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Industry Partners
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:
Isoleucine Requirement for Late-Finishing (87 to 100 kg) Pigs
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Very little research has been attempted to determine isoleucine (Ile) requirements of late-finishing pigs. Variability in these rapidly growing animals makes interpretation of results a very difficult task. Attempts to minimize variability by using short-term feeding assays have resulted in trials that utilize minimum plasma urea-nitrogen as an indicator of the requirement (Liu et al., 2000a). Other research by Liu et al. (1999) has shown that reducing protein level and adding amino acids (AA) does not affect growth performance of early- or late- finishing pigs. Their results have also suggested that Ile is a limiting AA for late-finishing barrows fed AA-fortified, low-protein corn diets (Liu et al., 2000b). When diets (7.1% CP) comprised of corn (supplemented with synthetic L-lysine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan and DL-methionine) were fed to late-finishing pigs, growth responses to supplemental Ile were observed. This suggests that Ile may become a limiting AA for late-finishing pigs fed low-protein diets. Therefore, it is important to determine the Ile requirement of late-finishing pigs.
Get off on the right foot – Pick the right ramp!
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Loading and unloading of cattle should be done safely to avoid costly injuries. A dramatic step-up or step-down can lead to an injured animal that cannot complete the journey.
Examination of Ovulation Rate, Uterine and Fetal Interactions, and Reproductive Age in Chinese Meishan, Yorkshire, and Reciprocal Cross Gilts: Effects of Fetal and Maternal Genotypes
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Investigation into the mechanisms of prolificacy of Meishan (Ms) pigs has lead to conclusions that differences among breeds involve several components of litter size. Components examined in Ms and occidental breeds have included follicular development, ovulation, time of ovulation, embryonic survival, and fetal survival .
Although many studies have examined Ms and Yorkshire (Y) females for embryonic survival (before 30 days of gestation), few laboratories have examined uterine and fetal interactions (after 30 days of gestation) in the Ms pig and their potential importance. We have reported that uterine and fetal interactions may have a role in the prolificacy of Ms females. Further, previous reports indicate that the number of fetuses does influence uterine length in occidental breeds of pigs. Evidence has indicated that ovulation rate of Ms and occidental pigs was similar at puberty and at early estrous cycles but diverged in favor of the Ms as they underwent more estrous cycles and later parities. Results from our laboratory indicated that ovulation rate was significantly higher for Ms females than for Y females at second parity but the reproductive age was not standardized.
The objectives were to determine the differences in ovulation rate, uterine length, space per fetus, fetal survival, and fetal development traits among cycle-matched (gilts bred at third estrus) Ms, Y, Ms x Y, and Y x Ms females at 50 days of gestation carrying 1/2 Ms and 1/2 Y fetuses. The objectives of Experiment 2 were to determine the differences in these traits for cycle-matched Ms and Y females at 50 days of gestation carrying purebred (Ms or Y) or crossbred (1/2 Ms and 1/2 Y) fetuses.
Testing the feasibility of a surveillance system for disease control
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Researchers with the Ontario Veterinary Collegea
CATTLE AND SWINE TRUCKING GUIDE FOR EXPORTERS
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In 1998 over 180 million cattle, calves, swine, sheep, and lambs were marketed in the United States.(1) That same year, U.S. exports of these same species amounted to well over one million. Whether the animals are destined for domestic markets, border countries, or to airports and seaports for foreign offshore markets, highway transport plays a vital role in this marketing process. The keys to a successful outcome are careful and efficient planning and proper follow-through to assure maintenance of the stock throughout the handling and transportation process. Such measures will also help maintain the market value of stock and reduce claims due to injury and mortality. This guide will address many important aspects of livestock highway transport, from the planning stage, through loading procedures, and finally, unloading at final destination or port for onward journey. It is designed as a practical reference for use by shippers, carriers, receivers, and others in the livestock industry to help assure safe and efficient livestock highway transport.
Livestock export shipments are subject to numerous regulations; however, the focus of this guide is on technical aspects of transporting livestock over the road. Although many species of livestock are commonly carried by truck, the scope of this guide is limited to cattle and swine.
Diagnosing Problems in the Grow-Finish Phase of Production
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It has been said all-to-often, but it remains true, that the grow-finish phase of production is, by far, the financially most important phase of a commercial swine operation. It is the stage where most production costs are incurred. Relative to other production phases, grow-finish contributes the largest portion of total feed cost/market pig, the greatest single cost of production. And, since the growing pig spends more time in this phase than in any other phase of production, grow-finish also incurs the highest facility cost/pig, the second greatest production cost. Relative to weaned pig and feeder pig enterprises, the grow-finish enterprise has the greatest pig-to-pig variation in revenues. Inherent with this variation, is a greater opportunity for revenue enhancement than occurs with the sale of either weaned pigs or feeder pigs .
Both production costs and market revenues for the grow-finish phase are driven by biological performance. If pigs grow slowly, facility utilization drops, resulting in higher facility costs/pig. Throughput of the operation, called capacity utilization, is also reduced with slow growing pigs, since either fewer pigs can be grown in the facility or pigs have to be sold at lighter weights. When pigs inefficiently convert feed to gain, feed costs, on both a per pig and per kg basis, are increased. On the revenue side, variation in the growth performance of pigs results in increased market sort loss and variable carcass quality, causing premiums to suffer. Thus, for both cost and revenue reasons, it is essential that the factors influencing the biological performance of the growing pig be understood.
C H A P T E R 9 : INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND RESEARCH
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The view that the Panela
Turning Community Concerns Into Sustainable Solutions
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The following projects were funded by the Triple S Hog Manure Management Initiative during its three-year history. Many of these will provide long-term and sustainable solutions to problems associated with hog manure odour, storage and utilization.
-Three-Stage Manure Treatment
-Application of Hog Manure to Perennial Forages
-Odour Measurement
-Liquid Manure Injection System
-Straw Cover on Hog Lagoons
-New Design for Manure Storage Tanks
-Remote or Field Storage With Relocatable SlurryPool
-GIS Technology for Selecting Sites
-Negative Air Pressure Cover for Earthen Storage Sites
-Compressed-Air Agitation System
-Training for Hog Barn Employees
-Manure Expos Lead to National Conference on Livestock and the Environment