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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:
Concentrated swine feeding operations and public health: a review of occupational and community health effects
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2000 | No Comments
Analyzing New Crop Grain
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Due to poor growing conditions in Southern Manitoba in the fall of 2000, PSCI published the Analyzing New Crop Grain Factsheet. It examines the feeding quality of sprouted barley and wheat and its relative nutritional factors. Ergot, Importance of Bushel Weight, Maximizing you new crop grain with the use of ADF (acid detergent fiber) and the use of Hulless barley are other topics examined throughout the factsheet.
Impact of Land Application of Swine Manure
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
The Sask Pork Chair in Envronmental Engineering – Poster
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Effect of feed presentation on the feeding behaviour of grower/finisher pigs
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Past research suggests that the once standard 5 pigs/feeder space underestimates the actual carrying capacity of most modern feeder designs. Feeding behavior can be influenced by several factors such as competition, feed type, feed presentation and pig size. This study examined the effect of feed type and presentation on the eating behavior of grower finisher pigs in attempt to determine if these effects would translate into higher stocking densities of the feeder. Four treatments were used for the duration of the two experiments, dry mash (DM), wet/dry mash (WD), dry pellets (DP) and wet/dry pellets (WP) all fed from single space feeders. Pens were video taped to determine total duration of eating. Data from the first experiment was then used for the second experiment during the finisher phase. Results showed that pigs fed the DM diet spent significantly more time at the feeder than those fed WM, DP or WP. ADG was found to be lower as compared to WM or WP diets, and pigs fed the DP diets had intermediate gains. As stocking density increased, the time spent eating/pig decreased in both the grower and finisher phases, regardless of feed type or presentation. It was concluded that feed type and presentation have major effects on swine eating behavior and can influence productivity. Pigs fed a dry diet tend to spend more time eating, however this effect can be counteracted by the addition of water, such as in a wet/dry feeding system. The same does not apply to wet/dry versus dry pellets, which could be due to factors such as palatability or simple mechanics. Maximum number of pigs that could be fed from a single feeder space without significant decrease in ADG and ADFI varied among the type of feed and presentation, as well as the stage of growth.
The effect of the sticking method on the welfare of slaughter pigs.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
A study was undertaken to investigate the causes of inadequate sticking at a number of abattoirs in the UK. Pigs were stunned using head-only electrical stunning. Sticking was with a 20 cm long, double edged knife, and involved either a long or short cut (undefined). Bleed out times were determined and vessels and organs examined to determine which were cut by the knife. Although stunning was effective in rendering the pig unconscious, some pigs were difficult to stick because of uncontrolled movement. The long cut was more effective in obtaining a fast bleed out (approx. 75 vs 85 sec), and cut a larger number of the major vessels and organs. The subclavia and carotid vessels were almost always severed, while the brachiocephalic, aorta and heart were cut approximately 45, 75 and 88% of the time, respectively. Improvements in stunning and the use of a long cut should reduce the possibility of a poor stick resulting in unacceptable welfare.
The effect of increasing visual horizons on stereotypic weaving: implications for the social housing of stabled horses
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Stabled horses often perform stereotypic patterns of movement, such as weaving pacing in the stall. Environmental enrichment is seen as one way of addressing this problem. In particular, this paper examined the concept of providing animals with a greater view of their environment. Horses were housed in standard loose (box) stalls. Treatment varied according to how any sides of the stall were opened to allow the animal to see its environment. Opening of the various doors, windows and side panels also allowed the animals to better hear and interact with the outdoor environment (front and back of stall) and horses in adjacent stalls (sides). Increasing the number of sides that were open to the environment decreased the incidence of weaving in the horses. Three hypotheses are given to explain this improvement in behaviour. It could be the novelty of the expanded environment, in which case the stereotypic behaviours would develop again once the novelty wore off. No evidence was seen of this, but the trial was of a limited length. Secondly, The open treatments could allow animals greater opportunity to interact with the environment, and these behaviours would compete with the stereotypies for time budget. The third hypothesis is that the open windows allowed the expression of specific and beneficial activities that improved the welfare of the animals. These could include monitoring of the environment or social interaction. The conclusion is that opening the stalls to the surrounding environment reduced the incidence of weaving in the horses.