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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:
Producing 2 Tonnes of Pigs per Sow
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on June 4, 2012 | No Comments
The UK has recently set a new goal of producing two tonnes of market weight pork per sow per year, after determining the UK industry production was lower than the industry average in other countries. There are multiple areas to focus on that could all increase production, and reduce sow cost per kg market weight. The carcass weight sold can be broken into number of pigs multiplied by market weight, and 64% of variation across countries comes from the number of pigs sold (excluding Italy which has a specialized market). Increasing market weight will be restricted by packer and space requirements, but increasing growth rate could aid increased weight. The number of pigs sold depends on pigs weaned, and pigs surviving post-weaning. Decreasing mortality by measures including vaccines will increase pigs sold per sow. The number of pigs weaned/sow/year is the pigs per litter multiplied by the number of litters a sow has in a year, and the most variation comes from the litter sizes rather than the number of litters. As litter size increases, so does pre-weaning mortality, but the increased litter size has a greater impact than mortality. However, if mortality can be lowered, than the carcass kg/sow/year can be increased. Comparing the UK to other counties highlighted the variation, and identified areas in which to improve production.
Application of Novel Technologies for Semen Evaluation
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Technological advances in breeding have allowed less sperm to be used per dose in artificial insemination, but evaluating sperm would allow further reduction with consistent results. Currently, sperm is evaluated for mobility and morphology using microscopes or Computer Automated Sperm Analysis (CASA), and sperm concentrations are taken by CASA or through photometric methods. Flow cytometry allows rapid analysis of concentration and characteristics, to sort X and Y populations for gender selection, and is becoming more accessible due to micro-fluidic capillary flow systems. Flow cytometry is used for bull semen, but is limited to adrology labs for boars at the moments. Although a definite fertility test is unlikely in the near future, flow cytometry allows multiple variants to be tested precisely, objectively, and in large samples. One assay that can be performed with flow cytometry is the Sperm Chromatic Structure Assay, which marks DNA with different coloured fluorescent dye depending on whether it is normal or denatured. Another assay to determine sperm viability uses propidiom iodine to test the membrane integrity, which is more accurate than basing viability on mobility alone. Acrosome integrity can also be assessed at the same time as membrane integrity, and does so with specific dyes and plant lectin. There are also a variety of additional assays fluid cytometry is able to perform, which makes it a valuable and adaptable tool.
Science to Reality – Reproductive Research in the Future
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on June 2, 2012 | No Comments
Future reproductive study focuses should be multidisciplinary, and could follow a number of direction. Of importance is the continued study of genetics x environment on phenotype expression. This could aid understanding of the correlation between litter size and birth weights – which are related, but not completely linear. Also, to close the phenomic gap that exists for traits with low heritability, and have multiple genes involved. It will be important to take a multidisciplinary approach to research for nutrition-reproduction studies, and management for first parity sows. The effect of open housing on the estrus cycle, and gamete biology are areas that will continue to require study, especially working on freezing sperm and eggs. Ways to help reach these research goals could include in-house research facilities in commercial barns, training students, and focusing on research that can be applied quickly into commercial barns.
Genomics and Animal Health
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There has been an increased interest in using genetic information to select pigs with health traits, such as a strong immune system. The innate immune response has receptors encoded in the germline, but the functional immune response requires expression of germline encoded regulatory genes. The result is a complicated genetic make-up for the immune response, but Genome-Wide Association Studies should help to determine the genetic pathways and genes involved. A QTL database already contains many locations for health-related QTLs, and studies have begun to test the application of this knowledge. Genetic components for pathogen resistance or vaccine response remain complicated and are likely polygenic. Of specific interest is a resistance to PRRSv, and it has been determined that macrophage response and cytokine levels could contribute. PRRSv subverts innate immunity, and vaccines are ineffective because it is an RNA virus which constantly mutates. The PRRS Host Genomic Consortium is working to identify genes associated with PRRSv resistance, and so far has found the genes involved to have some heritability. This suggests selective breeding might be used to increase PRRSv resistance, and studies are ongoing including ones for the commercial application. Genetic sequencing and other genetic techniques are allowing the genes associated with certain traits to be identified. Health-related genes are one of the current focuses, and studies are ongoing on pathogen resistance and vaccine response, especially PRRSv resistance.
