Potassium diformate in the diet of reproducing sows: Effect on performance of sows and litters

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This study questioned whether the addition of K-diformate to sow diets also would improve performance of sows and suckling piglets. The objective of this study was therefore to establish whether there is a beneficial effect of
using K-diformate in sow diets on body condition of sows, growth performance of piglets, nutrient digestibility, sow milk composition, and microbiota in sow feces. It was found that supplementing sow diets with K-diformate increased
backfat thickness of sows during gestation, increased digestibility of fat, ash, and content of estimated energy of diets during lactation, and increased birth weight and weaning weight of piglets. K-diformate supplemented diets did not affect the microbial population in the gastro-intestinal tract of the sows. Tendencies towards increased milk fat content of sows fed K-diformate require further evaluation.

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

Differential growth and development of pigs as assessed by X-ray computed tomography

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The purpose of this study was to quantify and mathematically describe the differential growth and development of body components of live pigs. Linear and non-linear models were developed to evaluate the patterns of growth and development of each body component realtive to the computed tomography (CT) BW. The results of this study indicate that the nonlinear (e.g. augmented allometric and generalized nonlinear) functions provided better descriptions of the growth and development of most body components of the live pig than did the simpler (e.g., linear and allometric) models.

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

Amino acid supplementation of hydrolyzed feather meal diets for finisher pigs

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This study determines the possibility of replacing soybean meal (SBM) in finisher pig diets completely with hydrolyzed feather meal (FM). It was concluded that the corn-FM diets were not as effective as the corn-SBM diet when it can to BW gain of finisher pigs. The results indicated that pigs fed the corn-FM diet supplemented with the necessary amino acids can utilize feed and amino acids for birthweight gain and lean gain as efficiently as those fed the corn-SBM diet.

For the full text please subscribe to the Journal of Animal Science

Dietary fiber for pregnant sows: Influence on sow physiology and performance during lactation

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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding sows a bulky diet during gestation on their physiological and metabolic adaptations during the peripartum period, and to determine how these effects may relate to sow and piglet performances. It was found that the greater appetite of lactating sows fed a high fiber diet during gestation does not seem related to changes in glucose and insulin metabolism and may be partly due to decreased secretion of leptin. The greater feed consumption was accompanied by a faster growth rate of piglets without sparing effect on maternal body reserves.

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

The pig CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) gene and association of its microsatellite polymorphism with production traits

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The cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) gene is a candidate gene that may affect performance and body composition traits in the pig. The purpose of this study was to establish the chromosomal localization and genomic sequence of the porcine CART gene, search for polymorphism and analyse its phenotypic effect in 644 pigs representing
two breeds, Polish Large White (PLW) and Polish Landrace (PL), and a synthetic line 990 (L990). The study confirmed that chromosome region harbouring the CART gene is a promising quantitative trait loci for pig production traits.

For more information the full article can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1439-0388/issues

Body composition and muscle glycogen contents of piglets of sows fed diets differing in fatty acids profile and contents

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It was hypothesised that the glycogen stores in newborn piglets will be depleted faster in light piglets than in heavy
piglets and that there might be differences regarding composition or relative organ sizes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of level and type of fat in diets for pregnant sows on the typical newborn piglet body composition, proportional organ size and muscle glycogen, and to compare with the extremes regarding body weight in the same litter at one day of age. It was found that the incorporation of fat into the diet during gestation does
not affect piglet body measurements; the present data provide additional information on the depletion of energy
reserves. The decline in muscle glycogen during the immediate postnatal period emphasizes the importance to the
neonatal piglet of an early external energy source. It would appear that sow dietary fat has relatively little effect on
progeny although the fatty acid composition in piglets should be determined.

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

Carefully planning manure management

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A new large-scale hog operation in North Dakota has carefully planned out its manure management program, and has addressed local concerns in the process. Owner Bruce Gibbens began building the $4 million operation two years ago. Elite Swine Inc contracts Dakota Country Swine LLP to raise and ship its pigs, totaling over 70,000 annually. Knowing up front that 20,000 hogs would be on the site at any one time allowed Gibbens to plan an effective manure
management system. Mikkelsen Construction out of Langdon, ND installed the system at the same time the buildings were being constructed.

Variety of manure management practices

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Due to the size and dispersed nature of its facilities, the Heimerl
hog operation in Ohio uses a variety of manure management
practices—from manure injection to a traveling irrigation gun, to
do the job right. In terms of the timing of application, Heimerl says they avoid
spreading on weekends to keep good relations with neighbors and
pay extra attention to water quality issues and application rates. When attempting to maintain a hog production business with
people
crowding in all around you, it takes an operation of this caliber to
successfully avoid the health and public relations nightmares that
can sometimes develop when city folk get an itch to move to the
country.

Biosecurity in Swine Production: Widespread concerns?

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Biosecurity can be defined as procedures, efforts and programmes established to reduce the risk of disease introduction into pig populations (Conner, 2001). Moreover, it can slow down the transmission of endemic pathogens (viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi) thus limiting the spread of disease at the herd, region or country level. Good herd biosecurity is therefore essential to protect herd health status but it is also important when implementing a program for control or eradication of diseases at a regional level.

Feed ingredients differing in fermentable fibre content affect nitrogen excretion and fermentation metabolites in weaned pigs

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An experiment was conducted with 64 weaned pigs (24 kg) to evaluate the
effect of different fibre sources on N excretion and the fermentation
metabolites produced in the gastrointestinal tract. The diets were balanced in
energy and amino acids with soy protein isolate, pea starch, sucrose and a
premix and supplemented with wheat bran, cellulose, peas, pea hulls, pea
inner fibre, sugar beet pulp, flaxseed meal (FSM) or corn DDGS, as fibre
sources. Fecal samples were collected for 3 consecutive days from d10 and
pigs were slaughtered on d16. Digesta from ileum and colon were collected
and analyzed for their short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and ammonia content.
When wheat bran was the reference ingredient, the total tract N digestibility
was lower with FSM and DDGS (72 and 74% respectively) and higher in pea
hulls (81%) and pea inner fibre (79%). This, in turn affected the amount of
faecal N excreted, the latter being higher with FSM and DDGS (280 and 262
g/kg N intake respectively). The pea- and pea hull-based diets had higher
SCFA at the ileum level, while no difference in SCFA concentration was observed among diets in the
colon. Higher ammonia concentration was also found in the colon of pigs fed
with peas, pea hulls, FSM and DDGS, which might adversely affect the pig’s
gut environment.