Perceptions, regulations and cost: A look at the key questions

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Powerpoint presentation, presented at the 2009 Animal Transportation Conference.

Duration of feeding linseed diet influences expression of inflammation-related genes and growth performance of growing-finishing barrows

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The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary linseed (rich in n-3 PUFA) on expression of inflammation-related genes and on growth performance of growing-finishing barrows. Two isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated, one as the basal diet and the other containing 10% linseed. Twenty-four Landrace ~ Yorkshire barrows weighing 35 } 3.7 kg were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups, with 6 pigs per group. During the entire experimental period of 90 d, these 4 groups of pigs were first fed the basal diet and then fed the linseed diet for 0, 30,
60, and 90 d before slaughter, respectively. Pig growth; messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-ƒÁ (PPARƒÁ), IL-1ƒÀ0, IL- 6, and tumor necrosis factor-ƒ¿ (TNF-ƒ¿); and plasma concentrations of the 3 proinflammatory cytokines were measured and analyzed. Average daily feed intake did not differ among treatment groups (P > 0.05), but ADG (P < 0.05) and G:F (P < 0.01) responded quadratically to the duration of linseed diet feeding, and pigs in the 60-d treatment group had the greatest ADG and G:F. The mRNA expression of PPARƒÁ in loin muscle
and spleen increased linearly (P < 0.01) with the duration of linseed diet feeding, whereas its expression in adipose tissue was not affected (P = 0.095). Tumor necrosis factor-ƒ¿ and IL-6 mRNA expression in muscle, adipose, and spleen, as well as serum concentration of TNF-ƒ¿, decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with the duration of linseed diet feeding. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-ƒÁ mRNA abundance was negatively correlated with IL-1ƒÀ, IL-6, and TNF-ƒ¿ mRNA abundance both in muscle (R2 = 0.63, P < 0.001) and in spleen (R2 = 0.69, P < 0.001), and PPARƒÁ mRNA expression in spleen (R2 = 0.59, P < 0.01) and muscle (R2 = 0.52, P < 0.05) was negatively correlated with serum TNF-ƒ¿ concentration. There were also significant quadratic relations between ADG and expression of PPARƒÁ (P <
0.05) and splenic TNF-ƒ¿ (P < 0.05). These data suggest that intake of n-3 PUFA from the linseed diet led to significant decreases in the expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes, which may stimulate growth in growing-finishing barrows, at least in part, through a PPARƒÁ-dependent mechanism.

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

The relationship between infectious and non-infectious herd factors with pneumonia at slaughter and productive parameters in fattening pigs

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This paper explores the relationship between infectious and non-infectious herd factors with the occurrence of pneumonia at slaughter and productive parameters in fattening pigs on 39 fattening herds. A questionnaire was used to obtain environmental and management factors (non-infectious factors). Blood samples and lungs were obtained from 35 pigs in each herd at slaughter. Serological testing was performed for antibodies against three respiratory pathogens (infectious factors): porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh) and Aujeszky’s disease Virus-gE protein (ADV-gE). Lung lesion classifications were catarrhal- purulent bronchopneumonia (CPBP), pleuropneumonia (PLP) and pleuritis. A mean lesion value (MLV) was calculated for each
lesion. ANOVA and logistic regression assessed statistical associations among MLV, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (dependent variables) with infectious and non-infectious factors (independent variables). Mh vaccination was associated with a significant decrease in CPBP; high Mh seroprevalences was associated with an increased level of CPBP. FCR was negatively related with high seroprevalences for ADV-gE and Mh. No significant associations were seen for ADG.

For more information the full article can be found at  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10900233

Dietary supplementation with Acanthopanax senticosus extract enhances gut health in weanling piglets

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It is hypothesized that dietary supplementation with Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) may enhance gut health in weanling piglets. This hypothesis was tested by determining the frequency of diarrhea, intestinal microbiota and morphology in weanling piglets on day 21 after the initiation of dietary supplementation with ASE. It was found that dietary supplementation with ASE effectively increased villus height in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, and decreased crypt depth in the gut, which resulted in a decreased incidence of diarrhea, compared with the control group.
These findings suggest that ASE as a dietary additive could enhance gut health by regulating the microbiota composition
and maintaining a normal morphology in weanling piglets, thereby decreasing the incidence of diarrhea resulting from
weaning stress.

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

Lysine requirement for maintenance in growing pigs

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Probably due to methodological problems the knowledge about the AA requirement for maintenance in pigs is rather scarce. In the present study an alternative experimental approach was applied and its underlying hypothesis was tested, whether protein retention decreases with body weight (BW), when daily lysine intake remains constant and acts as the limiting factor for protein retention, and whether this decrease reflects the increasing requirement of lysine for maintenance. If this hypothesis can be confirmed, lysine requirement for maintenance can be calculated when assuming a certain value for lysine concentration in body protein, since marginal efficiency of dietary lysine utilisation for protein retention is not affected by its level of intake (when being below the level necessary for maximum response), BW, protein retention capacity of the animal nor by energy intake. A series of N balances experiments using twelve castrated male pigs were performed at approximately 35, 55, 80, 110, and 140 kg of BW and body composition was determined by the D2O dilution technique. Two lysine intake levels were tested to prove that the animals on the lower level respond to additional lysine and, therefore, have received a lysine-limiting diet, the prerequisite for the alternative. Based on the extent of the decrease in protein retention with BW the following estimates for the maintenance lysine requirement
were derived: 18 mg/kg BW, 71 mg/kg BW0.75, 29 mg/kg fat free substance, and 121 mg/kg body protein. These estimates are higher than values reported in the literature, which might be caused by methodological differences or by the higher feed intake of the animals in the present study.

