Precision Feeding Cuts Feeding Costs and Reduces Environmental Footprints

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Swine Innovation by admin on February 9, 2012 | No Comments

On February 9th, on farmscape.ca radio, Dr. Candido Pomar of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada discussed precision feeding:

Pigs in groups all have individual nutrient requirements, some need more and some less. When selecting feed for a group of pigs the nutrient requirements must include enough nutrients for the pigs who needs the most. So pigs who require less nutrients receive an excessive amount. Precision feeding attempts to feed individual pigs specific diets that are in line with the nutrients they specifically require, therefore reducing waste and saving on costs of expensive feed additives.

To hear the interview click here: Precision Feeding Cuts Costs and Reduces Environmental Footprints

Performance During the First Cycle in Enriched Cage Modules

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments

In a study over 90 weeks of 150 000 hens kept in a  Big Dutchmen enriched system, researchers found better performances than in  a Hy‐Line standard system. Hens in the enriched system performed better in mortality rates, egg production, and average weight. There was no noted improvement in feed intake or feed conversion in the enriched system.

Loose farrowing sows require different routines

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 8, 2012 | No Comments

Research in Denmark found that sows in loose housing can benefit from getting familiar with the person treating them. Repeated visits leading up to farrowing, giving feed or straw to the sow and letting the sow get to know a persons voice, will help in post farrowing visits. A problem in loose housing systems is when a sow lies down or rolls over piglets are crushed and killed. Restlessness causes sows to roll unnecessarily increasing piglet mortality.

Welfare–Friendly Husbandry through Genetics: Animal Well‐Being

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 6, 2012 | No Comments

Studies done in Europe stress that breeding should try to include behavior, to improve welfare, as well as meat production. The researchers found a very wide range of stress responses between individual pigs. They suggest that if pigs are bread to be more robust that it will improve herd well being.

Danish stop research on gender‐selected pig semen

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 3, 2012 | No Comments

Danish researchers have given up attempts to breed more female pigs. Female pigs do not have boar taint, which is an affliction of non-castrated male pigs. As the EU move towards no-castration regulations, breeding females was seen as a way to avoid boar taint and castration. Some results were achieved but not successfully enough to be considered efficient. Researchers will still try to breed out boar taint.

Can Omega‐3 fatty acids improve piglet health?

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 1, 2012 | No Comments

Studies were undertaken looking at effects of omega 6 and omega 3 ratios on pigs post weaning. When a pig is weaned it is a very stressful time in its life, this stress triggers an immune response. By altering the omega 6:omega 3 ratio researchers found there was varying immune responses from pigs on different diets. It is recommended that a feed ratio of no less than 5:1 (omega6:omega3) be used. Pigs given a ratio of 1:1 experienced a heightened immune response and higher body temperature which can be interpreted as a heightened occurrence of  fever and stress.

Vair Pig House: Combining Animal Welfare, Housing And A Better Climate

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments

A Vair pig house is a Dutch designed modern facility  incorporating animal welfare, housing and climate. Some of the main features include more freedom, fresh air and daylight, straw‐bedded flooring as well as an outdoor area. Even a pig toilet is being used which takes advantage of a pigs natural neatness quality. Single aspects of the Vair house can be applied to a wider range of pig operations.

Evaluation of Methods of Rapid Mass Killing of Segregated Early Weaned Piglets

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments

Previous studies have found that blunt force was the most satisfactory method of euthanizing young pigs. The researchers tested four different methods and made decisions based on  speed of application, human resource and input cost, animal restraint required, and failure rate.  Although based on subjective aesthetics and physical application, manual blunt force trauma was found to be unacceptable. The researchers concluded by saying ” Considering animal welfare metrics in isolation, controlled blunt force trauma was superior to all other techniques attempted.”

Mycoplasma Ear Infection in Calves

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments

Mycoplasma bovis has been a problem for dairy farmers in the past few years. Affected calves may have facial paralysis shown by ear droop, head tilt and excessive tearing. Cows become infected as early as four days old. Outbreaks can infect large portions of herds with high death rates among the infected animals. Pasteurization of colostrum milk was seen to lower the chance of infections.

Is she getting 12 to 14 hours of lying time?

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments

It is very important for cows to get their daily feed requirements, but studies have shown that a cow will sacrifice eating time in exchange for resting time. Summarizing data from several studies found that cows will sacrifice one minute of eating time for three and a half minutes of rest. If cows are allowed to sleep, eat and walk, their internal clocks will provide them with enough time for each during the day. Data loggers are an easy way for producers to track how much time a cow spends standing and laying.