Review of welfare research in the laying hen and the research and management implications for the australian egg industry.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 1997 | No Comments

Heating Systems Evaluation in Swine Nursery Units

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Effect of the estrogen receptor locus on reproduction and production traits in four commercial pig lines

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Over the past 40 yr, litter size has
improved due to management changes, use of superior
dam lines, and through crossbreeding. Selection
for litter size has been reasonably successful in
mice, but the response in
pigs has been extremely variable.
The development of genome maps offers the opportunity
to identify individual genes controlling
reproduction. More recently, associations with genetic variation
at the pig estrogen receptor (ESR) locus have
been discovered. Therefore, the objectives of this research
was to evaluate the effect of the ESR locus on litter
size in a large sample of pigs from four commercial
lines and to measure pleiotropic effects on growth and
carcass traits. The effect of the estrogen receptor (ESR) locus on
litter size was demonstrated in a large sample of pigs
from four commercial lines in which the B allele was
present. It was found that the potential economic value from marker-assisted
selection using the B ESR allele is considerable.
In addition to the positive effects of the ESR B allele
for litter size, a small favorable response was detected
in backfat thickness associated with a small decrease
in average daily feed intake but no effect on growth
rate. Therefore, selection for prolificacy based in part
on ESR genotype should not adversely affect growth
and carcass traits. The only negative effect was a
slight reduction in teat number. The use of this
genotype offers a clear example of economically useful
marker-assisted selection in pigs.

Critical Parameters for Emissions

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Emissions from livestock buildings are well covered with sections covering ammonia, greenhouse gases, hydrogen sulfide, odors, particulates, aerosols and bacteria and also pollution prevention. An important quantity of references are presented in the text
A more complete summary is presented in the gas emissions section.

Ammonia and Contaminant Concentrations with Conventional versus Pit Ventilation in Finishing Pig Units

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The ammonia emissions measured are twice the ones fund in the literature and the authors explain those results from the fact that the floor were fully slatted and the slats type favorable to emission, the feed was of high protein level, the low animal density and the manure pH value was high. Generally the pit ventilation lowered the ammonia concentration in the building slightly but increased the emission to the environment compared to conventional ventilation.

Development of a Chamber System to Measure Emissions of Nitrous Oxide after Slurry Application on Grassland

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This chamber systems could probably be used to also measure other emissions than nitrous oxide. The plastic covering the sampling zone can however produce different emission conditions than the adjacent surface or the rest of the field.

Cultivating Island Solutions- Round Table on Resource Land Use and Stewardship

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Many changes are happening in the Island with the rapid expansion of the potato industry, the increase in soil erosion, the land clearing, the forest clearcuttings and the increase in the pesticides use. As a result, conflicts between farmers and their non-farming neighbors have increased considerable as the public concern has also. The Government wants more development in the Island to generate more wealth but there are concerns about the way this development is been done, about the poor management of it and also about the controls may feel inadequate. People don’t want the experts and interested people to be the only ones involved with the decisions about that development.
To address those issues, the Government decided to develop a Resource Land Use Strategy that would identify ways of achieving this objectives:
1) “increase the contribution of resource lands and their use to wealth creation in the province;
2) maintain and improve the capacity of the lands to generate wealth for future generations;
3) minimize the conflicts between the use of resource lands and other land uses, and minimize the impacts on human health and the environment; and
4) increase public satisfaction with resource land use.”
The Round Table (RT) has been working from April 1996 until August 1997, meeting community, industry and environmental groups to discuss topics about the Island development.
The RT conclude on three basic principles:
– a working rural landscape (sustainable approach in land uses and development (farm practices, understanding of the primary resource economy of the rural areas and their practices by all residents),
– a healthy environment (high quality drinking and surface water, good soil quality and erosion control, replenishing harvested forests, pesticide control and habitat protection), and
– a successful alliance of communities and individual well-being (problem solving and planning, authority and information within the communities to direct economic development, sustainable approaches are put in practice and taught in schools, good balance of social life and economic life within the communities when young people have opportunities and seasonal residents contribute) .
For guidelines for environmental issues, they refer to the Environmental Farm Plan (Atlantic Farmers Council) and the Guidelines for Manure Management and Separation Distances in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I. Department of Agriculture). The RT makes many recommendations regarding the development of the Island in those recommendations The RT recommend that the Farm Practices Review Board complete the development of codes of practice for the significant agricultural operations by 2000 and that would have to be implemented by 2002. RT also recommend that official zoning plans increases to 25% by 2000 up to 50% by 2003 and that the emission of building permits for areas not having official zoning plans be limited.

This report is very interesting because many solutions come within the Island and are directed toward sustainable approaches in farm practices and land uses. The communities are the center of the success of the desired changes as they should control their development assuring social and economical wealth.

Preventing Seepage Beneath Waste Storage Basins

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General comments are made on in-earth waste storage basins, the parameters that have to be considered and the steps that have to be made in order to prevent seepage beneath the basins are also discussed. Specific guidelines, recommendations, and regulations have to be verified at local or state levels. To prevent the seepage and contamination of groundwater with nitrogen (nitrates) and coliforms (pathogen) in-earth basin has to be lined. An analysis of the situation is essential in order to evaluate the high water table, the proximity of water sources and soils characteristics that could result in heterogeneity or improper clay characteristics . The construction has to be made with a high quality cohesive material to make sure that the soil is molded into a uniform watertight layer. To ensure a maximum bulk density of the material, the construction has to be done at a correct moisture content. The liner has also to be protected in order to maintain its integrity.

Earthen basins can be safe and seepage proof if the proper methods and material are used for the construction. It is not just a question of making a whole on the soil, important parameters have to be evaluated and controlled, such as hydraulic conductivity of the soil that have to be low and also compaction of the material.

A Guide to Swine Manure Management Methods

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Manure is a valuable resource when properly managed. Different methods can be used according to individual farm situation for odour control, energy recovery, volume reduction, nutrient content reduction, acceleration of manure decomposition. Some of the methods available are presented with basic explanation on the processes involved for aerobic and anaerobic systems, artificial wetlands, solids separation by physical, chemical or mechanical means and composting.

Control by Dietary Manipulation of Emissions from Pig Slurry Following Landspeading

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The results of this study are very interesting. However no statistical analysis is presented to show if the differences measured are really significant for the manure that has been used and also for the experiment itself. The results show that reduce protein diets have an impact in the emissions all the way through fertilization.