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

Caring for livestock during transport: Truckers, producers and industry talk the issues

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International developments and new opportunities for collaboration were showcased at
the Livestock Transport Conference, Jan. 29, in Calgary, Alta. The conference, themed
“Are we there yet?” was hosted by Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) and the National
Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). The .pdf below is a collection of key comments from Livestock Transport Conference
presentations. Articles on many of the presentations are available on the Certified
Livestock Transport Web site.

Profit Sensitivities to Feed Price and Pig Price with Varying Production Levels

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Levels of production in a farrow to finish operation have significant impact on
the bottom line under two of the four scenarios we have analyzed. From our
observations, we have demonstrated that when the revenue per hog is below that of a variable cost structure, the advantages of chasing reduced fixed cost
are eliminated. When revenue does not cover variable costs, the advantages
of gained in fixed cost savings through high output are quickly eroded, and
this situation promotes financial losses. This would suggest that maintaining
high pig production levels during any combination of feed cost level or any
type of pig price level is not always the best option for the bottom line. Our
model has shown that there are significant disadvantages to maintaining
constant high production during periods of low pig prices/high feed costs and
low pig prices/low feed costs in a farrow to finish operation. It is impossible to show all scenarios and the reality is that each farm has its
own. We have tried to keep a simple approach by showing the relationships
among fixed and variable costs, and productivity and income, in a few
scenarios.

Protein turnover in lactating sows

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Lactation demands a very high input of energy and protein for the production
of milk. It is difficult for sows to consume enough dietary energy to support
lactation and, thus, sows are forced use body tissue reserves. However,
excess catabolism of body protein for energy and amino acids is undesirable
for the productivity and longevity of sows. Protein turnover and energy
metabolism was simultaneously measured in sows on d 7 and 17 of lactation. It was found that their was a higher dietary intake of energy and protein on d 17 which reduced both whole body protein breakdown
and protein synthesis. This higher dietary energy intake on d 17 (13.4 MJ/d) was entirely accounted for by milk energy output (13.8 MJ/d). Also as energy and protein intake increased in these sows, it was
used almost exclusively for milk production. Milk energy production on d 17
was supported almost entirely by dietary energy intake. Nearly 100% of the
dietary protein intake was utilized for milk production in late lactation.

Growth performance of pigs fed on diets containing Acacia karroo, Acacia nilotica and Colophospermum mopane leaf meals

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Studies in which leaf meals have been included in the diet of pigs have shown that inclusion
levels of up to 10 % lead to weight gains and feed conversion efficiencies that are superior to
conventional control diets (D’Mello 1995). However, most studies have shown that inclusion of
leaf meals may increase growth rate but depress feed conversion efficiency (Ravindran 1993;
Halimani et al 2005). Most of the studies have assessed the response of the pigs over relatively
short periods (Halimani et al 2005; Leterme et al 2005). The objectives of the study were to
investigate the growth performance, feed intake, digestibility, production of salivary proline rich
proteins and indices of mitosis in the small intestine, liver and the kidneys in pigs fed on diets
containing 10 % Acacia karroo, Acacia nilotica and Colophospermum mopane over a 56-day
fattening period taking pigs to market weight. The hypothesis to be tested was that inclusion of
10 percent leaf meal in pig diets had no effect on growth performance. It is concluded that feeding leaf meals at low (10%) inclusion levels in the diet of pigs leads to a depression in digestibility of nutrients, an increase in endogenous protein secretion and an increase in the activity of liver enzymes. Also, inclusion of leaf meals in the fattening diets of pigs did not reduce growth rate and is, therefore, a potentially feasible technology that farmers can include in their pig production strategies.

Drinker to Nursery Pigs Ratio: Effects on Drinking Behavior and Performance

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The effect of cup waterer to pig ratio was evaluated to determine changes on nursery pig drinking behavior and performance in 7-week-old gilts. Pigs were housed 25 per pen and allotted 0.22 m2/pig in a nursery facility located in central Missouri. Pen was the experimental unit with 3 pens per treatment group. Ratios of 1:25 (Treatment 1), 1:12 (Treatment 2), and 1:8 (Treatment 3) were studied. Pigs were individually identified and their drinking behavior was videotaped on November 15–16, 2006, for subsequent behavioral quantification and statistical analysis.
A pig was defined as drinking when the head was over the drinker for at least 5 consecutive seconds. Treatment 3 pigs drank significantly more frequently (13.88 &#729; 0.84 in 6 hr) than those provided with 1 or 2 cup waterers per pen
(10.32 &#729; 0.95 and 10.60 &#729; 0.84 respectively; p D .0209). There was a trend (p D .06) for pigs provided 2 or 3 cup waterers per pen to have increased average daily gain compared with those provided a single drinker. This study
demonstrated that when pigs were offered more places to drink they visited the water bowl drinker more frequently during a 6-hr period, which tended to increase average daily gain in nursery-age pigs. Although further research is
needed to confirm these findings, a nursery providing a ratio closer to published guidelines may lead to increased performance.