Determination of Pregnancy and Estimation of Litter Size before day 30 of gestation based on blood hormones

Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 1995 | No Comments

Profitable production of pork depends to a significant extent on the number of piglets born and raised by each gilt or sow introduced into the breeding herd. A sow that does not conceive or has a small litter will reduce potential profit. Determination of pregnancy by ultrasonic echo amplitude is quite accurate from about day 30 to day 55 but gives essentially no indication of potential litter size. Analysis by real time ultrasound later in gestation can give some indication of the potential litter size but is expensive, requires much time and a certain measure of skill. Each fetus produces hormones as early as day 15. These hormones can be detected in the sow=s blood beginning about day 18. The concentration of the hormones rises very rapidly from day 18 to day 28 and then declines sharply. Each fetus adds to the hormone concentration so that the concentration is influenced not only by the day of gestation on which a blood sample is taken but also on the number of fetuses contributing to the concentration of the hormone. Estrone glucuronide (E1 G) is the hormone that is present in the greatest concentration and is easiest to measure and is related to pregnancy and litter size. Several studies were conducted to understand the relationships between day of gestation, pregnancy and litter size

A Preliminary Study of Piggery Waste Treatment by an Upflow Sludge Bed Anaerobic Reactor and a Packed Bed Anaerobic Reactor.

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Two different reactor techniques have been used and compared. For the anaerobic packed bed reactor the reactor itself is filled with a support that increase the contact area between the micro-organisms and the manure to be treated. For the sludge bed, the micro-organisms remain in the sludge bed in the bottom of the reactor. Such treatment techniques are more efficient when the temperature in the bioreactor stays relatively high, the manure degradation from the micro-organisms activity is thus more efficient. The climate of Cuba and Mexico are well advantaged with their yearly high ambient temperature.

Odor and Odor Policy Criteria

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Very general information is given on the odor and gas emissions, human health and perceptions, odor control technologies and measuring methods. The criteria for establishing policies on odor are presented. Those policies can be either based on actual odor emission, on separation distances, on odor emissions modeling and finally on nuisance complaints.

Airborne Dust Concentrations in Livestock Buildings and the Effect of Feed

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Vaccination against Strep. Suis

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Disease caused by infection of piglets with Streptococcus suis is responsible for some of the most significant and disturbing losses in swine production. The disease is recognized by many producers and veterinary swine specialists as the most important infectious disease currently affecting swine production in North America.
The three main objectives of this vaccine trial were to control disease in piglets by vaccinating sows in an infected herd, to determine whether vaccination alters anti-Streptococcus suis antibody titre in sow colostrums, and to compare the disease in two groups that were vaccinated with subunit bacterins to a control group. Two strains of S. suis (serotypes 3 and 9) were isolated from untreated pigs showing signs of meningitis in this herd. Two subunit vaccines (A and B) were prepared from a combination of both of these strains and were combined with adjuvant. The control group was given placebo vaccine (C ) prepared from sterile saline and adjuvant. Sows and gilts were randomly assigned to one of the three groups and were vaccinated intramuscularly at four weeks before farrowing and one week before farrowing. Barn staff recorded the identification of pigs that died and whether they showed signs of S. suis disease prior to death. The antibody titre in the colostrums of the sows that were vaccinated with vaccine A (titre of 3581) or vaccine B (titre of 1807) was significantly (P < 0.01) greater than the titre in the colostrums of the control sows (titre of 109). Likewise, piglets nursing sows vaccinated with A or B vaccines had greater antibody titres than piglets nursing control sows. The number of piglets born alive was not different among groups A, B or C, but more pigs in control group C died of S. suis disease than in vaccine groups A or B. In conclusion, both vaccine A and vaccine B reduced death from S. suis disease in litters from sows or gilts vaccinated with either of them. Both the vaccinated sows and their piglets had more antibody than controls.

The effect of agonistic interactions on the heart rate of group-housed sows.

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Influence of artificial rearing on behavioral and immune response of lambs.

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Airborne dust concentrations in livestock buildings and the effect of feed.

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Research on reducing airborne dust concentrations in livestock buildings is reviewed. Research has concentrated on removing dust from the livestock environment by methods such as filtration, ventilation, sweeping floors and spraying with oil and water. These methods have proved moderately successful, but the few studies that mention costs suggest that they are uneconomic. Little has been done to reduce the generation of dust. Feed has been identified as the main source of dust in livestock buildings. Research has shown that feed dustiness can be reduced by changing composition or applying coatings. However, further research and development are needed to apply this research to practical feed formulations. Feeders and feed delivery systems need to be developed to reduce their contribution to dust generation. The benefits in terms of animal production need to be quantified before the economics of the various dust control methods can be evaluated.

Swine Manure Nitrogen Conservation in Storage using Sphagnum Moss

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Laboratory Analysis of Manure

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To make efficient use of fertilizer nutrients in manure,
nutrient levels must be determined by laboratory analysis.
This publication outlines methods for obtaining and
interpreting laboratory analyses of manure.