The effect of pellet diameter on the performance of young pigs

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The effect of pellet diameter on the liveweight gain, feed intake and feeding behaviour of young pigs was examined. It was found from the results of this trial that pellet size does not affect piglet performance but in some cases can
increase trough directed behaviour. Furthermore, young pigs appear to be very adaptable with respect to this form of diet
presentation and to changes in presentation occurring between the pre- and postweaning phases.

An update on Reproductive Technologies with Potential Short-Term Application in Pig Production

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Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the development and/or in the improvement of emerging reproductive technologies in pigs. Among emerging reproductive technologies with potential short-term application in pig production are: artificial insemination with low number of spermatozoa, cryopreservation of spermatozoa and embryos, sperm sexing, and non-surgical embryo transfer. The following review will give emphasis to recent advancements in these reproductive technologies that are starting to show possibilities of serious applications under field conditions.

Issues Surrounding PCV2

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Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) causes several diseases. Post-Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) primarily causes enlarged lymph nodes, wasting, diarrhoea, jaundice, coughing, fever, gastric ulcers, and sudden death. This usually hits piglets at 7 to 15 weeks of age, but good management can lower mortality. Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS) affects the skin and the kidneys. Clinical signs include red/purple lesions that begin on the hindquarters, and severe cases can lead to fever, lameness, anorexia and weight loss. The kidneys are often enlarged, pale, and covered with haemorrhages. PDNS typically affects nursery and grow-finish pigs and is sporadic. Pre-natal Myocarditis and Reproductive Failure is common in start-up herds. It causes abortions, increased stillbirths, increased foetal mummification rates, and cardiac lesions. At the time of publication, there were no licensed PCV2 vaccinations, but 3 were in the works.

Organic Acids as Potential Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters for Pigs

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Due to the fact that antibiotics for growth promotion are being phased out, interest is now being paid to the antibiotic power of various acids and fats. The addition of these alternatives generally makes the diet more acidic and resistant to changes of this acidity, increases gastrointestinal acidity, breakdown of proteins, promotes beneficial bacteria at the expense of harmful bacteria, and modulates many physiological processes after absorption. Four major benefits can be expected including improved health and resistance to disease, faster growth, increased efficiency of diet utilisation, and better carcass quality. Secondary affects may be achieved with certain supplemental fats (called SCFAs, or short-chain fatty acids) and nitrogen and phosphorus. Consistent responses of pigs to supplement SCFAs and their salts can be achieved by optimizing their sources, levels at proper ratios of protected to non-protected forms in diets using a more complex computerized approach. The economic feasibility of the use of SCFA can be heavily determined by the farm structure and the restrictions and costs imposed by the regional environmental and health safety policies.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR MONITORING GENE EXPRESSION AND TISSUE GROWTH

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Energy and nutrient digestibilities in wheat dried distillers’ grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

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The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional profile and to determine the digestibilities of nutrients in wheat-based dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) fed to growing pigs. Six ileal cannulated barrows individually housed in metabolism crates were fed experimental diets which consisted of a basal wheat-based diet or the basal diet with wheat replaced by 400 g kg−1 mixed wheat or winter wheat DDGS in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Ileal digesta and fecal samples were collected for determining apparent ileal (AID) and apparent total tract digestibilities (ATTD), respectively. The contents of proximate components and amino acids in DDGS were about three times higher than in wheat. The AID and ATTD of dry matter, nitrogen and energy were lower (P < 0.05) in DDGS compared with wheat. The DDGS samples had lower (P < 0.05) AID of amino acids compared with wheat; average values for lysine, threonine and isoleucine in DDGS were 43.8, 62.9 and 68.0%, respectively. The ileal and fecal digestible energy content in DDGS averaged 9.7 ± 1.18 and 13.5 ± 0.61 MJkg−1, respectively. Respective values for wheat were 13.3 ± 0.52 and 14.6 ± 0.22 MJkg−1 and both were higher (P < 0.05) than in DDGS.

Assessing Sow State of Being Objectively: Genetic Implications

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After thorough meta-analyses of the world’s available literature on the state of being
engendered by two common keeping systems for pregnant sows and gilts, an international,
multidisciplinary team of scientists recently concluded: “Although individual studies found
significant housing system effects, subjected to the overall evidence from adequately designed
studies, meta-analyses revealed that gestation stalls (non-tethered) or well-managed pens
generally (but not in all cases) produced similar states of welfare for pregnant gilts or sows in
terms of physiology, behavior, performance, and health.” (J. J. McGlone et al., Prof. Anim.
Scient. 20:105-117, 2004).
Despite this and other similar conclusions (e. g., J. L. Barnett et al., Aust. J. Agric. Res.
52:1-28, 2001), continuing political pressure by animal protectionists nowadays is causing North
American producers, animal scientists, and veterinarians alike to ask: How should we go about
optimizing sow state of being?
A series of at least seven decisions will have to be made as we go about answering this
question. In what follows, we’ll explore those topics and offer our opinions as to how we should
be moving forward in these matters at this time.

Pre- and postnatal transfer of vitamins E and C to piglets in sows supplemented with vitamin E and vitamin C

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This experiment investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C on sow reproductive
performance and transfer of vitamin E to piglets via the placenta, colostrum and milk. The results provide evidence for only limited placental transfer of vitamin E but in utero concentration of vitamin C on the foetal side of the placenta. For both vitamins the efficiency of placental transfer decreased as maternal serum vitamin concentrations increased. The main supply of these vitamins to the newborn piglet was via the mammary gland rather than the placenta.

Alternatives to Antibiotics in Swine Diets: A Molecular Approach

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There is a growing concern in agriculture about the inclusion of antibiotics into animal feeds. This is increasing herd resistance. Unfortunately with a reduction of feed antibiotics comes lowered productivity and increased disease, which often results in more antibiotics. In the past, as price of antibiotics decreased, feed antibiotic inclusion increased. Today, there is the concern of whether antibiotics in animal feed increase human antibiotic resistance. Studies have shown that animals given sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics in their feed did not show a significant increase in antibiotic resistance over an extended period of time (although the research is debatable). Since antibiotics are effective in improving growth and efficiency of feed utilization, the benefits of its use is far greater than the risk of antibiotic resistance. In 1986, Sweden banned the use of feed antibiotics, and that resulted in a two-fold increase in piglet diarrhea, and similar attempts since then has showed a decline in nursery pig health, consequently increasing the need for therapeutic antibiotic administration. The result of omitting antibiotics in finisher feed is a reduction in feed efficiency and average daily gain. Alternatives to antibiotics can only really be found once the microbial ecology and microbiology of the digestive tract is determined. Some alternatives already in use include probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids and enzymes. Probiotics are essentially microbes added to animal feed that prevent pathogens from affecting the animal. Prebiotics exist to promote the growth of already established good (“non-pathogenic”) bacteria that live in the gut. Organic acids can influence the microbes of the gut by changing the physical conditions, making it less optimal for growth of bad (“pathogenic”) species. Enzymes can work for and against (respectively) non-pathogenic and pathogenic species in the gastrointestinal tract.

Is that what Consumers really think of us?

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Over the past few years the public impression of the hog industry has been improving. The most important issue for consumers is the environmental impact on large-scale swine facilities and they see the industry as being harder on the environment than other agricultural areas. The safety of Canadian pork has a very positive reputation. Animal welfare is surprisingly not a big issue as most of the public feel that the pigs are treated humanely. The fact that the public learns what they know about the industry through media is poor, as images can be distorted this way.