Soils as sources and sinks for atmospheric methane

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Methane is considered to be a significant greenhouse gas. Methane is produced in soils as the end product of the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. In the absence of oxygen, methane is very stable, but under aerobic conditions it is mineralized to carbon dioxide by methanotrophic bacteria. Soil methane emissions, primarily from natural wetlands, landfills and rice paddies, are estimated to
represent about half of the annual global methane production. Oxidation of atmospheric methane by well-drained soils accounts for about 10% of the global methane sink. Whether a soil is a net source or sink for methane depends on the relative rates of methanogenic and methanotrophic activity. A number of factors including pH, Eh, temperature and moisture content influence methane transforming bacterial populations and soil fluxes. Several techniques are available for measuring methane fluxes. Flux estimation is complicated by spatial and temporal variability. Soil management can impact methane transformations. For example, landfilling of organic matter can result in significant methane emissions, whereas some cultural practices such as nitrogen fertilization inhibit methane oxidation by agricultural soils.

Le mA

DDGS in Swine Nutrition

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This paper summarizes the current information available to pork producers for adding distillera

Sows on Straw: Meeting the Challenges

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The search for viable alternatives to the gestation crate for dry sows has lead many producers to consider a return to straw based systems. Although such systems can provide many benefits for the sow and the producer, they are not without risks. Most of these systems incorporate group housing and it was problems associated with group housing that drove the development and adoption of the now conventional stall systems for dry sows. The big challenge, then, is how to incorporate the benefits of both group housing and stall housing into an economically viable operation. This paper will identify some of the welfare and production challenges of housing sows on straw and discusses
some ways to overcome the problems. Results from research and experience with hoop structures at the University of Manitoba Glenlea Research Station will be discussed along with examples of other successful straw-based systems.

Examination of Ovulation Rate, Uterine and Fetal Interactions, and Reproductive Age in Chinese Meishan, Yorkshire, and Reciprocal Cross Gilts: Effects of Fetal and Maternal Genotypes

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Investigation into the mechanisms of prolificacy of Meishan (Ms) pigs has lead to conclusions that differences among breeds involve several components of litter size. Components examined in Ms and occidental breeds have included follicular development, ovulation, time of ovulation, embryonic survival, and fetal survival .
Although many studies have examined Ms and Yorkshire (Y) females for embryonic survival (before 30 days of gestation), few laboratories have examined uterine and fetal interactions (after 30 days of gestation) in the Ms pig and their potential importance. We have reported that uterine and fetal interactions may have a role in the prolificacy of Ms females. Further, previous reports indicate that the number of fetuses does influence uterine length in occidental breeds of pigs. Evidence has indicated that ovulation rate of Ms and occidental pigs was similar at puberty and at early estrous cycles but diverged in favor of the Ms as they underwent more estrous cycles and later parities. Results from our laboratory indicated that ovulation rate was significantly higher for Ms females than for Y females at second parity but the reproductive age was not standardized.
The objectives were to determine the differences in ovulation rate, uterine length, space per fetus, fetal survival, and fetal development traits among cycle-matched (gilts bred at third estrus) Ms, Y, Ms x Y, and Y x Ms females at 50 days of gestation carrying 1/2 Ms and 1/2 Y fetuses. The objectives of Experiment 2 were to determine the differences in these traits for cycle-matched Ms and Y females at 50 days of gestation carrying purebred (Ms or Y) or crossbred (1/2 Ms and 1/2 Y) fetuses.

Testing the feasibility of a surveillance system for disease control

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Researchers with the Ontario Veterinary Collegea

