Selection of potential probiotic lactobacilli from pig feces to be used as additives in pelleted feeding

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The response of sows to increased nutrient intake during mid to late gestation

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Effects of Diet Particle Size on Pig Growth Performance, Diet Flow Ability, and Mixing Characteristics

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Producers should take feed management seriously as it accounts for well over 50% of production costs. For any age of pig, grinding feed has a production benefit. Particle size is important because small particle sizes allow digestive juices to break down more surface area. Too fine however can cause gastric ulcers. Because baby pigs are the best at chewing their feed, a decrease in feed particle size showed little improvement in average daily gain. Fine grinding of alternative grains such as a high fiber grain like barley shows a definite increase in feed value. Grinding too fine (below 500 microns) increases the risk of gastric ulcers. In regards to the lactating sow, litter size, pig survivability, sow weight loss, and sow back fat loss were not influenced by particle size of the diet. Weaning weight increases however, due to sows consuming more feed when finely ground. Reducing particle size of the corn in lactation diets from 1,500 to 600 microns results in greater average daily feed intake, water usage, fewer days for return to estrus after weaning, and less loss of back fat. Not only does grinding affect the pigs, but also it is less hassle to the producers when it comes to bridging feed mills. Quality mixing of feed is important for ensuring that pigs have a nearly identical nutrient composition with each bite of feed that they take. Research has shown that mixing feed for 330 seconds increases average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. It is suggested that feed particle sizes be tested weekly via a 3-screen procedure (an on-farm test) and at least monthly by professionals. Mixers should be tested at purchase and then annually after that. Samples collected from mixers should be representative, as in 10 samples from 10 areas of the mixer.

Balancing Biological Potential with Production Constraints: Is it a Priority?

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The last thirty years have seen some significant changes take place with respect to specific traits or characteristics within the porcine species. These traits, as described by geneticists, would be “days to 100 kg”, litter size, and “backfat at 100 kg”. If production systems are unwilling or unable to adjust to new biological potential who should define the limits that should be imposed on genetic selection? In the case of backfat and growth rate, the improvement appears to be very consistent over the past twenty-five years. Litter size has changed more aggressively in the past 10 years. Many factors have lead to this increase in litter size, and it appears that the Yorkshire has seen the most dramatic increase. Many factors have also lead to a decrease in days to 100 kg and decrease in backfat at 100 kg. Trends seem to be relatively similar between Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc.

Effect of storage in short- and long-term commercial semen extenders on the motility, plasma membrane and chromatin integrity of boar spermatozoa

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For artificial insemination (AI) in pigs, preservation of liquid boar semen at
16–20 °C is still common practice as sperm cryopreservation remains suboptimal
in this species. To meet the different needs of the swine industry, several
extenders have been developed to preserve semen in liquid form for short- and
long-term storage. In the present study, three different commercial extenders
devised for short-term (BTS+) or long-term preservation (MR-A and X-Cell),
were used to test whether storage of semen from four mature, fertile boars at
17 C for 96 h would affect sperm characteristics relevant for fertility, such as
motility, membrane integrity and chromatin stability. Computer-assisted sperm
analysis, and stainings with the acylated membrane dye SYBR-14/propidium
iodide, and acridine orange in connection with flow cytometry were used to
evaluate these variables. Percentages of total motile spermatozoa decreased
slightly, but significantly, after 72–96 h. While membrane integrity values varied
during the period of study, no significant changes in either membrane
integrity or chromatin stability were, however, registered. This suggests a customary
96-day storage at 17 °C in these extenders was too short an interval to
cause losses of integrity in nuclear DNA in the boar population studied.

Avian influenza and pigs – What Manitoba farmers should know

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The emergence and re-emergence of influenza viruses with pandemic potential for both human and veterinary public health is of great concern globally. Prior to 1997 the scientific community was of the opinion that they understood the influenza virus pretty well; then, influenza jumped directly from poultry to infect and kill people in Hong Kong. Recently the H3N8 equine influenza virus has caused respiratory disease and death in dogs. Avian influenza viruses of Asian-H9 subtype have spread worldwide since the early 1990s, readily infecting a broad spectrum of domestic and wild bird species. Infection levels in poultry populations in the Middle East and Asia are high, providing a reservoir of virus that can lead to transmission to pigs where there is close contact between the species. It is possible these viruses are maintained independently of bird populations and are able to produce clinical disease in pigs. Recent studies in China and Korea have detected an apparently increased prevalence of virus in pig populations. This suggests the virus may have acquired the ability to transmit efficiently from pig to pig. This virus may be adapting to pigs and may become a significant future swine pathogen. In 2003, a catastrophic outbreak of poultry influenza in the Netherlands with H7N7 (avian) virus resulted in the death or slaughter of 30 million poultry. Investigations of 13 HPAI-infected farms keeping both pigs and poultry revealed that pigs on five farms had been infected with the virus. This outbreak demonstrated the ease with which these viruses can cross to pigs and raises issues for control of avian influenza in the future where different species, including pigs, are kept on the same farm premises (epidemiological unit). Repeated introductions of swine influenza viruses to turkeys, which may be coinfected with avian influenza viruses, provide opportunities for the emergence of new virus types (novel reassortants) with genes adapted for replication in pigs or even humans. There is a continuing need to monitor pigs and domestic birds to better understand interspecies transmission and the emergence of novel influenza viruses. Ten years ago public health and veterinary officials were convinced they understood the scientific basis of influenza transmission and adaptation. Currently the scientific community is far less confident they can predict the behaviour of influenza viruses. Making risk based and policy decisions in times of scientific uncertainty is difficult.

