acidifiers), protective diets (low protein, high animal protein, high barley, organic acid product), and fermented liquid feed (increase acid content in stomach to kill harmful bacteria).

Choice of statistical model for estimating genetic parameters using restricted maximum likelihood in swine

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Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) was used to determine the choice of statistical model, additive
genetic maternal and common litter effects and consequences of ignoring these effects on estimates of
variance–covariance components under random and phenotypic selection in swine using computer
simulation. Two closed herds of different size and two traits, (i) pre-weaning average daily gain and (ii) litter size at birth, were considered. Three levels of additive direct and maternal genetic correlations (rdm) were assumed to each trait. Four mixed models (denoted as GRM1 through GRM4) were used to generate data sets. Model GRM1 included only additive direct genetic effects, GRM2 included only additive direct genetic and common litter effects, GRM3 included only additive direct and maternal genetic effects and GRM4 included all the random effects. Four mixed animal models (defined as EPM1 through EPM4) were defined for estimating genetic parameters similar to GRM. Data from
each GRM were fitted with EPM1 through EPM4. The largest biased estimates of additive genetic
variance were obtained when EPM1 was fitted to data generated assuming the presence of either
additive maternal genetic, common litter effects or a combination thereof. The bias of estimated
additive direct genetic variance (VAd) increased and those of recidual variance (VE) decreased with an
increase in level of rdm when GRM3 was used. EPM1, EPM2 and EPM3 resulted in biased estimation
of the direct genetic variances. EPM4 was the most accurate in each GRM. Phenotypic selection
substantially increased bias of estimated additive direct genetic effect and its mean square error in trait 1, but decreased those in trait 2 when ignored in the statistical model. For trait 2, estimates under phenotypic selection were more biased than those under random selection. It was concluded that
statistical models for estimating variance components should include all random effects considered to
avoid bias.

Reducing Piglet Mortality with Oxygen & Heat

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Mortality in the first day of life of newborn piglets is often excessive because of asphyxia and cold stress. Even when weak piglets survive through day one of life, many die on day two or three because they are either unable to suckle and/or are crushed during this energy deficient period. For simulating practical farm conditions, this experiment was designed to observe the effects of administering energy and immunity products along with supplemental oxygen and heat to reduce mortality during the first seven days of life. The results from this experiment confirm that heat or oxygen can save small piglets, piglet daily mortality can meet and exceed the less than 1% target by using oxygen inhalation and oxygen inhalation by newborn piglets is the most effective means for improving piglet survival. Administered colostrum also improved piglet survival and can be very effective when combined with oxygen or heat to reduce mortality between days two and seven. However, oxygen administration needs to be done within a short period after birth and thus may put a time burden on the staff within the farrowing unit. This study suggest that an additional heat lamp positioned at the rear of the sow during farrowing and supplemental colostrum on day one are a very practical and economic means for saving small piglets on all Canadian pork producing units, especially where large litter sizes are prevalent and light piglets are common.

Nutritional evaluation of crop residues for pigs; pepsin/pancreatin digestibility of seven plant species

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Effects of Dietary Proetin and Oathull Fiber on Nitrogen Excretion Patterns and Postprandial Plasma Urea Profiles in Grower Pigs

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The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine if dietary protein reduction or oathull fiber inclusion would reduce urinary N excretion in grower pigs, 2) to determine if plasma urea could predict urinary N excretion among diets differing in protein and fiber content with an expected range in N excretion patterns, and 3) to determine the postprandial time point to sample blood for the best prediction. Three dietary protein concentrations (high, 19.7; medium, 16.9; low, 13.8%) and two fiber levels (high, 5.0; low, 3.6% crude fiber) were tested in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement. Diets (wheat, barley, soybean meal; oathulls as fiber source) were formulated to 3.25 Mcal of digestible energy (DE)/kg and 2.2 g of digestible lysine/Mcal DE for low- and medium-protein diets, and 2.4 g/Mcal of DE for high-protein diets, and supplemented with lysine, methionine, tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, or valine to meet an ideal amino acid profile. Pigs (32 +/- 3.4 kg; n = 42) were housed in metabolism crates for 19 d. On d 10 or 11, catheters were installed by cranial vena cava venipuncture. Daily feeding allowance was adjusted to 3x maintenance (3 x 110 kcal DE/kg body weight(0.75)), and was fed in two equal meals. Feces and urine were collected from d 15 to 19. Five blood samples were collected in 2-h intervals on d 16 and 19. Fecal, urinary, and total N excretion was reduced linearly with a reduction of dietary protein (P < 0.001); the reduction was greater for urinary (48%) and total N excretion (40%) than for fecal N excretion (23%). Similarly, the ratio of urinary to fecal N was reduced linearly with a reduction of dietary protein (P < 0.001). Retention of N (g/d) was reduced linearly. but N retention as a percentage of N intake was increased linearly with a reduction of dietary protein (P < 0.001). The addition of oathulls did not affect N excretion patterns and plasma urea (P > 0.10). Dietary treatments did not affect average daily gain or feed efficiency (P > 0.10). A dietary protein x time interaction affected plasma urea (P < 0.001). For medium- and high-protein diets, plasma urea increased postprandially, peaking 4 h after feeding, and then decreased toward preprandial levels (P < 0.05). Plasma urea did not alter postprandially for the low-protein diet (P > 0.10). Urinary N excretion (g/d) was predicted by 3.03 + 2.14 x plasma urea concentration (mmol/L) at 4 h after feeding (R2 = 0.66). Plasma urea concentration is indicative of daily urinary N excretion and reduction of dietary protein is effective to reduce total and urinary N excretion.

Alberta Short-Term Solid Manure Storage

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In 2002 there were amendments made to the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA). There is a new one-window approval process for siting new or expanding confined feeding operations (CFOs), and for monitoring and enforcing compliance with province-wide standards for managing manure. The Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) administers the regulations under the Act.
Anyone who handles and stores manure must consider setback and flooding areas. Short-term solid manure storage must be located 1) 150 meters from the nearest residence; 2) 100 meters from a spring; 3) 100 meters from a well; 4) 30 meters from a common body of water. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th conditions can be waived by the NRCB if the operator can demonstrate that water sources will not likely be contaminated.
Other guidelines for short-term solid manure storage are that they must 1) observe the 1:25 year flood plain or must be no more than 1 meter below any part of the facility where runoff can be generated and come into contact with manure; 2) be located at least one meter above the water table; 3) have erosion control measures that protect the facility from erosion, run-off/run-on and flooding.

A Review of the Environmental Effects of Different Livestock Manure Storage Systems, and a Suggested Procedure for Assigning Environmental Ratings

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There are concerns over a range of adverse environmental effects resulting from the storage of livestock manures on farms. The objectives of this study were to examine all the likely environmental effects of different storage methods, and to recommend which were the most desirable options.
Literature reviews were undertaken to identify the likely environmental consequences of each commonly used storage method, in terms of water pollution risks, odour and ammonia emissions, greenhouse gas
emissions and survival of microorganisms during storage. Planning and landscape aspects were considered and the most feasible options for abatement of ammonia emissions were identified. An a

Alternative Treatment And Recovery Of Phosphorus From Anaerobic Lagoons

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