Vaccine Research at VIDO

Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 2007 | No Comments

Vaccines traditionally consist of either attenuated (weakened) live, or inactivated (killed) pathogens. In general, live vaccines are more effective as they tend to stimulate stronger immune responses, similar to natural infection. However, live vaccines have the risk of potentially causing disease, especially in animals that are compromised by stress or other diseases. Killed vaccines are very safe but often induce weaker immune responses and require the addition of vaccine adjuvants. Live vectored vaccines or DNA vaccines are recently-developed vaccine technologies that are very safe and capable of inducing immune responses that are similar to natural infection. However, neither DNA vaccines nor vectored vaccines are licensed for pigs in Canada, though promising experimental vaccines are already in the final stages of development. At the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), several projects are aimed at developing novel and more effective vaccines for pigs. Infectious diseases remain the major cause of morbidity and mortality in swine production. Recent outbreaks of porcine circovirus (PCV), porcine reproductive respiratory syncytial virus (PRRSV) or swine influenza virus (SIV) have demonstrated that infectious diseases can have devastating effects on Canada’s swine industry. Vaccination represents a very cost-effective strategy to reduce animal suffering, improve the economics of livestock production, and reduce the spread of many infectious diseases from animals to humans. The importance of modern vaccine research is highlighted by the need for better food safety and the threat of importing devastating diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease or hog cholera.

A Trucker’s Experience – What Works

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The hog industry has been evolving and changing through the years and Steve’s Livestock is a company that is part of this progressive industry. Steve’s Livestock realized that there was a heightened awareness in biosecurity and the humane handling of livestock has resulted in changes among feed manufacturing, genetics, transportation and all businesses related to hog production. This paper highlights some experiences with the transportation of livestock, underscoring the commitment of Steve’s Livestock to provide a safe and humane transportation in a biosecure environment to help facilitate the highest profitability for their customers. This paper presents some of the areas where the company has experienced success through innovative ideas presented and established in the industry over the last 20 years in business. Positive innovative solutions must be present to ensure that all groups including consumers, hog producers, processing plants, as well as animal rights activists, understand that humane animal handling is a priority and a reality within the hog industry. Part of making things work, includes finding positive solutions to the variety of challenges that the industry faces. The BSE outbreak is one challenge that has caused questions to arise on where animals in the food chain were born, raised and slaughtered in the event of a disease outbreak. Steve’s Livestock has been proactive in introducing new protocols to increase high health washes and reduce the risk of disease transfer. The director of quality control constantly reviews and upgrades protocols to meet and exceed the needs of customers and the livestock industry as a whole. Protocols have been implemented where employees must adhere to strict procedures, including: washing and disinfecting of wash suits, boots, mats, storage boxes, boots and animal handling tools. Wash bay employees’ clothing is kept separated and all staff must adhere to the biosecurity standards posted. The trailer washing inspection process has been standardized and includes a checklist that must be completed by the shift supervisor. Failed inspections result in the trailer being washed a second time and re-inspected. All wash bay employees go through orientation, which includes the wash bay training video outlining the biosecurity procedures that must be followed. Each employee is responsible for a specific task to confirm quality washing is completed and staff is accountable for any breaches in biosecurity. All employees for both the wash bay, as well as drivers, cannot reside on a hog farm. All new drivers go through a 3-day orientation program, which includes extensive training on biosecurity measures that are required, as well as, the procedures to follow all necessary protocols. Emphasis is given to educating the drivers on the logic behind biosecurity to enable each individual to understand how far reaching repercussions of a simple mistake or misinterpretation can be. Steve’s Transport also has a full time driver trainer on staff to assist driver services in determining if a driver possesses the necessary qualities and skills required to haul the different classes of livestock. Humane handling of livestock has been a part of Steve’s Livestock mission statement since its inception. All drivers are trained in proper animal handling as outlined in the TQA ™ handbook describing the hog’s natural urge to escape and tendency to follow each other. The flight zone and point of balance is explained in detail to equip the driver to be able to calmly and successfully load the animals with minimal stress. Training is given to explain that aggressive handling is dangerous and how loading and unloading alone can cause excessive stress for the animals. Truckers are well informed on the correlation between all aspects of the food chain and their role in ensuring a superior product for the consumer and profitability for the producer. In the future, the hog industry will continue to face challenges, including, the rising costs associated with fuel and feed along with the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling.