Implications of Genomics for Genetic Improvement Programs
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SNP genotyping allows for SNPs associated with a phenotype to be identified and used, but SNPs with a smaller effects can be overlooked. Genomic Selection would fit all SNPs by including each one as a regression dependent on all other SNPs. The allele substitution effect would be random, and this would avoid overestimating the impact of a SNP. The Genomic Estimated Breeding Value can then be calculated for an individual from the SNP estimates. The SNP estimates can be obtained by BLUP, Bayes-A, or Bayes-B methods. The Genomic Selection method would allow the breeding value of individuals to be calculated, rather than just those with a certain phenotype. However, SNP re-estimation would have to be updated continuously because the SNP effects are from the training population, and other genetic interactions can contribute. Commercial pigs are often crossbred, so the pure parental lines are where genetic selection is conducted. Also, the parental lines are often kept in a facility with a higher biosecurity. If crossbred phenotypes could be recorded the parental breeding value could be more accurately estimated, but cost and the use of mixed semen makes this difficult. Genomic Selection allows the SNP effect to be estimated for crossbreeds of a phenotype, and eliminates the need for tracking pedigrees. High-density SNP genotyping is still not cost-effective for individual analysis and using smaller panels still require a large amount of SNPs. Instead, genotype selection of around 400 SNPs can be done on individuals, and then portions of high-density SNPs from the parents used. Genomic Selection has the potential to provide more accurate breeding values, and selection effects seen more clearly in production settings.
What is Genomics? A Canadian Advantage
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 30, 2012 | No Comments
Genetics have been rapidly advancing over the last 60 years, in the pork industry it started with identifying the ‘halothane’ gene mutation and its impact on pork stress syndrome. Since then, progress has been made on mapping the pig genome, and costs for genetic analysis has been reduced. If the genes for an individual pig could quickly and cost effectively be analyzed, then selection for certain traits or strong offspring breeding potential could be accurately chosen. As the pig 60,000 SNP panel becomes available, the pork industry has the opportunity to follow the dairy industry in use of genomic selection.
Achieving “Sustainable PRRSV Freedom” In Swine-Dense Regions: The Role of Air Filtration
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The use of air filtration to prevent PRRSv contamination has been supported by a pilot study, but this trial looked at a larger scale trial. Ten treatment herds with either a MERV 16 or MERV 14 filter, and 30 control herds with no filter were assessed monthly for 36 months. 28 out of the 30 control herds and 3 out of the 10 treatment herds were infected with PRRSv during the trial. Of the three treatment herds one used MERV 14 and two MERV 16 filters. The source of contamination for the three facilities was thought to be a contaminated transport truck, multiple biosecurity breaches, and an improperly installed fan protection. The results still show air filtration significantly reduced the risk of PRRSv infection in a herd.
Swine Dysentery and Other Emerging Brachyspiras
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Swine dysentery has seen a reemergence the last several years in the USA, and to a lesser extent in Western Canada. Brachyspira hyodysenteriae is commonly the cause of swine dysentery. Other species of Brachyspira include B. pilosicoli, , B. murdochii, and B. suanatina, which are all thought to cause symptoms of diarrhea. B. innocens and B. intermedia are thought to be non-pathogenic. WCVM has recently identified a new species, temporarily named Brachyspira sp. Sask30446. A case study identified the new species in pigs with dysentery symptoms, who were also testing negative for B. hyodysenteriae. PCR, smears, culture, and histopathology are used to identify the new species, and a specific PCR assay has been developed. Brachyspira spp. is highly contagious, hard to diagnose and to eliminate. Current treatment includes medication through feed and water, and having strong biosecurity for prevention remains highly important.
Enteric Diseases – Common Infectious Causes: What Are The Economic Costs?
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Entreric diseases such as swine dysentery, proliferation enteropathy, epidemic diarrheoa, salmonellosis, and colibacillosi can commonly affect pork facilities, and have an economic impact. There are different ways to consider the economic cost of one of the diseases. Costs can be determined by the lost market opportunity, the cost of raising the pig until death, the lost breeding opportunity, feed conversion, additional costs due to reduced weight gain, increased variation in standard matrix weight contract, increased back-fat depth, or additional costs including feed additives and veterinary care. In the case of swine dysentery the economic cost is high, the feed conversion rises by 0.58, feed and facility costs increase 15% per kg, and medication can cost $2.5 per pig. Proliferative enteropathy decreases average daily gain 37-42%, which increases feed required per kg by 27-37%. The costs could be $6-7 per affected grower pig, but would depend on the facility and market weight agreements.
In The Media – Animal Welfare Crisis Caught on Video: Interactive Workshop
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Welfare by admin on May 26, 2012 | No Comments
With growing concerns for animal welfare, and the rapid spread of news through social media and other online sources videos and images of poor animal handling can spread quickly. Sometimes these videos or images are taken out of context, or misunderstood – such as the castration process. When videos involving animal welfare are viewed, it can have a negative impact on the entire industry as the event is likely not going to be perceived as an isolated incident. The workshop intends to help set up the proper responses if producers are contacted about such a video. Whenever a video or image with questionable content appears it is important to form a response, think who should be informed of the video, and how to get a response message out. Having a plan in place can help quickly clear up public misconceptions, and avoid industry-wide backlash.