A note on differences in nursing behaviour on pig farms employing individual and group housing of lactating sows

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L'agriculture: des bonnes réponses terre-a-terre – Les gens de l'agriculture canadienne répondent a vos questions

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Dans son ensemble, l’agriculture est importante pour l’économie canadienne: 34,9 milliards de dollars de ventes annuelles pour les secteurs de l’évelage et des cultures.
La plupart des producteurs agricoles sont néanmoins des exploitant indépendants, qui dirigent de petites entreprises sur une base individuelle. Il n’est pas facile de fair le portrait précis d’une exploitation type, car chaque ferme est unique. Les agriculteurs gerent des entreprises qui sont soumises aux meme pressions économiques et sociétales que les autres et n’ont d’autres choix que d’y faire face.
La seule véritable constante en agriculture est le changement. Les producteurs doivent donc se montrer alertes, créatifs et faire preuve de discernement dans le choix des produits qu’ils mettent en marché, ainsi que dans leurs méthodes de production et de commercialisation.
Avant d’approfondir les questions touchant plus directement la production alimentaire, examinons de plus pres ce qui caractérise l’environnement d’une ferme canadienne afin d’etre davantage en mesure de comprendre les changements qui se produisent en agriculture.

Nutritional Strategies for Optimizing Sow Reproductive Performance

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Goals of a quality nutrition program for a gestating sow includes body preparation for farrowing, maximizing reproductive performance, and meeting the daily nutrient requirements for the least cost possible. The goal in gestation is to have the sow farrow with a back fat measurement of no more than 24 mm and no less than 15, with 18 to 22 being ideal. Nutrient requirements and over/under feeding need to be looked at when preparing a gestation feeding program. Weight and back fat estimations should be used to determine an individual sows body score, and with that information the sow should be fed accordingly. By estimating these factors, a gestation weight gain and back fat gain can be determined for the gestation period (we want the maintenance, maternal, and uterine gain). To be effective however, feeders should be calibrated in a 5-step process and back fat should be checked weekly and adjusted accordingly. Numbers used in these processes will be farm-specific. Goals of a quality nutrition program for a lactating sow includes maximum feed intake, balancing nutrients and amino acids, and maintaining a reasonable feed cost for each pig weaned. Proper steps should be taken to increase total feed consumption during lactation before attempting to customize dietary lysine levels to a particular farm. High levels of fat should not be added to compensate for a low level feed intake as this may impair future reproduction. Lysine requirement is influenced by dietary energy intake. The primary factor for the different lysine recommendations is the production level of the sows. Therefore, as litter growth rate increases the grams of lysine required per day increases. In regards to other amino acids, they should be maintained at as high a level as possible without incurring excess costs. First parity sows require a more nutrient dense diet because they tend to consume a little bit less than older sows. Practical lactation feeding consists of morning feeding, late morning feeding, and evening feeding. These 3 are based on how much the sow has left in her feeder from the previous feeding.

The Role of Antibiotics in Immunosuppressive Diseases

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During recent years the pig industry has showed a radical change in disease patterns. In the last decade the emergence of immunosuppressive viruses (ISVs) has meant a significant change in the pattern of the diseases seen in pigs. The most common diseases related to this are PRRS, Swine Influenza Virus, Pseudorabies, and Swine Fever. Other diseases include Porcine Circovirus 2 and Post Weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome. The goal of veterinarians is to optimize the benefits of using antibiotics, appropriate preventative measures, and management to deal with these infections in immunosuppressive diseases. Some antibiotics can weaken the immune system (Tetracycline causes depletion of the immune system) and others work to strengthen the response of the animal. Effective control of ISVs may require fundamental changes in management, which could include major system changes. The prudent use of antibiotics to control the secondary infections is part of the control program. Aspects related to the impact of these products in immune system and the adverse effects in other organs, as kidneys, for instance, are relevant to choose the ideal drug. In addition biosecurity and effective disinfection programs can play a significant role in minimizing the problem.