Role of nutrition and intestinal adaptation in weanling pig health

Posted in: Production by admin on July 5, 2010 | No Comments

The growth rate of the pig is most rapid during the neonatal and weaning periods. Nutrition and gastrointestinal function play a critical role in the survival, health and growth of the young pig during this transition from suckling to weaning. The high metabolic rate and cellular turnover of gut tissues result in substantial fi rst-pass utilization of dietary nutrients, especially amino acids, to maintain gut function. The changes in the diet composition and gut microbiota after weaning are associated with increased gut growth and metabolism, which may limit the systemic availability of dietary nutrients. Strategies aimed at optimizing gut metabolism and supplementing key gut-nutrients in support of gut function may improve growth.

Understanding Feeders and Drinkers for Grow-Finish Pigs

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on June 13, 2010 | No Comments

Feeder and drinker design and placement can have a large impact on production and performance in all areas of a swine barn. This paper gives a summary of various aspects to take into account when choosing a design and placing feeders and drinkers. When placing feeders some of the things to consider include the number of feeding spaces, the quality of the feeder spaces, feeder design and its impact on feed wastage, and whether dry or wet/dry feeders are going to be used. For drinkers the considerations include the type of drinker, number of drinkers, and flow rate. Also more complex issues like the unique demands of nursery or grow-finish pigs, the contribution to manure amount and composition, water administered medications, water supply, and using it as an indicator of health.

Development of rapid immunoassays for the detection of ractopamine in swine urine

Posted in: Production by admin on June 2, 2010 | No Comments

The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against ractopamine (Rac) were prepared and their properties identified by indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA). The IC50 of mAbs was 2.7 ng ml_1 towards Rac or 9.3 ng ml_1 towards Rac-glucuronides and no cross-reactivity (CR) towards other competitors except dobutamine (CR: 3.76%). Based on the mAbs, the Rac-kit (kit) and Rac-strip (strip) were developed to detect Rac residues in swine urine. The strip and kit assay could be performed within 5–10 min and 2 h, respectively, allowing the analysis of urine samples without the need for sample clean-up. The detection limits were 1 ngml_1 for kit and 3 ngml_1 with the unaided eye, and 0.2 ng ml_1 with the Strip Reader for strip. The correlation coefficients (R2) were 0.988 for kit in the range 0–128.0 ng ml_1, and 0.987 for strip in the range 0–10.8 ng ml_1. Comparing the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with the kit or strip in swine urine spiked with Rac standards, the differences ranged from 1.4% to 4.5% for kit and 1.0% to 4.7% for strip. However, the differences were greater than 54% for the kit and 55% for the strip test for the analysis of urine from swine treated with Rac. The results obtained from GC-MS using hydrolysed urine samples were generally in good agreement with those obtained from strip or kit using non-hydrolysed urine samples.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tfac19

Managing Boar Taint: Focus on Genetic Markers

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on April 1, 2010 | No Comments

Entire males have improved feed efficiency and lean gain when compared to surgically castrated males, but the presence of boar taint can restrict their use. If genetic markers for boar taint could be identified a breeding program to reduce or eliminate it could be created, providing an economical and animal welfare advantage for producers. The cause of boar taint is when androstenone, from the testis, and skatole, from tryptophan breakdown, accumulates in the fat. Alternatives to surgical castration for controlling boar taint include immunocastration and genetic selection. Previous problems with genetic selection have been that selecting boars with low boar taint results in reproductive problems. Genetic markers could help identify the location of boar taint genes, and allow selection with maintained performance. The University of Guelph has identified 80 SNPs in 28 genes that are associated with skatole and androstenone levels in fat. Depending on the line, selection could reduce fat skatole levels 20-53%, fat androstenone levels by 26-61%, and maintain performance.

Catration in the Swine Industry and the Impact on Growth Performance – Physical Versus Vaccination

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Castration has been performed in the pork industry to reduce aggressive behaviour and to prevent boar taint in meat. This has usually been done by physical castration, and has the effect of reducing feed efficiency and increasing fat gain over lean gain. To increase efficiency and lean gain, entire males are being considered for use, but to avoid boar taint they would need to be slaughtered before sexually maturing – which reduces economic profitability. Studies of boars in group housing systems have found little difference in final weight or average daily gain when compared to barrows, but final lean gain has been higher and final fat content lower. This effect is more pronounced when boar are housed individually. The reduced performance in groups may be due to increased aggression and sexual behaviour, which reduces feed intake. Immunocastration – or immunizing against gonadotrophin releasing factor – reduces the presence of boar taint compounds, reduces aggressive behaviour, and improves growth. Immunocastration allows the boar to have a growth rate and feed intake similar to a barrow, but the feed efficiency and lean gain closer to an individually housed boar. The decrease in boar taint compounds and increased carcass weight appears after 2 weeks and lasts for 4-8 weeks after the second vaccine administration, although the skatole pattern is not yet confirmed. Due to the increased protein deposition in boars, their lysine requirement will be higher than for barrows. As well, it appears to be higher than for gilts, although the boar’s efficiency in lysine use seems to be better. Immunocastration is one solution to achieving a boar’s higher feed efficiency and lean gain, while maintaining a barrow’s temperament and reducing boar taint.

