Reducing Manure Output to Streams from Subsurface Drainage Systems

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 1993 | No Comments

Calcium and phosphorus levels in diets

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Calcium and phosphorus play a role in many physiological processes in addition to development and maintenance of the skeleton. Calcium is seen as a relatively inexpensive ingredient, but phosphorus is the third most expensive nutrient after energy and protein (amino acids). It is important to consider both minerals when formulating a diet since the level of calcium in the diet affects phosphorus uptake. The objective of the current study is to determine the effect of dietary calcium and phosphorus levels on animal performance and on bone mineralization in growing-finishing pigs. The amount of available phosphorus in different ingredients varies considerably. Therefore, swine diets should be formulated on the basis of available phosphorus rather than total phosphorus. It is generally found that calcium and phosphorus levels in practical grower-finisher diets are higher than those recommended by the NRC (1998). It is also known that higher dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus are required for bone mineralization than for optimum growth rate and feed efficiency. During the trial three dietary treatments were provided, high, medium and low levels of dietary calcium and phosphorus. To evaluate bone mineralization, metacarpal and metatarsal bones from carcasses from 3 gilts and 3 barrows in each treatment was analyzed.
Results suggested no difference in any of the animal performance parameters between the high and medium calcium and phosphorus levels. During the grower phase, performance only slightly reduced at the low calcium and phosphorus level. When low levels of calcium and phosphorus were fed, it was calculated that available phosphorus was 30% lower than recommended by the NRC (1998). The present study did not provide any evidence that the available phosphorus levels in grower-finisher diets should be any higher than those suggested by the NRC (1998). Further research is needed to determine whether the available phosphorus levels in grower-finisher diets can be further reduced as the calcium to available phosphorus is increased.

The Use of a Yucca Schidigera Extract as 'Urease Inhibitor' in Pig Slurry

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

The elements explaining the differences obtained between the Dutch and the USA should be investigated as the ammonia emissions could probably be reduced to a certain extent in the USA without the use of Yucca (additives).

Inactivation of weed seeds during drying and pelleting of pig manure

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

In The Netherlands, surplus manure may not be well accepted even treated in some areas because of the possible weed infestation and the weed control costs associated with it. The experiments for this study were done in laboratory. No information is given on the feasibility and cost of these treatments on real scale.
weed propagules : seeds and vegetative reproductive organs.

Effect of growth potential and dietary protein input on growth performance, carcass characteristics and nitrogen output in growing-finishing pigs

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

The effect on nitrogen excretion of the genotype and the sex is demonstrated. The reduction of the crude protein level has also a significant effect on the protein excretion.

NATIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS ACCOUNTS: CURRENT ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES AND SINKS

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

Biotin in barley based diets

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Biotin is one of the B-vitamins that pigs require for efficient utilization of dietary carbohydrates, fat and protein. It has also been related to reproductive performance in sows and may be required for normal hoof development. Some research suggests that higher levels of biotin in grow-finish diets improves carcass fat, which may improve the shelf life of fresh pork products. According the NRC no biotin additions are required in diets for growing-finishing pigs since some biotin is present in most swine feed ingredients. However, most of the research on the effect of additional biotin on performance of growing pigs has been done with corn a

Effect of Protein Feeding on Gaseous Ammonia Emissions and Slurry Loading with Nitrogen in Fattening Pigs.

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

No results are presented from the second repetition of the treatments. Not enough results are presented to draw consistent conclusion, no analysis other than the chart is presented.

Evaluation des epandeurs a lisiers utilises au Quebec en vue de leur optimisation

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

The valorization of liquid manure as fertilizer is important in the nutrient cycle on the farm. Optimization of manure spreading is an element essential to improve the fertilizer value of the manure and reduce the impacts on soil, air and water. Some of the limitations of such optimization come from the machinery itself. For most of the spreaders available on the market, calibration is difficult to make in order to obtain agronomic doses and they are often misadapted to the crops’ needs and to soils prone to compaction. In order to improve the situation, a study was realized to evaluate the technical performances of existing equipment and to suggest modifications that would improve the precision of the application rates, the agronomic efficiency by more appropriate application techniques and lower the impact of compaction on certain soils. Tests were done on two types of spreaders, the one using a pump to spread and the other using a vacuum system using aspersion at the top of the tank or at the bottom. The test showed that more than 50% of the manure spreaders available in Quebec spread doses (10 to 160 m3/ha )superior to the hydraulic absorption capacity of the soil (20 to 40 m3/ha) which can lead to run off. The longitudinal uniformity of spreading is good as the pump or vacuum system maintain the same flow rate through out emptying. It is not the case for the transversal uniformity as in many cases the dose applied in the center was 3 to 4 times higher than the one on the sides. The transversal wind has also an important effect on the distribution. The spreaders delivering manure through half circles devices showed a better transversal uniformity. The manure spreader of more than 3000 gal. (13 650 L) are most likely to produce important compaction as the soil pressure resulting from their passage is higher than mid-size tractors. The recommendations to improve the spreaders is to install a adjustable restriction valve between the pump and the delivering device to reduce the application rate. Low spreading with standard device or low boom would improve the transversal uniformity. Low pressure tires or tracks would reduce the compaction induced by spreading and the use of smaller tanks would also reduce the compaction. Direct injection systems tend to apply manure at high rates at 10 to 15 cm depth that may not be all used by the plant. Shallow injection or direct incorporation just after spreading with weeding type tools mounted on the spreader seem to be the best techniques to limit run off and contribute to nutrients retention.

This study gives very interesting information on the spreader and the weak elements that have to be improve to assure a better valorisation of the manure on the crops.

Reduction of protein content in the diet for piglets to minimize N excretion

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

The experiment was done on 128 piglets to verify the effect of the crude protein level for diets having the same level of digestible energy and the same combination of amino acids. The results presented show that the crude protein level could be lower to 17% and thus as long the first limiting amino acids are supplied and no antimicrobial growth promotants are given to the piglets.