Development of Fusarium resistant corn inbreds for pork production

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 24, 2012 | No Comments

The ability to develop young plants from pollen cultures has been done often with many plants, but it was never achieved in corn until now. Researchers were able to develop a pollen-to-plant protocol that has been clearly defined in a lab wherein all lines and hybrids respond predicatively. Globally, no other lab has been successful in delivering similar results. This can deliver completely homozygosity through a one culture sequence, and it can be used further in lab selection to identify new traits. This protocol can lead to generation of corn lines that are resistant to fusarium. A short UV exposure of pollen induces genetic changes. Pollen that survive are mutated, adding specific chemicals will kill the remaining majority of the pollen cultures but the ones that do survive will be resistant to fusarium. The surviving pollen cultures are then brought to the green plant stage and then the seeds can be harvested for production of fusarium resistant corn.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Area Regional Control and Elimination (ARC&E) trial

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 22, 2012 | No Comments

For this study Niagara Peninsula was selected as the first PRRS ARC&E trial region. 74 sites were tested with 44 being PRRSv enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) negative and 30 being PRRSv ElISA positive. A procedure to eliminate PRRSv has been completed at 14 sites. The first was not successful in eliminating the PRRSv field strain from the pigs, in the second, the pigs are currently testing PRRSv negitive. Twenty-eight herds have been identified for on-going diagnostic testing using the HerdChek PRRS X 3 antibody ELISA test on serum. Sampling methods will be used for evaluating these areas and will be assessed. These methods include the use of ear swabs for polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) testing, ELISA and PCR tests on oral fluids and meat juice ELISA testing.A process for communication has been created to communicate changes in a sites PRRS status. The PRRS risk assessment and EpiData surveys have been done and the analysis is being completed.

Loading Facilities for Market Hogs: Saskatchewan’s Top 10

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre by admin on April 18, 2012 | No Comments

For swine producers, loading pigs at marketing can be one of the most stressful and time-consuming experiences. Problems at loading also affect the welfare of animals and have a significant economic impact as they may cause death losses, carcass damage and meat quality problems. The objective of this project was to identify components of swine loadouts that have the greatest impact on pig stress and loading time.  Ten swine loadouts in Saskatchewan were visited, and the facility design and handling methods at each facility were documented by photographs and video footage.

This study found that there is a large variation in facilities and handling skills across the swine industry, and often little opportunity for producers or barn employees to gain new knowledge. Lighting, flooring, alley and ramp dimensions, and animal handling techniques all have the potential to cause problems when moving pigs through a facility. The best loadouts in Saskatchewan are ones which take these factors into account.  The results highlight the fact that handling of pigs can be improved by a variety of measures, ranging from extensive load-out renovations, to simple changes in lighting and handling techniques.

Developing Strategies for Water Conservation for Producers

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Animal drinking and cleaning are the top uses of water in swine barns. Using water conservation strategies to reduce water use will ultimately lower cost of production and contribute towards a more sustainable environment as less manure slurry is created. In order to find out which water conservation strategy is most effective, experiments were performed using different animal drinkers and cleaning strategies. It was found that about 60% less water wastage was achieved when a trough with side panel and constant water level was used compared to the nipple drinkers. Also, at barn clean up, the use of a conventional nozzle led to lesser time and water consumption during high pressure washing.

The results suggest that the use of the trough with the side panel and constant water level for drinking has the greatest potential for water savings without affecting pig performance. High pressure washing using the rotating turbo nozzle led to lesser time and water consumption during the cleaning process. Also, high pressure washing in fully slatted concrete flooring can be done without prior water sprinkling (soaking).

Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulate the Immune Response of Pigs?

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Our experiments demonstrated that feeding n3 fatty acids to sows can affect piglet responses to immune challenges at weaning. We also showed that feeding piglets’ starter diets with n3’s in the nursery can also modulate their inflammatory reactions. Altering the n6:n3 fatty acid ratio in either sow or piglet diets can affect febrile and inflammatory cell responses of piglets when challenged with E. Coli LPS post-weaning.

When sows consumed an n6:n3 ratio of 1:1, their piglets had elevated body temperatures and a greater response to the immune challenge compared to piglets from sows consuming the other diets. When fed to piglets, a ratio of 5:1 n6:n3 tended to increase production of some inflammatory cells, but did not affect body temperature.

Based on these results we hypothesize that either the n6 fatty acids are not as inflammatory as we originally thought; or alternatively, that there is an ‘optimal’ n6:n3 ratio in the diet. Going below this ‘optimal’ ratio, the energy required to generate the immune response takes nutrients away from growth and can actually be a hindrance to piglet productivity and health.