Advances in Sow and Gilt Management

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Proper sow management involves feeding and lying areas. The feeding system chosen should feed each animal individually at least once a day, they should be undisturbed, and fed at the same time as others in the group. Feeding stalls are the best option, as other systems will be lacking in at least one of these areas. Social hierarchy should be considered in group housing, and sows should be mixed in a properly set-up area. As well, satiation will prevent sow aggression due to hunger. Sows spend the majority of their time lying down, so a comfortable area is necessary. The local climate should be considered when choosing flooring as slats will cool sows, and solid flooring will insulate them. Straw provides additional insulation, and reduces leg and hoof injuries. Gilts represent the future of the herd, and should be treated as such. They should be kept in smaller groups, with ample space and feed, and different flooring types. Proper gilt and sow management can help ensure good herd performance in the future.

Milk Production and Nutritional Requirements of Modern Sows

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As litter sizes increase, it is important that the sow is able to produce enough milk. Nutrition and genetics contribute to milk production, but other factors like feed intake, body condition, and water intake can influence it as well. Milk production can remain high if a sow is given adequate energy and amino acids. The lysine requirement for sows is 62 g/day SID, but the percent in food changes with parity. Gilts require the highest percent because they have a lower feed intake, so increasing the percent will help avoid a parity 2 dip. Synthetic lysine can also be added up to 0.30% for all parities. Energy amount and type both influence milk production. In this study, ad lib feeding systems increased feed intake 7% compared to hand feeding. As well, with an ESF feed intake was maximized by feeding 1.8, 1.8, and then 2.7 kg of feed for the first three days of lactation, and then fully feeding. Bump feeding (increasing feed the last 2-3 weeks of gestation) is not recommended for over condition sows, and more research is needed to determine if there is any benefit for other sows. Adding additional fat to lactation diets has had limited success. One study found increased litter gain in P3+ sows, and another found increased gain in litters that was not maintained post-weaning.

A Holistic View of the Future

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As population growth continues, and new areas for agriculture become limited, it is important to use new methods, like genetics, to keep the world fed. Pig production has responded to the demand over the years by switching from traditional to the current intensive system. Future development will be impeded by politicization in science: with funding given to researchers who use “conclusions seeking evidence”. Critics of current agriculture have led to some companies switching to other countries, often with fewer regulations. Population growth would suggest that pork demand will increase, however meat is generally eaten by those with more income. Slowing population growth will increase per capita income in a country, and possibly allow more people the opportunity to eat meat. The future market will likely be more volatile, and precision agriculture that provides stabilization will be a solution for success.

Isospora suis infection and its association with postweaning performance on three southwestern Ontario swine farms

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on March 21, 2010 | No Comments

Objective: To determine the association between Isospora suis infection and weight gain in pigs up to 8 weeks of age.

Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on a convenience sample of three swine farms in Ontario. Fecal samples were collected from randomly selected piglets from each of 72 litters and examined for oocysts using centrifugal floatation. Piglet weight was recorded six times, during the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and eighth weeks of life. If one or more suckling piglets from
a litter were shedding I suis oocysts, then the litter was classified as infected. A linear mixed model was used to examine the effect of infection on weight gain.

Results: Isospora suis infection during suckling was associated with lower weights of pigs at the end of the nursery stage (average 62 days of age). Pigs from infected litters were 1.4 kg lighter than pigs from non-infected litters (95% CI, 1.1-1.8 kg; P < .001).

Implications: Infection with I suis during the suckling period can have an impact on postweaning performance. Thus, calculations of the economic impact of coccidiosis need to include the effect of slower growth rates in the first few weeks after weaning, as well as a reduction in suckling pig performance.

A multiplex RT-PCR assay for the rapid and differential diagnosis of classical swine fever and other pestivirus infections

Posted in: Production by admin on November 30, 2009 | No Comments

Classical swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease causing severe economic losses in pig production almost worldwide. All pestivirus species can infect pigs, therefore accurate and rapid pestivirus detection and differentiation is of great importance to assure control measures in swine farming. Here we describe the development and evaluation of a novel multiplex, highly sensitive and specific RT-PCR for the simultaneous detection and rapid differentiation between CSFV and other pestivirus infections in swine. The universal and differential detection was based on primers designed to amplify a fragment of the 50 noncoding genome region for the detection of pestiviruses and a fragment of the NS5B gene for the detection of classical swine fever virus. The assay proved to be specific when different pestivirus strains from swine and ruminants were evaluated. The analytical sensitivity was estimated to be as little as 0.89 TCID50. The assay analysis of 30 tissue homogenate samples from naturally infected and non-CSF infected animals and 40 standard serum samples evaluated as part of two European Inter-laboratory Comparison Tests conducted by the European Community Reference Laboratory, Hanover, Germany proved that the multiplex RT-PCR method provides a rapid, highly sensitive, and cost-effective laboratory diagnosis for classical swine fever and other pestivirus infections in swine.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03781135