Sask Pork Announces $215,000 towards the Interpretive Centre

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 2001 | No Comments

Thermoregulation of the nursery by early-weaned piglets through operant conditioning

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Regardless of its effect on the health and productivity of growing swine, thermoregulation is an area with little data for producers to rely on, especially in the case of early weaned piglets. It is up to the producer to choose a setpoint temperature for the barn environment. With little or no access to thermal requirements of early weaned piglets, producers must make a decision based on thermal preferences of grow finish pigs. Because of this lack of information, a study was designed to inform producers of the optimal temperature for early weaned piglets in which the piglets would control their own thermal environment. With the use of operant conditioning, piglets controlled the temperature through a lever placed in one of the nursery pens. When the lever was hit, an infrared heat lamp would turn on above the piglets in addition to the room gas heater. Room temperature was monitored every 5 minutes and averaged to find temperature preferences. Results show that as age increases, average preferred temperature decreases by approximately 1A?A?C/week for early weaned piglets. The temperatures ranged between 22A?A?C and 29A?A?C each week and reflected a circadian sinusoidal pattern in which the piglets preferred higher temperatures during the day and lower temperatures at night. Results from this study agree with trends found in studies done in grow finish hogs and provides the information hog producers need to consider for more fuel efficient ways of monitoring the thermal environment of early weaned piglets

Greenhouse gas and odour emissions from swine operations in Quebec and Saskatchewan: Benchmark assessments

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It is estimated that agriculture contributes about 10% of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. About 40% of the agricultural emissions of GHG originate from livestock production. However, there exists a lot of uncertainty relative to the actual GHG emissions from livestock production systems in Canada since many of those estimates have been based on data collected in other parts of the world. In addition to GHG, odour emissions from production buildings and manure storage facilities often constitute an important source nuisances in livestock production, especially in the pig industry.

The general objective of this ongoing research project (January 2001 a

Effects of density on perching behaviour of broiler chickens.

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Management factors, including the provision of perches, have been explored as to their ability to improve the health and welfare of domestic fowl. Exercise through perching has been suggested as a way to reduce the impact of leg problems in broiler chickens. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of density (10, 15, and 20 birds/m2) and perch design on the frequency of perch utilization. Four perch treatments were used in the experiment: control (no perches), horizontal (three horizontal perches), angled (three 10o angled perches), or mixed angle (one horizontal, one 10o angled, and one 20o angled perch). Perching frequency was significantly higher when birds were raised at stocking densities of 15 or 20 birds/m2 compared to 10 birds/m2. The birds used the horizontal perches the most, followed by 10o angled and mixed angle perch treatments. In general, perches closest to the hallway or outside of the house were used more than perches in the middle of the pen. It seems that broilers may be too heavy and inactive to use perches to a degree that it will benefit them, particularly in regards to leg problems. The higher use of perches at high densities suggests that social factors, such as social facilitation also have an effect on perch use.

Early age thermal conditioning and a dual feeding program for male broiler challenged by heat stress

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At 5 days of age, one group of male broiler chicks was exposed to thermal conditioning (38 A?C, 42 % humidity for 24 hours) while the other group was not. From 11 to 41 days of age, temperature was diurnally cyclic: 26 A?C (1600 to 0900 h) and 30 A?C (0900 to 1600 h). From day 19, diets were control or dual feeding of a high protein fraction (1600 to 0900 h) and an energy-rich fraction (0900 to 1600 h). Growth and feed efficiency were slightly enhanced by thermal conditioning (+ 4 %) and slightly reduced by dual feeding (- 4 %). During the thermal challenge, mortality was reduced by both factors. Prior to the thermal challenge period, thermal conditioning always reduced body temperature. During the thermal challenge period, body temperature was reduced by thermal conditioning and by dual feeding. Body temperature measurements taken at 32 days of age gave an estimation of the ability of the chickens to cope with heat stress 2 days later. For thermal conditioned chicks fed a control grower diet, pectoral mass was increased. The liver and gizzard were significantly heavier for thermal conditioned and non-conditioned chicks on a dual feeding program. This suggests that thermal conditioning at 5 days of age induces a consistent metabolic change in broiler males. The dual feeding program may have induced transitory effects on heat production during the heat stress.

The development of intersuckling in dairy calves around weaning.

