SEARCH
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:
FarmFacts: Nutrient Values of Manure
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 1999 | No Comments
Determination of the Areal Extent of Odour Plume from Large Hog Facilities in Manitoba
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
The location of large hog barns in relation to neighbours, communities and highways is a major factor in establishing public attitudes towards these operations. Little data exists to assist planners determine proper siting by establishing how local topography and weather condition affect the odour plumes created by these operations. This project studied six southern Manitoba hog operations located in locations ranging from sparsely- wooded flat terrain to heavily-treed rolling land. Two-person “odour panels” evaluated the relative strengths of the odour plumes produced under various wind directions and velocities, temperatures and humidity levels. Panelists rated odour concentrations on a scale of 1 to10 at various distances from the odour source under varying weather conditions. The study concluded odours essentially travel in the direction of the wind (longitudinal) and that there is little lateral dispersement in other directions provided the wind is in a constant direction. Neither trees nor rolling terrain have significant effects on odour movement although they tend to deflect wind direction and may dilute odour concentrations. Widest odour plumes occurred during manure spreading operations rather than from barns or earthen manure storages and there appeared to be some correlation between the number of Animal Units on a site and the maximum distance odour plumes traveled.
Sorting Pigs: Why we do it and why we shouldn't
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Development and evaluation of a temperature-humidity controller for livestock buildings
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Applying a protection treatment to TDK relative humidity (RH) sensors has been shown to extend the life expectancy and maintain accuracy in pig barn conditions. This study objected to implement the modified TDK RH sensor and the new optimized temperature and humidity control (THC) strategy developed at PSCI. The controller was evaluated in six identical grower/finisher pig rooms. Three rooms were provided with THC controllers using a 70% RH setpoint while the other rooms had conventional temperature-only controllers. The THC controller provided very good control of room temperature and RH. In conventionally controlled rooms over the first three weeks, the time period when RH was higher than 70% occurred 36% to 85% of the day. In THC rooms, the RH was controlled around the setpoint for 33% to 63% of the day. Pig performance was similar with both control strategies.
Prevalence of severe welfare problems in horses that arrive at slaughter plants.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Welfare of food restricted male and female turkeys.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Factors affecting the Release and Concentration of Dust in Pig Houses
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Effects of straw bedding and high fibre diets on the behaviour of floor fed group-housed sows.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Gestating sows are restricted fed to limit excessive body fat but this results in a sustained level of hunger. Hungry sows remain active and aggression both during feeding and at other times of the day may increase. Hunger is also a cause of stereotypic or pen-directed oral behaviours. This study examined two management methods that could be used to reduce hunger related aggression and pen-directed oral behaviours. The sows were housed in groups of 7 on solid floored pens with ample room (3.7 m2/sow). Five groups were assigned to each of four treatment combinations, representing a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Sows were either bedded with straw or not. They were either fed a high fibre diet (including sugar beet pulp), or equivalent energy in a low fibre diet. Feed was dropped into the pen once a day in such a way that it was widely dispersed throughout the lying area. Sows bedded on straw spent more time standing during the 2 hours after feeding, and had higher levels of aggression compared to those without straw. However, the presence of straw reduced the incidence of pen-directed oral behaviour. Thus, straw was beneficial in terms of pen-directed behaviour, but resulted in greater aggression. High fibre diets did not affect aggression when compared to standard diets, but sows on high-fibre diets were less active several hours after feeding and less involved in pen-directed oral behaviour. Both straw and high-fibre diets appear to reduce pen-directed diets, probably through a decrease in hunger, but straw bedding increased the level of aggression in floor fed sows.