Shallow Injection of Hog Manure into Grassland

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The objective of the study was 1) to evaluate the practicality of shallow injection of hog manure into typical grassland stands in Saskatchewan, 2) to determine the effect hog manure has on forage yields, quality and nitrate levels, at various application rates and 3) to determine the effect on soil nutrients under various hog manure application rates.
The effect of manure on increasing N availability is shown in the increases in plant N uptake with manure application. There was a significant increase in plant N uptake at all locations and at all rates when compared to the control. The yields in plots treated with hog manure were 1.5 to 4 times higher than the control plots in all years and locations. Grassland stands appear to be well suited for the practical application of hog manure in an environmentally friendly manner. The most economical application strategy appeared to be that of applying 74,000 L/ha every other year.
As a result of this study a commercial coulter liquid hog manure applicator system was developed. This system will dramatically increase the land base suitable for liquid hog manure injection and will provide a much longer window of application and reduce likelihood of surface water contamination and nitrogen loss to the atmosphere. This method also did not increase the weed density of treated plots over the controls.
An issue of safety to consider is that studies have shown that high nitrate concentrations in feed have been implicated in the sudden death of livestock animals. Therefore, prudent producers should ensure that a proper forage quality analysis is carried out before any forage is used as feedstuff. Therefore more research needs to be done, as there is not enough data at this point in time.

Bioaerosol releases from compost facilities: evaluating passive and active source terms at a green waste facility for improved risk assessments

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Caring for Compromised Cattle Assessing Animals at Risk

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Producers work hard to ensure that the animals in their care are properly cared for throughout all stages of production. Unfortunately, it is a fact of farming that some animals will become injured or ill to the extent that they are ‘compromised’ or ‘at risk’.
This would include animals that are non-ambulatory, unable to stand without assistance or to move without being dragged or carried, regardless of size or age. This guide will assist dairy, beef and veal producers to recognize health-related problems and respond to them in a responsible manner. Producers are encouraged to work with their herd veterinarians for early intervention culling decisions. In addition to the decision tree on page 4, producers should simply ask themselves
three questions before loading an animal:
■ Can it walk?
■ Will it be able to walk off the truck at the final destination?
■ Would I eat it?

If any question generates a a

CATTLE AND SWINE TRUCKING GUIDE FOR EXPORTERS

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In 1998 over 180 million cattle, calves, swine, sheep, and lambs were marketed in the United States.(1) That same year, U.S. exports of these same species amounted to well over one million. Whether the animals are destined for domestic markets, border countries, or to airports and seaports for foreign offshore markets, highway transport plays a vital role in this marketing process. The keys to a successful outcome are careful and efficient planning and proper follow-through to assure maintenance of the stock throughout the handling and transportation process. Such measures will also help maintain the market value of stock and reduce claims due to injury and mortality. This guide will address many important aspects of livestock highway transport, from the planning stage, through loading procedures, and finally, unloading at final destination or port for onward journey. It is designed as a practical reference for use by shippers, carriers, receivers, and others in the livestock industry to help assure safe and efficient livestock highway transport.
Livestock export shipments are subject to numerous regulations; however, the focus of this guide is on technical aspects of transporting livestock over the road. Although many species of livestock are commonly carried by truck, the scope of this guide is limited to cattle and swine.

Understanding and Applying Nutrition Concepts to Reduce Nutrient Excretion in Swine

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This paper discusses general strategies to reduce nutrient excretion and describes specific methods to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and micro-mineral excretion. General nutritional strategies to reduce nutritional excretion include feed efficiency, feed wastage, matching nutrient requirements and feed manufacturing. Methods to reduce nitrogen excretion and ammonia emissions would include selecting ingredients with highly digestible amino acid content, and putting the swine on low protein diets. Methods to reduce phosphorus excretion are formulations of diets based on the available phosphorus content and selection of ingredients with high phosphorus availability as that can lead to a reduction in phosphorus excretion. Another method is increasing the digestibility of phosphorus by the use of phytase. A method to reduce the excretion of micro-minerals is eliminating high zinc and copper feeding in the nursery phase.
The most cost effective methods that appear to be relatively easy to implement are reducing feed wastage, separate sex and phase feeding, and formulating diets based on nutrient availability. The use of phytase, low-phytate corn and low-protein diets could reduce nitrogen and phosphorus excretions substantially, but are likely to add additional cost to the diet.

Strategy Employed Reduction in Nutrient Excretion

Pelleting 5% for N and P
Reducing Feed Waste 1.5% for all nutrients for ever 1% reduction
Matching Nutrient Requirements 6 to 15% for all nutrients
(phase or separate-sex feeding)
Formulation on availability 10% for N and P
Low-Protein Diets 9% for N for every 1% reduction in CP
Phytase 25 to 50% for P
Low-Phytate Corn 35 to 40% for P
Reducing Micro-Minerals Up to 50%