Based on our preliminary results, we can recommend that pork producers include plant based n3 fatty acids such as those found in flaxseed, into the diets of lactating sows or newly weaned piglets, but to ensure that the ratio does not go below 5:1 n6:n3. Further experiments are being conducted to determine the consequences of generating immune responses, and the implications on animal health and performance.

Focus on Feed Efficiency in Pork Production

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Feed represents the largest proportion of cost of production, contributing up to 70% of the variable cost of production. This is nothing new. However in the past couple of years we have seen feed costs rise to historically high levels, while costs may retreat somewhat, it is highly unlikely in the short term that we will see feed costs dip to levels experienced in 2004 and 2005.

Since feed costs represent the largest portion of cost of production, it also represents the greatest opportunity for reducing costs in particular the grower-finisher barn.  With the higher feed costs there has been a greater push towards managing feed efficiency within operations. At current feed costs an improvement in feed efficiency of 0.1 kg of feed per kg of gain will result in a greater than $2.00 net income per pig marketed.

There are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account when examining feed efficiency in pork production: These are environmental (temperature, humidity, air circulation), social (space allocation, group size, re-grouping), immunological (disease, pathogen concentration), and management (particle size, feeder adjustment).

While this is not an inclusive list, it gives us the perspective of the multi-disciplinary approach that is required to achieve the full potential of managing feed efficiency. One of the ways in which Prairie Swine Centre is delivering this message is through a series of webinars specifically dedicated to a “Focus on Feed Efficiency”.  This series of eight Feed Efficiency webinars are being delivered in partnership with the Farm Leadership Council starting March 5 and concluding June 19. Webinars will run on two week intervals by well-known experts in the area of feed efficiency discussing a wide range of topics including: feeding and barn management, whole herd factors, feed processing, new technologies and health impact on feed efficiency.

Swine Innovation. What Does It Mean for Producers?

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The pork industry is no stranger to change. While the change in the industry has garnered most of the headlines in recent years, Canadian pork producers have always been on the leading edge of incorporating new technologies and management practices that enhance the competitive position of their business. One of the roles researchers play is ensuring producers have all the tools available to remain competitive.

Research is addressing some of the questions of the pork industry through the Canadian Swine Research and Development Cluster.  The Canadian Swine Research and Development Cluster rebranded as Swine Innovation Porc is a multi-year $9.6 million program established within the Growing Canadian Agri-Innovation Program – Canadian Agri-Science Initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in addition to receiving financial support from private sector and provincial government organizations.

Swine Innovation Porc objectives are to facilitate research, technology transfer and commercialization initiatives designed to enhance the competitiveness and differentiation of Canada’s pork industry.

Prairie Swine Centre turns 20 in 2012, time for thinking outside the box – again

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During the past 20 years of operation Prairie Swine Centre with its funding partners and research collaborators world-wide has developed a reputation for practical solutions addressing global competitiveness through developing technologies, personnel and knowledge products. Since inception the research objectives for the Centre spoke a language that both the industry and researchers could embrace and pursue.  After nearly 20 years the Centre has trained 48 graduate students, plus summer students, post-doctoral fellows and employees that every day work in academia, commercial production, government and supplier industries.  Our compliments and thanks to those pork producers, university and government leaders who foresaw the need, attracted the necessary people, funding and leadership to make Prairie Swine Centre happen.

Herd Management Factors that Influence Whole Herd Feed Efficiency

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on April 11, 2012 | No Comments

This presentation by Dr. Aaron Gaines of The Maschoffs was presented at the 3rd in a series of 8 webinars on Feed Efficiency hosted by Prairie Swine Centre. To access the presentation scroll down and click on Download PDF

Reducing cost of Pork Production

Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 10, 2012 | No Comments

Transitionally it is assumed that sows require a constant amount of amino acids during pregnancy, but there are some who feel that the sows requirements for amino acids change as the sows body changes during different stages of pregnancy. This study tries to pin point the sows requirements for amino acids used in early and late gestation, lactation and for maintenance. The sows were fitted with venous catheter and blood was regularly sampled to determine some specific AA requirements in early and late gestation. In all experiments, energy retention was greater in early gestation than in late gestation, where negative energy retention was observed especially in younger sows. A further study was set up to determine limited amino acids by setting up 5 diets, the first with all essential AA’s and then each after that had one AA removed. These experiments showed that AA and energy requirements of pregnant sows were greater in late gestation than in early gestation so that phase feeding sows different diets and feed amounts in early gestation and late gestation is necessary, the 84th day of pregnancy is recommend as the time to change diets. Increased litter size can increase the amount of milk needed to feed the piglets and this changes as the pigs grow, this can increase the amount of lysine required by the sows to help produce milk. Phase feeding is recommended to accommodate that changing AA requirements in the sow.