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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:
Pull-Plug Flushes Without Added Water
Posted in: Energy by admin on January 1, 1996 | No Comments
Refinements in a pull-plug system now allow efficient removal of manure from shallow, totally slotted grow-finish buildings without needing extra liquid for a flush. The pull-plug flush removes manure through hydraulic force of the last 3 inches of liquid drainage from most tanks. Stored liquid from adjoining tanks is used to remove solids by a continuous flushing action, which moves solids toward the cross channel and into the drain. Plugs can be easily pulled once or twice to achieve multiple mini flushes if solid movement is a problem. Total manure removal would require pulling of all the plugs. Construction and dimensions of the system is outlined. Naturally ventilated buildings can use the pull-plug flush system.
Time course of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha increase in serum following inhalation of swine dust.
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
The presence and time course of changes in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum were studied to evaluate possible mechanisms by which inhalation of pig dust induces general symptoms. A group of 14 previously unexposed humans weighed pigs for 3 h. The average dust concentration in the air was 22.4 +/- 4.7 mg/m3 and endotoxin 1.2 +/- 0.4 A
Decision Support (DSS) for Manure Systems Management
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
The scope of decision support system (DSS) for manure management systems is presented with the limits and the capacities of DSS that work on personal computers. Plain spreadsheets with data stored in templates or in database programs provide information and different results that still have to be analyzed in order to find the appropriate solution to a particular situation. As for expert systems, the system asks for limited inputs and the treatment of that information along with information included in the system will be analyzed and a choice of solutions is generally made by the computer program. A more sophisticated program will present more choices and the solutions presented are more synthesized. For manure management, the following aspects should be addressed: – labor for manure collection and handling; – odour from storage and spreading; – nutrients efficiency and losses sources; – a all stages, environmental aspects; – costs of those steps on and off the farm. The desired technical features that have to be considered and included in a manure DSS and also the programming features that should be included in a DSS are presented. Different DSS from Canada, the U.S. and Europe are presented and their characteristics, features and also shortcomings are also discussed.
General information is given on the way DSS work and also on the way they can be used and integrated in decision making. A good review of the software and DSS available is also made.
Surface Water Quality Impacts Following Winter Application of Hog Manure in the Interlake Region, Manitoba, Canada, 1996
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
One major impediment for the development of intensive hog operations are potential impacts of ground water contamination or surface runoff in manure applied fields. Surface water samples were collected from 15 and 22 different sites in the Icelandic and Fisher River waterbeds in the interlkae region of Manitoba. Water samples were collected from target and control fields, ditches receiving runoff from fields and from the Icelandic and Fisher rivers. Nutrient concentrations were statisically different (and higher) in snow meltwater from fields with hog manure application than for fields with no manure application. Ammonia Nitrogen and phosphorus were statistically higher where the runoff entered the rivers, indicating the surrounding runoff did provide sufficient contributions to cause a increase in river concentrations.
EMISSIONS OF MALODOROUS COMPOUNDS AND GREENHOUSE GASES FROM COMPOSTING SWINE FECES
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Emissions of harmful gases, malodorous compounds
and greenhouse gases emitted during composting of
swine feces under continuous aeration were studied
using a laboratory-scale composting apparatus. Concentrations
of ammonia and sulfur compounds in the
exhaust gas rose remarkably after starting and at every
turning, and their changes reflected the odor concentrations
calculated from sensory tests. Volatile fatty
acids, in high concentrations at the start, were rapidly
reduced within several hours from starting and did not
rise again. Methane emission was observed within only
1 day from starting. Nitrous oxide repeatedly rose and
fell after every turning, as did ammonia. From the
viewpoint of nitrogen loss during composting, however,
the total amount of nitrous oxide emission seemed
quite small compared with that of ammonia.
Predicting Nutrient Requirements Based on Protein Deposition Rate
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Behavioural responses of domestic pigs and cattle to humans and novel stimuli.
Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Natural Ventilation (Part I)
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Naturally ventilated buildings depend upon the natural forces of wind and temperature difference (chimney effect) to move air. In naturally ventilated barns, the ventilation rate depends on the size of the wall opening and the speed and direction of the wind. Temperature within the barn can be varied by using thermostats to automatically adjust the size of openings in the sidewalls. The advantages and disadvantages of natural ventilation is outlined. For buildings less than 24m (79ft) long, it may be more economical to use mechanical instead of natural ventilation. Vertical panels with added windbreaks tend to minimize temperature fluctuations and provide good air distribution and mixing patterns within the animal room. The use of chimneys presents many advantages over the continuous ridge opening. The chimneys should be fully open during warm weather and closed when average daily temperatures are below the 8 to 10C range. An adjustable baffle can be installed in the chimney to reduce the opening area. End wall openings improve air circulation at the end of the barn where stagnant air tends to develop.