Digestible energy content of low quality barley fed to pigs

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Current equations may not estimate the digestible energy (DE) content of low quality barley. In this experiment, equations were developed using barley’s chemical and physical characteristics to accurately predict the DE content of low quality barley. The best equation explained up to 6% of the variation in barley DE content.

Water usage by grower-finisher pigs using dry and wet/dry feeders

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Summary

Water conservation is a growing concern in intensive swine operations (ISOs) for both financial and environmental reasons. The water usage of a grower-finisher room in an ISO was measured using dry and wet/dry feeders. The major source and sink of water was at the drinker and in the manure, respectively. In addition, water disappearance and manure volume were reduced from 9.3 to 6.2 and from 8.9 to 5.4 kg water/pig-day, respectively, when wet/dry feeders were used in place of dry feeders. Therefore, wet/dry feeders are an effective alternative for reducing water usage and manure volume of grower-finisher barns.

Introduction

To address water conservation in intensive swine operations the significant sources and sinks of water need to be identified to know where to focus future research efforts. Previous studies have shown that use of wet/dry feeders in place of dry feeders has potential water savings. The objective of this study was to systematically measure and report the water usage of grower-finisher swine using dry and wet/dry feeders.

Experimental Procedures

Six separate grower-finisher cycles were followed and the parameters of water usage, including water from the drinkers, in the feed, metabolic reactions, within the pig, ventilated from the room and in the manure, were measured for each cycle.

Results and Discussion

Table 1 presents a summary of the average values for the water balance measured over the six cycles. The significant source and sink of water was at the drinker, at 72% of the total water source, and in the slurry, at 64% of the total water sink, respectively. The use of wet/dry feeders compared to dry feeders significantly reduced both the water disappearance at the drinker by up to 34% (p<0.05), as seen in Fig. 1, and the volume of the slurry by up to 29% (p<0.05) for finisher pigs. The pig performance was not significantly different for pigs on dry and wet/dry feeders (p>0.05), although by the end of the finisher phase the pigs on wet/dry feeders were generally 5% larger than the pigs on the dry feeders. The feed conversions (FC) were similar for pigs on both dry and wet/dry feeders, with the FC being slightly higher for pigs on wet/dry feeders.

Implications

Future research on water conservation in an ISO should focus on the drinker and on the manure. Use of wet/dry feeders versus dry feeders generally resulted in less water being used and less manure to handle, decreasing the water usage and storage and handling costs.

Acknowledgments

Strategic funding for this project was provided by SaskPork, Alberta Pork, Manitoba Pork and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Development Fund. Project funding was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Effect of barley sample, particle size and enzyme supplementation on energy digestibility of barley fed grower pigs

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The feed processing procedures grinding and enzyme supplementation were tested to reduce the existing variability in DE content of barley. Particle size reduction but not enzyme supplementation increased energy digestibility of barley and partially reduced the variation in energy digestibility.

Hydrogen sulphide concentration while pulling pit plugs and power-washing rooms

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Six pig farms were studied to assess the barn worker exposure to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) while pulling pit plugs and power-washing production rooms. Results indicate that plug pulling generated high concentrations of H2S, reaching 1,000 ppm in some cases. All of the farms used in this study had plug pulling events that exceeded limits defined by the Occupational and Safety Regulations of Saskatchewan. The H2S released when a plug was pulled did not follow a predictable pattern over time and within the room. Power washing generated lower H2S concentrations than plug pulling but workers were exposed for a longer time period. Based on that study, swine barn workers may be exposed to H2S concentrations that exceed acceptable limits when pulling pit plugs and power-washing. Personal monitors should be provided to all barn workers, training and standard operating procedures are needed so workers can learn how to deal with routine operations and emergency situations generating high H2S concentrations.

Reducing water waste from nipple drinkers by growing-finishing pigs

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Growing/finishing pigs can maintain adequate water intake from a variety of drinker types and drinker management protocols. However, water waste from drinkers can be very different depending on drinker type and management. Well-managed nipple drinkers can reduce water waste to the same level as bowl drinkers.

The effect of dietary energy concentration and lysine: Energy ratio on the growth performance of weaned pigs

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Amino acids should be included in the diet in proportion to energy content to ensure adequate intake. The results of this experiment indicate the optimum ratio for pigs growing from 7.5 to 22 kg is 4.65g total lysine/Mcal DE. This is higher than most previous recommendations. Increasing dietary energy did not improve pig performance. The most economical diet for weanling pigs will change as market prices and ingredient costs change.

The performance of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with reduced crude protein

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Successful formulation of low protein diets increases our flexibility in formulating practical diets, providing us with another tool to lower nitrogen output in the slurry and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This experiment compared the performance of pigs fed regular protein versus low protein diets. An intermediate protein diet was also employed. Average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency were unaffected by dietary treatment. Most carcass characteristics, including index, lean yield and backfat thickness were unaffected by treatment; however, loin muscle thickness was increased on the low protein diet. Lower crude protein diets can be fed successfully without negatively impacting performance or carcass quality.

The methionine requirement of pigs from 25 to 50 kg

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In Western Canada, many protein sources such as peas and lentils which are lower in methionine (total methionine, tMet) than traditional protein sources are being used with greater frequency and in greater amounts. To ensure these diets are properly balanced, an experiment was conducted to establish the methionine requirement for 25-50 kg pigs. The requirement for female pigs was 0.25% of the diet and was slightly higher for barrows, at 0.29%. Ileal digestibility of methionine (d met) was 83%. The tMET requirement as a percent of lysine was 23% in females and 27% in males.

Comparison of urination frequency of grower-finisher pigs to ammonia emssion

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A computer model can predict ammonia emissions if the number of urine puddles in a room is known. Seventy-two pigs were observed for 26 h at three different times during their grow-finish phase. Urination frequency was similar for males and females and did not change with age. The maximum number of events was between 12h00 and 20h00. Early morning events were rare. Emissions from the room cannot be directly linked to the urination pattern at this point, as puddles will emit ammonia for many hours.

Feed Processing and Nutritional Quality among Wheat Classes Fed to Weaned Pigs

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Summary
Feed processing and nutritional quality for CPS and Durum wheats have traditionally been expected to be lower than for Hard Red Spring (HRS). Performance of weaned pigs was compared among six wheat classes, whilst considering particle size and diet pellet quality. Results indicated that feed processing quality and growth performance did not differ among wheat classes. Weaned pigs fed various classes of wheat including CPS and Durum may grow similarly.

Introduction
The processing and nutritional quality of wheat is expected to vary among classes; CPS and Durum wheat are currently segregated. A range in wheat protein and fibre or non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) content may partly cause quality variation. The present study was designed to test whether wheat class by itself impacts feed processing or nutritional quality.