Improving Net Income in Declining Markets

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 1999 | No Comments

Farrowing and savaging in wild boar sows

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Unwanted behaviours such as savaging are sometimes attributed to the process of domestication. Videotaping of farmed wild boar sows during farrowing revealed that 33 per cent were aggressive towards their piglets. Aggression varied with genetic line and was associated with long farrowings involving numerous posture changes. Savaging does not appear to be caused by domestication. Factors associated with piglet-directed aggression in wild boar may also be implicated in savaging in domestic sows.

The effect of cow-calf separation in dairy cattle on animal behaviour.

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Foot lesions in finishing pigs and their associations with the type of floor.

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Physiological responses of sheep during long road journeys involving ferry crossings.

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Danger to pigs due to crushing can be reduced by the use of a simulated udder.

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Sows that lie on their young, pig ‘crushing’, is a significant cause of pig mortality in current production systems. Although mortality rates of pigs in farrowing crates are lower than mortality rates of pigs in pens, loss due to crushing is still estimated to be between 4.8 and 18%. During the first few days after parturition, pigs are highly attracted to the odor of their dam’s udder. Thus, this research was designed to move the pigs away from the sow by competing with the sow’s udder using a ‘simulated’ udder. Fifteen Yorkshire x Landrace sows and their litters (average 11.4 pigs per litter) were assigned to either a control or an experimental group. The control group had access to a heat lamp, whereas the experimental group had a simulated udder in the crate. Data were collected using video cameras for a 3-d duration at the initiation of farrowing. When a sow stood, data were recorded by 1-min scan samples to record the number of pigs using either the heat lamp or the simulated udder. In addition, stillborn pigs, pig crushing, and death by other means also were recorded. Results indicated that from 12 to 72 h postpartum, excluding 24 to 36 h postpartum, the estimated probability that pigs were in a safe area (simulated udder or heat lamp) was higher for the experimental group than for the control group. During 24 to 36-h period, it was more probable to find pigs on a simulated udder than under only a heat lamp. Stillborn pigs, pig crushing, and death by other means were not different between treatments. The simulated udder drew pigs away from the sow’s udder better than heat lamps alone. Considering these findings, mortality of pigs due to crushing may be decreased substantially using a simulated udder. These results are promising, but further refinement should be done, including improved udder design and investigation of the attractiveness of various stimuli.

Performance Records and Their Use in Genetic Improvement

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Recording performance data is common place within many swine businesses in the United States. Information such as sow farrowing and weaning data and changes in feed and pig inventories are used regularly for both tactical and strategic planning. Animal performance data within the commercial pork industry is primarily used to monitor production system dynamics and to pinpoint strengths and
weaknesses within each phase of production. A secondary use, chiefly for sows and boars, is evaluation of past performance of individual animals within the system.
Within seedstock farms, animal records are used primarily to monitor the performance of individuals for the prediction of genetic breeding values. Monitoring production system status is of secondary nature. All pigs within purebred or nucleus systems are uniquely identified whereas in commercial
systems, individual identification occurs primarily for sows and boars.
Seedstock programs implement unique production protocols to standardize conditions so individuals within a group experience similar production and environmental circumstances. Differences
in genetic merit between animals are more notable when individuals compared are exposed to similar
environmental challenges. The comparison of differences in performance records between individuals
is a key element in identifying genetically superior individuals. To accomplish this objective, data collection must follow specific protocols so that differences observed between individuals more accurately reflect their differences in genetic merit versus differences due to non-genetic factors.

Evaluation of Odor Control Technologies for Curtain-Sided Swine Barns

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A three step process being used to determine the best technologies for reducing odors from curtain-sided, deep-pit swine finishing barns has been funded. The planned three-step process to research and develop economic, viable and capable dor control systems for Minnesota curtain-sided, deep-pit finishing barns appears to be progressing well, The initial screening is partially completed and five different technologies are in the early implementation stge. Cooperators are coming on board and learning their part of the research. The fast track plan to implement the most promising systems seems to be a reasonable situation and will provide longer term solutions with reasonable data to compare more systems for the unique situaton in Minnesota.

Demonstration of Liquid Manure as a Fertility Source on Grassland

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Due to the short growing season and and change in cropping practices the window in which manure can be applied is becoming smaller. One solution to this scenario is the low distrubance injection of manure into grassland. The Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative (MLMMI) in cordination with the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Instiutute (PAMI) are determining the most suitable methods for use on grassland, as well monitoring odour and yield response for the various manure application methods.

Odor Emissions fromSwine Nursery Buildings

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Odour generates the largest number of complaints with respect to intensive livestock operations, howver the measurement of baseline odour levels is not widely available. This study intended to measure building odour emissions and gain further infromation for the development of odour impact guidelines for the pork production facilities. In order to achieve this two objectives were established: measure odour concentration and emsission from pif nursery facilities and assess the intensity and offensiveness of odour emitted by swine nurseries.

Two mechanically ventilated nurseries were used to measure odour concentration and offensiveness between March and May 1999. Odour threshold values were determined by a dynamic dilution, forced-choice olfactometre. The resultd indicate a relatively low sampling variance, with odour concentration of pit fans ranging from 94-635 OU averaging 190 OU.Outdoor odour concetration levels averaged 23 OU ranging from 7-85 OU. The arthimetic odour emission rate was 53% of the emission rate reported by Heber(1998) for swine finishing barns. While on the building floor area, the geometric mean of building odour emission was 42% of the value measured by Heber (1998) for finishing buildings. It appears that finishing pigs emit about 90% more odours per animal unit and 140% more per unit area than nursery pigs. Manure depth also seemed to positively influence the odour emission rate. Greater manure depths encourage more anaerobic microbial activities which cause production of more odourous gases.