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A common problem found in dairy herds is intersuckling, which is defined as juvenile or adult cattle sucking the udder of other cows within the herd. Intersuckling can cause udder health problems in the recipients. The cause is unknown, as are management methods that may prevent this behavioural problem. This study attempted to determine if intersuckling continues after in weaning in calves that demonstrated intersuckling behaviour prior to weaning. It also looked into whether the development of intersuckling is associated with feeding management during weaning. One week prior to weaning and weeks 1, 5 and 9 after weaning, the suckling and feeding behaviour of the calves was observed on 10 different farms. The average age at weaning was 21 weeks. The adequacy of the diets was based on the energy concentration. It was found that 92% of the calves were observed intersuckling prior to weaning. However, the rates amongst the calves were quite variable, ranging from 0 to 24.7 bouts/day. Intersuckling was also seen after weaning and the calves that demonstrated a higher amount of intersuckling prior to weaning were more likely to continue performing this behaviour after weaning. Intersuckling occurred most frequently around feeding time. As feeding duration increased or the energy content of the diet decreased, the rate of intersuckling increased. Calves who had restricted access to feed exhibited the more intersuckling behaviours. Therefore, this study found that intersuckling does occur prior to weaning and preventing the continuation of this behaviour after weaning is possible if the calves are fed a diet that complements with the calves physiological transition from a milk based to a forage/concentrate based diet.

Effects of an oral dose of acetyl salicylate at tail docking on the behaviour of lambs ages three to six weeks.

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A pilot trial and an experiment were carried out to investigate the effectiveness of providing analgesia for docking lambs’ tails in reducing discomfort behaviour. In the pilot trial, an elastrator ring was applied to the restrained lamb’s tail and the lamb was given either an oral dose of aspirin dissolved in water or an oral dose of water prior to release. The posture of the lambs given aspirin changed between sternal recumbency and standing less frequently than the posture of lambs given just water. This effect was significant from 10 to 20 minutes post-treatment. In the experiment, the lambs were given one of two docking treatments (application of the elastrator plus aspirin dissolved in water or application of the elastrator plus water) or one of two control treatments (restraint plus aspirin dissolved in water or restraint plus water). Three quarters of the postures used to assess discomfort changed for docked lambs within the hour after tail docking, and marked changes in the postures over time were also observed. Postures and activities were considered ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ (typical of docked lambs). The mean frequency of abnormal postures was 3.5 % for control lambs and 22.6 % for docked lambs. The mean frequency of abnormal activities was 5.2 % for control lambs and 19.3 % for docked lambs. Two of the activities seen in docked lambs were similar to those seen in control lambs when aspirin had been given. However, provision of aspirin was associated with increased levels of some activities/postures. These effects were minor compared with the effects of docking, and there was no indication of effective analgesia. Behavioural effects indicative of pain were observed immediately and did not subside fully within one hour when elastrator tail docking rings were applied. Even though there appeared to be an analgesic effect of aspirin in the pilot trial, further experimentation did not substantiate this effect.

Chemical, physical, and environmental properties of pelleted newpaper compared to wheat straw and wood shavings as bedding for horses.

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Different types of bedding have different properties including differences in water-holding capacity, littering effects, airborne dust particles, and combustion potential. Temperature and humidity can change the qualities of bedding material, affecting the microbial ecology of clean and soiled bedding as well as the surrounding environment. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage can develop as a result of organic particulate matter, such as bedding dust, forage-residing fungi, and molds. Therefore, horses are sensitive to organic particulate matter. The objective of this study was to compare the chemical, physical, and environmental properties of pelleted newspaper (PN), straw (S), and wood shavings (WS) as bedding material for horses. Horses were individually housed in boxstalls, where four types of bedding were tested: two types of PN (0.32 and 0.64 x 2.54 cm), S and WS. In the first experiment, only feces were cleaned daily in order to challenge the each material’s properties, and additional bedding was added as needed. In the second experiment, PN (0.32 x 2.54 cm), S and WS were also tested, but in this experiment feces and wet spots were removed every day and new bedding was added to an amount that was similar to the amount added in commercial conditions. The results indicated that the amount of clean bedding that needed to be added varied depending on the type of bedding material (S>WS>PN). Due to the higher water-holding capacity of PN and WS, less replacement bedding was required. More bedding (of all tested) was required during the autumn compared to the summer. The bedding environment was also influenced by type of material and season. PN had the greatest increase in pH and S had the lowest increase in pH. Stalls bedded with PN had higher concentrations of breathable NH3N during the autumn. The used PN with higher pH and less ventilation during the autumn contributed to the poor air quality. The number and species of microorganisms found in the breathing zone, nasal cavity and on the leg of the horse were affected by the season, type of bedding and duration of its use. The amount of dust also varied with type of bedding and duration of use. PN and WS resulted in more dust than S. The results indicate that bedding materials need to be managed based on the type of material and season of year.

Guidelines for the transport of early-weaned piglets based on field observations and experimental trials

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The stress of early weaning combined with the stress of transportation can predispose piglets to disease, such as post-weaning diarrhea, and can cause a significant depression in growth rates. Therefore, it is to the producera

PARAMETERS OF TREATED STAINLESS STEEL SURFACES IMPORTANT FOR RESISTANCE TO BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION

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