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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:
Ambient odour testing of concentrated animal feeding operations using field and laboratory olfactometers
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 0000 | No Comments
Body Condition Scoring for Dairy Cattle
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Identifying cows that are too fat or too thin and taking immediate action helps with disease treatment, milk production, and fertility. It is critical for producers to identify cows with poor body condition scores early to make important treatment or culling decisions in a timely and responsible manner.
The Body Condition Scoring (BCS) system scores animals 1 to 5, from emaciated to fat. Body condition reflects the body fat reserves of the animal. Score dairy cows at the beginning and end of their dry period and 4 or 5 times during lactation.
Cows should be scored both by looking at and handling the backbone, loin and rump areas.
Implementing a CNMP: What Does it Take to Get it Done?
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Environmental stewardship is becoming an increasingly important issue for those in the pork production business. Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) are the road maps and audit documents for those in the production business in which are developed action plans to minimize their effect on the environment. CNMPs are goals and yardsticks that are available for third party verification of performance. Presently, pork operations only have to file yearly Manure Management Plans (MMPs). But it is expected that all commercial operations will soon need a revisable and auditable CNMP on file.Issues with this are the time and money it will take these operations, especially those smaller ones, to complete these CNMPs. There are services being set up to help out but there are still no requirements for them so it is a a
SHOULD THIS ANIMAL BE LOADED? Guidelines for Transporting Cattle, Sheep & Goats
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These guidelines explain when an animal is ready for loading, when it shouldn’t be loaded and when it should be loaded with special provisions.
It also describes transportation regulations.
Comparison of Alternative Grain Sources for Swine Diets and Their Effect on Performance, Meat Quality and Fat Quality Traits
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Barley and white corn are two alternative grain sources in swine diets that have been proposed to improve the meat quality of pork produced for value-added export markets. In addition to quality traits, performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed diets based on alternative grain sources must be evaluated.In this study, animals fed diets containing different energy sources did not express a difference in average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed efficiency, back fat depth, and percent fat-free lean. However, barley-fed pigs had a smaller loin muscle area than pigs fed corn-based diets. Diet did not have an effect on sensory panel traits for tenderness or chewiness and limited differences were observed for juiciness, flavor and off flavor. Percentage loin purge and cooking loss did not differ among diets with minimal differences noted for color values. Pigs fed barley diets did have a lower iodine value content within the subcutaneous fat, indicating that the fat is of a harder, firmer quality. Results of this trial suggest that barley does not have an advantage in meat quality traits when compared to traditional corn-based diets. Barley did, however, have a significant impact on the hardness of pork fat, but did not have an effect on subjective color values. Use of barley or white corn as an energy source in swine diets should be based on their relative cost and availability.
Comprehensive Animal Nutrient Management System (CANMS): A Decision Support Tool
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Odour Control and Reduction in a Pig Feeder Barn Using an Enclosed Dunging Area and Biofiltration
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Biofiltration is one of the techniques used to reduce odours produced in livestock facilities. It uses a filter capable of sustaining microbial life to treat odourous air. Microorganisms in the biofilter break down the odours in air flowing through the system. Several factors influence the performance of biofilters. These include:
-Filter media
-Airflow
-Moisture
-Temperature
-Nutrient availability
ONTARIO LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT EMERGENCY GUIDE
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Objective:
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