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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:
POWER DELIVERY EFFICIENCY: A VALID MEASURE OF BELT AND TIRE TRACTOR PERFORMANCE
Posted in: Energy by admin on January 1, 2001 | No Comments
A Markov Chain Analysis of the Size of Hog Production Firms in the United States
Posted in: Economics by admin on | No Comments
The objective of this article is to estimate, using Markov chain analysis, the relative
importance of input and output prices and other factors in the determination of the size
distribution of hog operations in the United States in recent years. The following section
briefly reviews the literature on Markov Chain analysis as it applies to agricultural subsectors. Then, a model is presented for estimation. Empirical results are presented in the
fourth section. The final section of the paper contains conclusions and implications.
Effect of energy and lysine intake in gestation on sow performance
Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments
Land-Use Issues and Conflict
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Municipalities are also often drawn into conflict. Sometimes municipalities are the source of
the conflict and other times they are perceived as an objective body that can or should
intervene to resolve problems between neighbours. When people have a concern, for example,
the first place they often turn to is their local municipality. Sources of conflict within the rural
community are varied. Sometimes, conflict may be a running feud between two neighbours
and the municipality will likely decline involvement. In other instances, however, and from
the perspective of rural planning and environmental management it may be in the
municipalities interest to become involved. For example the “Dirty Dozen” sources of conflict
identified by Carter and Owen (2000) have a strong municipal or public component to them
(for example water and air quality).
As mentioned, conflict can also exist between the municipality and ratepayers. Conflict may
arise from concern over municipal action or inaction, staff dealings with public, concern over
council-related issues, concern over taxes or concerns over any number of a wide range of
municipal services. In many rural municipalities across the country, the issue of agricultural
intensification has put many conflicts squarely on the Council table. In Ontario,
municipalities have been lobbied to stop the construction of new livestock facilities. In
Manitoba and Alberta tense public meetings have accompanied proposals for the construction
of new barns.
While conflict can not always be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, it is desirable to try to
resolve or manage it. Individuals and organizations are recognizing that by increasing their
understanding of the negotiating process and by using specific skills, they can achieve
enhanced outcomes for themselves and others.
Economics of Beef Feedlot Manure Management From a Whole-Farm Planning Perspective
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Manure management is a priority concern of the beef feedlot industry. Specialized livestock production often separates manure from the cropland it has been traditionally associated with. Therefore, manure management is often considered in this same context. Manure management, however, need not be discussed exclusively in the context of a feedlot operation. A whole farm planning approach offers significant potential for manure management when the production of beef feedlot cattle and crops occurs at the same site. Integration of crop and livestock production offers benefits to the operation that are not readily available to specialized operations producing strictly crops or livestock. Cropland can provide feed to the livestock portion of the enterprise and a place to apply the manure produced by the cattle. Manure supplies nutrients to cropland that would otherwise have to be purchased from off-farm sources. Therefore, what would be a cost of disposal to an operation producing strictly livestock may become an economical way to supply nutrients to crop production on an integrated crop-livestock operation. Manure management and utilization can be addressed at several stages of agricultural production from livestock ration decisions through to land application and crop choice. Dietary manipulation and composting offer potential to reduce the amount and constituents of manure. Growing crops with high nutrient demands allows more nutrients to be recycled on a fixed amount of cropland. Wang and Sparling (1995) demonstrated that it was possible for irrigated land producing hay, grain corn and silage corn within a 10 mile radius of an area
of highly concentrated feedlots to absorb more than twice the manure produced by feedlots when the manure was applied at agronomic rates. Growing crops such as potatoes, sugar beets, or other crops to be exported out of a region presents yet another opportunity for longterm manure management. These crops grown for export break the cycle of applying manure to cropland, feeding the crop to livestock, and applying the subsequent manure on the same land.
Design and Performance of a High-Rise: Hog Facility Manure Drying Bed
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Characterization of Odor Components from Swine Housing Dust Using Gas Chromatography
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Study of water Consumption and Waste Production During Different Growth Stages in Hog Operations
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
This study was initiated to quantify and update values used by the swine industry and regulatory authorities for water consumption and waste production for swine operations using modern management practices. A second objective was to apportion total water usage and total waste production into components according to stage of production and function. Nine swine operations of similar design and management practices, but representing a cross section of herd sizes were selected and monitored for approximately 18 months. The following conclusions were drawn from the data collected: Total water use for all production phases and functions averages 89.5 litres/sow/day, eighty percent of total water use was for animal drinking, with the remainder used for animal cooling (10 a