Effect of increasing amounts of a linoleic-rich dietary fat on the fat composition of four pig breeds. Part II: Fatty acid composition in muscle and fat tissues

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β-Adrenergic regulation of uncoupling protein expression in swine

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Harnessing the power of ‘good’ viruses to control Salmonella

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A Guelph research team has determined that isolation of Salmonella-infecting bacteriophage offers an alternative to antibiotics in controlling the dissemination of this pathogen within the pork chain

Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook

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Poultry: Turkey production rose 4.9 percent in third-quarter 2007 and whole-bird stocks rose. The higher stock levels held down seasonal price increases for wholesale whole birds, but prices for whole hens in the Eastern market in fourth-quarter 2007 are expected to average slightly higher than the previous year. Broiler production in fourth-quarter 2007 is forecast at 9.125 billion pounds, 3.7 percent higher than in the previous year. Higher broiler and pork production, combined with no increase in broiler exports, is expected to place downward pressure on broiler prices in fourth-quarter 2007. The broiler meat production estimate for 2008 was increased by 325 million pounds due to
continued increases in chick placements and higher slaughter weights.
Cattle/Beef: The cattle and beef sectors are responding to downward pressures, partly seasonal, but also in response to more abundant, lower priced competing meats. These price declines, along with high feed prices and the growing prospect of reduced winter wheat pasture, are also affecting feeder cattle prices. Any price changes will be influenced by changes in U.S. beef trade status.
Dairy: Milk production continues its above-average rise into 2008. Production and stocks of butter and nonfat dry milk have risen in response to higher prices, although stocks have been building. Exports remain strong in the face of tight global supplies and a weak dollar and are expected to limit price declines for the balance of 2007 and into 2008.
Sheep/Lamb: In third-quarter 2007, commercial production of lamb and mutton totaled 42 million pounds, equaling the third quarter of 2006. However, fourthquarter 2007 commercial production is expected to be about 2 percent above the same period last year. This expectation is largely due to the typical fourth-quarter production increase to accommodate the seasonal demand, along with a forecast decline in fourth-quarter imports brought on by the devalued U.S. currency.
Hogs/Pork: Larger-than-expected hog slaughter numbers in October prompted USDA to add 75 million pounds of pork to the fourth-quarter 2007 pork production estimate. For 2007, total U.S. pork production is expected to be 21.8 billion pounds, 3.3 percent above a year ago. U.S. hog prices through first-quarter 2008 are expected to fall well below current break-even prices.

Long-Term Commitment to Research Brings Handsome Returns to the Industry

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Ontario Pork research co-ordinator Jean Howden says
that there is a long-standing and ongoing commitment to
research at Ontario Pork. “The board sees the importance of
research to promote healthy growth in the industry,” she says.
The benefits of research are many. For example, a Porcine
Stress Syndrome (PSS) test developed at the University of
Guelph through the Ontario Pork swine research program
is used throughout the industry to eliminate the genetic
defect from breeding stock. Ongoing research into circovirus
and coccidiosis in Ontario herds is improving understanding
and control of these problems.

History of Porcine Circoviral Disease (PCVD) and Current Western Canadian Situation

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Harding provides a look into the history of PCVD and PMWS diagnosis, including pathology and history of outbreaks. Today it is estimated that PCVD is present in 14% of finisher and farrow-to-finish operations in the 3 Western Canadian provinces. Common signs include wasting, pallor, diarrhoea, and laboured breathing. There are 2 vaccinations available at the time of writing and 2 more awaiting registration. PCV2 vaccinations are administered in the breeding herd in order to improve colostral immunity passage to piglets.

Quality of US Soybean Meal Compared to the Quality of Soybean Meal from Other Origins

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Water Utilization in Early Weaned Piglets Following Transport – Effect of Season and Space Allowance in Transit

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In spite of high health status, segregated early-weaned (SEW) piglets often show inadequate levels of feed intake immediately following weaning. Changes in housing and social reorganization, as well as the transition from liquid to solid feed, are believed to be contributing factors to the growth check in early-weaned piglets. In addition, a SEW management system requires piglets to be moved to a separate production site, often involving transport in excess of 12 hours. Transport is an additional stressor, involving mixing, crowding, cold, heat, temperature fluctuations, vibration and noise. The stress of weaning and transport may collectively cause dehydration at the end of the transport period. Diarrhea is often a problem at the time of weaning and can further exacerbate dehydration if piglets are not consuming adequate amounts of water. While post transport drinking behaviour is a valuable indication of thirst, a direct measure of water utilization may be more valuable to producers. This research project was designed to find out how much water is utilized by early-weaned transported piglets in each season and if space allowance during transport affects water utilization. The results confirmed that early-weaned piglets, especially in summer, utilized (consumed and spilled) more water on the first day following 24 hours of transport indicating a need to replace water losses. It is important to ensure water is accessible, clean and fresh to encourage drinking. Piglets on this study utilized an average of 5.32 L/pig on the day following a 24 hours transport. On this first day piglets drank most water during summer, an intermediate amount in spring and least following winter transport. This is probably a reflection of seasonal temperatures. As the risk of dehydration increases with increased ambient temperature, producers may benefit from taking measures to reduce truck temperatures in summer. Transport in the cooler parts of the day may be one such measure. Further research is still needed to determine the actual amounts of water consumed and wasted following transport in different seasons.