Control of hydrogen sulphide emissions from swine barns using nitrite and molybdate: effect of manure age

Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 2009 | No Comments

Emission of odorous and gaseous compounds such as hydrogen sulphide
(H2S) from livestock operations can be a major impediment to the expansion
of these facilities, especially in locations close to populated areas.
Occupational and environmental concerns, as well as stricter government
regulations, require the control of H2S emissions. A biological approach used
in the oil industry, in which nitrite and/or molybdate are added to control the
production of H2S in oil reservoirs, was shown to be effective in controlling
H2S emissions from swine manure. Low H2S
concentrations were maintained throughout the treatment using molybdate,
but with nitrite, concentrations increased again after a few days.

Swine Production Impact on Residential Ambient Air Quality

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The objective of this project was to assess the impact of swine production on ambient air quality as it related to public health in rural communities. More specifically, the objective was to measure and compare airborne contaminants (NH3, H2S, bioaerosols) and odor concentrations and intensities among three rural communities considered to be in a swine production area and three communities not considered to be within a swine production area. It was found that the low levels of NH3, H2S, odors, and bioaerosols measured in this study and the fact that these levels are below defined limits suggest that swine operation related emissions should not impact health in these communities at an animal
density of 151 AU/km2. Preliminary results from the questionnaires suggest a prevalence of symptoms (headaches, runny nose, cough, vomiting) even if there is no relationship between these symptoms and the odor concentration
measurements.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wagr20

Effect of graded levels of iron, zinc, and copper supplementation in diets with low-phytate or normal barley on growth performance, bone characteristics, hematocrit volume, and zinc and copper balance of young swine

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of a LPA barley mutant (M) cultivar M955 compared with the corresponding normal barley (NB) cultivar to increase the utilization of Fe, Zn, and Cu in barley-SBM diets fed to growing swine. The response criteria were pig growth performance, hematocrit volume, metacarpal bone characteristics, and the apparent absorption, retention, and excretion of Zn and Cu. It was found that replacing NB with the LPA barley cultivar M955 in the current experiment did not increase the utilization of Fe, Zn, and Cu in practical diets for
young swine, apparently because of the small increase in the availability of the endogenous trace minerals in the diets containing M955 compared with NB. However, for the TM treatments, there were linear increases in growth performance, metacarpal bone ash and strength, hematocrit volume, and Zn and Cu absorption, retention, and excretion (mg/d) with increasing concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Cu provided as FeSO4, ZnSO4, and CuSO4, with the greatest treatment concentration providing 100% of the NRC (1998) requirement for Fe and Zn, and 160% of the requirement for Cu. These results indicate that the inorganic trace mineral supplementation should not be less than the NRC (1998) requirements for young swine.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/

GOAL: Producing More Quality Pigs

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

As the pork industry strives to increase productivity in the form of more total pigs born, more attention must be focused on saving more quality pigs, emphasizes Tom Gillespie, DVM. Rensselaer (IN) Swine Services. More producers are striving and achieving 13-14 total liveborn pig/litter averages. But along with those double digit farrowing numbers come double digit pig preweaning losses. While not easy, Gillespie demonstrates in Figure 1 (page 19) how a
select group of producers representing 8,000 sows managed to take total pigs born per litter from 11.5 to over 13
across a 15-year period. At the same time, average preweaning mortality was kept at or below a very respectable
7%, and just 5% for 2007 and 2008.

Interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight in growing-finishing swine: II. Fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

This study tested the interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight on the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat. It was concluded that the fat source included in swine diets was responsible for the fatty acid compositional changes in subcutanrous fat, yet the results of this study indicate that feeding 5% soybean oil dramatically increased the polyunsaturation of subcutaneous fat within the first 17.4 kg of birthweight gain.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/

Transportation Audits: Industry-Driven Accountability

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

Powerpoint presentation, presented at the 2009 Livestock Transportation Conference. Includes, information on the total system approach, why we need transportation audits, and transportation audits criteria.

Effect of dietary supplementation of n-3 fatty acids and elevated concentrations of dietary protein on the performance of sows

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of n-3 fatty acids (O3FA) with or without elevated concentrations of protein on the performance of sows during the first and the subsequent parity. Results indicated that O3FA alone during lactation improved the growth of nursing piglets, regardless of parity. However, the O3FA diet, with or without elevated protein, did not affect first-parity gestation performance, although O3FA alone may have improved piglet birth weight in the subsequent litter.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/

Population dynamics of swine influenza virus in farrow-to-finish and specialised finishing herds in the Netherlands

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

In a longitudinal study on 14 farrow-to-finish herds and 15 finishing herds, groups of pigs were followed by repeatedly testing the same animals for antibodies against all three influenza virus subtypes (H1N1, H3N2 and H1N2). It was found that for all three subtypes, the incidence of influenza virus infections was highest at the beginning of the finishing period in farrow-to-finish herds, while the incidence of influenza virus infections was highest at the end of the finishing period in finishing herds.

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

Effects of exposing pigs to moving and odors in a simulated slaughter chute

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

This study sought to determine the effects of minimal training and a novel odor/taste reward on the ease of handling finishing pigs in a novel environment. Pigs were assigned to one of four treatments: training and odor exposure at the barn or not (trained or non-trained, respectively) and provision or not of maple syrup in the simulated pre-stun area of a slaughter plant (reward or no reward, respectively). Trained pigs were let out of their home pens and onto a trailer for 10 min/d for 10 d and could chew on maple syrup soaked flags. Non-trained pigs were not handled or exposed to maple syrup. It was found that pigs that were allowed to exercise out of their home pen and were given access to an odor/taste reward moved faster and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was decreased when exposed to a novel environment
containing the same odor/taste reward.

For more information the full article can be found at http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/applan/issues

Effects of culture media and inhibitors on biology of porcine early embryonic development in vitro

Posted in: Production by admin on | No Comments

The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) whether PZM-3 or NCSU-23 better support porcine embryonic development, 2) the transcript levels of BAX and BCL2L1 genes in porcine blastocysts, and 3) effects of inhibiting transcription and translation on porcine early embryogenesis. It was concluded that use of PZM-3 as a porcine embryo culture medium could better promote embryonic development than NCSU-23. No significant differences of the BAX and BCL2L1 genes expression were detected in blastocysts generated from PZM-3 and NCSU-23 media. In addition, EGA might not be necessary for the porcine embryos cleavage; however, mRNA translations might be important for both porcine embryos cleavage and blastocysts formation. In addition, more fundamental research on mechanisms responsible for porcine early embryonic development should be studied.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci