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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:
Effect of Varying Light Intensity on Welfare Indices of Broiler Chickens
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on January 1, 2012 | No Comments
Studies were conducted to see the effects low-level lighting had on ocular, immune, fear and leg health of broiler chickens. There was found to be no negative effects on the welfare of the birds. The study suggests that switching to low-level lighting will help reduce hyperactivity, pecking damage and energy costs.
Housing and Management of Layer Breeders in During Rearing and Production
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This article discusses some handling practices that will yield the most economic value for poultry producers. In the early stages good brooding conditions, high feed quality, and good chick management are important. Also making birds familar with drinkers, feeders and nests is crucial. Collection of floor eggs should be done several times a day if necessary. Later nutrient requirments can be met with phase feeding.
Feed restrictions in Broiler Breeders
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This article discusses how feeding restricitons are one of the most prominent welfare issue faced by broiler producers. Feed restrictions lead to chronic hunger and increased aggression. The article also discusses housing methods in turkey and chicken operations and when restrictive feeding is applied.
Comparison of Production, Health and Welfare of Hens in Cages and in Alternative Systems
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This article discusses a paper that looked at the environmental complexities of alternative housing systems. Furnished cages, barn, free-range and organic systems all have implications on hen welfare. Having a good match between the animal and environment is key to improving animal welfare in all systems.
Lameness in Cattle: Debilitating Disease or a Disease of Debilitated Cattle?
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Lameness is a critical welfare issue facing dairy producers. With more public opinion shifting towards better animal treatment, preventing and treating lameness will become even more important in the coming years. A study was carried out to predict when cows become lame, and what are the impacts of the variables causing lameness. Lameness was found to have negative effects on milk production and reproduction. Also it was found that if a cow is milked less when it is lame it can recover quicker and have better milk output.
Research on Horizontal Transmission of Salmonella in Caged and Floor
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A study was carried out to find how salmonella spread among hens in different settings. Hens were intentionally infected with salmonella and then co-mingled with other hens. The researchers then looked at the hens internal organs to see how the disease had spread. Results found that cages followed by slates were the least likely to have horizontal transmission. Floor systems were the most likely to have horizontal transmissions.
An Overview of Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Associated with Porcine Pregnancy Success or Failure
Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on | No Comments
Prenatal mortality remains one of the major constraints for the commercial pig industry in North America. Twenty to thirty per cent of the conceptuses are lost early in gestation and an additional 10–15% is lost by mid-to-late gestation. Research over the last two decades has provided critical insights into how uterine capacity, placental efficiency, genetics, environment, nutrition and immune mechanisms impact successful conceptus growth; however, the exact cause and effect relationship in the context of foetal loss has yet to be determined. Similar to other mammalian species such as the human, mouse, rat, and primates, immune cell enrichment occurs at the porcine maternal–foetal interface during the window of conceptus attachment. However, unlike other species, immune cells are solely recruited by conceptus-derived signals. As pigs have epitheliochorial placentae where maternal and foetal tissue layers are separate, it provides an ideal model to study immune cell interactions with foetal trophoblasts. Our research is focused on the immune-angiogenesis axis during
porcine pregnancy. It is well established that immune cells are recruited to the maternal–foetal interface, but their pregnancy specific functions and how the local milieu affects angiogenesis and inflammation at the site of foetal arrest remain unknown. Through a better understanding of how immune cells modulate crosstalk between the conceptus and the mother, it might be possible to therapeutically target immune cells and ⁄ or their products to reduce foetal loss. In this review, we provide evidence from the literature and from our own work into the immunological factors associated with porcine foetal loss.
Immune Response to Stress
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on December 29, 2011 | No Comments
This article discusses how male and female calves react differently to weaning stress, and how stress differs in calves weaned and kept near their dams versus calves penned away from their dams. The study suggests that calves weaned and kept near their dams may be more sensitive to weaning stress. The study found that the immune system of a female calf has a different reaction to stress than the immune system of a male calf.
Short dry period – Some pros and cons
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on December 28, 2011 | No Comments
A study was conducted using 850 dairy cows to find out how health and reproduction are effected by a shorter dry period. The study found that a shorter dry period had both positive and negative effects on the cows.
Monitoring Pigs To Improve Welfare And Production
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Researchers in Denmark are coming up with a monitoring system that is all inclusive. Technology is being developed to monitor all aspects of a pigs life such as eating and drinking habits, interaction with other pigs, temperature, growth rates and all factors that can be immediately recorded. The challenge is to get the system to work as one unit that will make connections and find relations between all the factors it records. This will help producers be able to react on the most important information and help researchers find links between different factors.