Interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight in growing-finishing swine: III. Carcass and fatty acid compositions

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Crossbred pigs were used to test the interactive effects of dietary fat source and slaughter weight on dissected carcass composition and fatty acid composition of composite carcass samples. It was found that the fat source did not alter pork primal cut yields, nor were the percentages of carcass muscle, fat and bone affected by dietary fat source. However, percentages of the whole shoulder and ham decreased linearly and the percentages of loin and belly increased. Therefore, it was concluded that dietary fat source did not affect carcass composition; however, including 5% soybean oil in swine diets increased the polyunsaturation of pork, which could lead to economic ramifications associated with soft pork and pork fat.

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

Transport Benchmark Study

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Powerpoint presented at the 2009 Livestock Transportation Conference.

Genetic parameters for performance traits in commercial sows estimated before and after an outbreak of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

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Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV), is globally the most economically important disease in commercial pigs, and novel control strategies are sought. This paper explores the potential to use host genetics to decrease the impact of PRRS on reproductive sows. The conclusions of this research is that there are within-breed genetic variation for commercially relevant traits that could be expoited in future breeding programs against PRRSV infection. Selection for PRRS resistance would be desirable to the industry because effective control measures remain elusive.

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

Clostridium perfringens beta-toxin targets endothelial cells in necrotizing enteritis in piglets

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To investigate localization of CPB in naturally occurring necrotizing enteritis, we evaluated 52 piglets with spontaneously acquired C. perfringens type C enteritis and 14 control animals by immunohistochemistry. It was concluded that the pathogenesis of C. perfringens type C induced necrotizing enteritis involves binding of CPB to endothelial cells in the small intestine during the early phase of the disease.

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

β-defensins gene expression in tissues of the crossbred and Tibetan pigs

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Chinese Tibetan pigs are a special Chinese indigenous pig breed, which are distributed in high-altitude areas of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with cold climate. They are raised on pasture all year round (Cheng, 1984). Their immunity and disease resistance are very strong; however the mechanism is not yet studied until now. It was hypothesized that these characteristics may be related to the higher expression of β-defensin genes. It was determined that gene expression for BD-1, 2 and 3 of Tibetan pigs and crossbred pigs and found characteristic expression patterns for three β-defensins, and compared three β-defensins gene expression in tissues between the two breeds. It was found that pBD-1 and 3 had higher expression level in Tibetan pigs than those in crossbred pigs. But pBD-2 had lower expression level in Tibetan pigs than that in crossbred pigs. This could reflect a potential for upregulation of pBD-2 upon bacterial infection. The higher expression of pBD-1 and 3 might be a direct mechanism by which the Tibetan pigs have higher immunity and disease resistance than crossbred pigs. Therefore, pBD-2 may contribute to Tibetan pig’s immunity and disease resistance by other mechanism, which needs further research.

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

Influence of differing carbohydrate sources on L-tryptophan metabolism by porcine fecal microbiota studied in vitro

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It was the aim of this study to evaluate the effects of different types of carbohydrates on the metabolism of L-tryptophan to skatole and possible microbial mechanism involved using an in vitro system with pig fecal bacteria. The substrates investigated were selected according to their fermentability: sugar beet pulp (SBP) belonged to the potentially easily fermentative carbohydrates, while rye grass hay (RYE) and alfalfa hay (ALF) were chosen as fermentable fibre as grass fibre and legume family respectively. Besides, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) was used as positive contrast because of its known lowering effect on skatole production in vitro. It was found that Skatole production could be changed by the shifted microbial composition, which was closely related to different sources of carbohydrate. The SBP could be used as pig feed ingredient to inhibit microbial production of skatole. The results from this study provide a useful implication that bacteria C. disporicum DSM 5521 might play a role in the production of skatole.

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

Managing the manure professionally

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As one of the major pork producers in the US, Christensen
Family Farms has a lot of farms to over see and a lot of manure to
manage, which the company’s agronomy department does with a
high degree of professionalism. Regardless of the size and location, Schmitz and the four
other agronomists at Christensen are engaged in managing
manure and getting the most out of it—financially and land-wise.
“We market the manure and line up the custom applicator to
deliver the product,” Schmitz explains. “We basically manage the
manure all the way to the field. We work with what we call our
co-operators (farmers) on how to best manage the manure for
their cropping situation.”

Practical Control of Sow Feed Costs

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Feed efficiency is the sum of a many variables that include but are not
exhausted by such areas as feed ingredients used, formulation of ingredients,
genetics and management practices. It is beyond the scope of this short paper
to discuss all and every aspect of the management/feed cost interaction
therefore, the purpose of this paper is to look at the practical management of
the gilt and sow on farm and specifically those management practices that can
and do have an impact on feed efficiency. The information contained herein is
a collection both of experiences, and public and PIC in-house research. The five main aspects to the management/feed cost interaction is watch body condition closely, avoid fat and thin sows, calibrate feed boxes, maximize feed intake in lactation and don’t forget about the environment.

Threonine requirement of sows in early, mid and late gestation

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The THR requirement in early (35–53d),mid- (63-70d) and late (92–110d)
gestation was determined by indicator amino acid (IAAO) oxidation in six
second parity sows fed THR from 60 % to 150 % of NRC (1998) estimated
requirements. L[1-13C]phenylalanine was given orally at 30 min intervals for 8
meals and expired 13CO2 was quantified. The nonlinear Mixed model in SAS
was used to determine the THR requirement for each period by breakpoint
analysis. Plasma THR was also used to estimate requirement.
Sows responded differently to increasing levels of dietary THR in early and
late gestation. Preliminary breakpoint analysis resulted in a THR requirement
of 6.1 g/d in early gestation (R2=0.59), 7.0 g/d in mid gestation (R2=0.55) and
13.6 g/d in late gestation (R2=0.56). The THR requirement based on plasma
THR was 7.2 g/d (R2=0.90) in early gestation and 14.0 g/d (R2=0.76) in late
gestation. The current recommended THR intake during gestation is 10 g/d.

Hyaluronic acid in the female reproductive tract of the pig

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Uterine and oviductal samples were collected from twenty two primiparous
sows on their second estrus following weaning. Based on the timing of
ovulation determined by real-time ultrasound, samples were collected from a
minimum of three sows whose temporal reproductive status corresponded to
the germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase two (MII) stages of oocyte
maturation, and the 2-cell, 4-cell, early morula (8- to 16-cell), morula and
blastocyst stages of embryonic development. Each uterine horn was divided
into three equal length sections by ligature to represent the lower- (cervical),
mid- and upper (oviductal) sections of the horn. Warm PBS was then used to
flush each oviduct (5ml) and each section of the uterine horns (20 m).
Hyaluronic acid concentrations in flushings were determined using an HA
specific ELISA (Hyaluronan Duo Set, R&D systems) and the volume of each
flush was used to estimate total HA content (ng per flush). No differences
(P>0.05) in HA content were found between uterine sections at any stage of
gestation. HA content of uterine flushings decreased (P<0.0001) between the GV and 2-cell stages, and then steadily increased (P<0.001-0.01) through the morula and blastocyst stages of development.