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Industry Partners
Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Organic Food and Farming Certification
Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 2009 | No Comments
In June 2009 the Canadian government published the Organic Products Regulation to regulate organic certification in Canada for organic products. Details on this new regulation are available on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Canadian Organic Office website and at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2009/2009-06-24/html/sor-dors176-eng.html. The new regulation will be implemented on June 30, 2009.
Competing in the International Pork Market
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On June 5, 2008, the provincial government unveiled the long-term strategy and announced an investment of $356 million to stabilize and strengthen Alberta’s livestock industry through the transition toward a new competitive model. This strategy also unveiled mandatory traceability and the development of a new Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA). Recognizing that producers are aware of the need to target a product that consumers are prepared to pay a fair price for, open access to these markets and consumers is essential. Production and processing are dependent not only on access to affordable feed grain; regulatory requirements; labor costs and availability; technology adoption and management expertise, but also on investment dollars. ALMA has recognized the need to attract investment into Alberta, particularly from end-users overseas who may have an interest in further integrating their supply chain with a Canadian supply capability. ALMA is still very much in the organization-building stage. We are anticipating full incorporation by January 2009 and to be operational as an independent entity by April 1, 2009. In preparation, we have been in discussion with industry to further align marketing, supply chain and research strategies. Programs for supply chain development, including automation and product development, should be ready to roll out with the new fiscal year.
Comparison of Immune Cell Recruitment and Function in Endometrium During Development of Epitheliochorial (Pig) and Hemochorial (Mouse and Human) Placentas
Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on September 30, 2008 | No Comments
The role of maternal immune cells in early implantation sites has received special attention from reproductive biologists because immune cells participate in tissue transplant rejection. During normal pregnancy, endometrial immune cells differ from those in blood by subset distribution and appear to be activated but non-destructive of conceptuses. The immune system evolved well before placental mammals. By comparing the regulation and functions of endometrial immune cells between species in two phylogenetic clades that model differently evolved placental types (pig (Sus scrofa) versus mouse (Mus musculus) and human (Homo sapiens)), we seek to understand how ‘‘non-self’’ trophoblast cells
thrive in most pregnancies. Our studies suggest recruitment of specific immune cells to conceptusassociated endometrium and immune cell-promoted endometrial angiogenesis are of key importance for mammalian conceptus well-being.
Nutritional Management of the Gilt for Lifetime Productivity – Feeding for Fitness or Fatness?
Posted in: Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on April 3, 2008 | No Comments
Sows have the potential to produce 60-70 pigs in their life, but their actual numbers are often only half that due to premature culling. The main reasons for earlier culling are reproductive failure and lameness. Improving sow longevity decreases the size of the replacement gilt pool needed, and results in improved overall financial return. Breeding recommendations will often suggest waiting until gilts reach a certain weight and/or fatness before first breeding, with the idea that fat gilts will have sufficient body stores to be successful through pregnancy and lactation. While some studies suggest increased lifetime liveborn numbers with increased backfat, many other studies have failed to identify any correlation between fatness and lifetime reproductive success. Improved fitness may be a better way to avoid early culling, and body condition scores are useful to assess fitness. Contrary to popular belief, BCS are generally gauges of musculature rather than fat, except for very over conditioned sows. Proper BCS, and proper management when sows are outside the acceptable range, can help prevent reduced reproductive performance. Lameness is a major reason for culling, and may contribute to reduced reproductive performance and other health issues. High BCS and rapid weight gain can add to a predisposition for lameness. However, certain management strategies can help reduce the prevalence of lameness in a herd. Flooring with a bedding material like straw, and reducing slip risks can help prevent injuries. As well, a significant change in flooring between gilt rearing and breeding areas can lead to increased foot and leg injuries in gilts. Finally, one other factor that may affect gilt performance is air quality, specifically ammonia levels. Different management strategies to improve gilt fitness and reduce lameness can help increase longevity and improve lifetime reproductive performance in sow.
Forgotten Diseases
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The widespread impact of PCVAD and PRRS results in other diseases sometimes being overlooked in the present day. One of these diseases is coccidian, which has the potential for a long-term impact on growth and performance. There is no longer a treatment available on the market, and benchmarking, control, and treatment should be explored. Post weaning diarrhea can be caused by several pathogens, and one of these is E. coli. A more virulent strain appeared in the 1990s, and although research started on treatment it did not continue. PCVAD weakens the immune system and allows otherwise low-infectious pathogens to infect the host. The increased infection rate by these “sui-cide” pathogens could also partially be due to a genetic defect in the modern hog’s immune system. Swine influenza has also re-emerged after triple reassortments of H3N2 were found in swine herds in 2005, and vaccination or prevention are difficult due to the constantly evolving nature and multiple strains of influenza. One of the main public health concerns is salmonellosis that is commonly found in barns, but other pathogens like E. coli and Campylobacter have also been found. Monitoring of diseases is important to track changes in herd health and herd or public risks.
Principles of Health Management
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Limiting disease introduction and spread within a herd can be achieved by using four principles. The first principle is to understand the disease by knowing as much as possible about things like how it spreads, how long it stays in the environment, under which conditions it thrives etc. Also part of this principle is keeping track of what it is doing in the herd, and this can include monitoring and diagnostic testing. The second principle is to keep away new diseases, or new sources of the same disease. This relies on good biosecurity, and even the best barn will have areas they can improve. Thirdly, replacement management can reduce disease transmission. Ensuring gilts have a strong immunity before breeding will help reduce the possibility of spreading disease to their litter. Having gilts enter the herd earlier, closing the herd, purchasing gilts that have been exposed and developed immunity to certain pathogens, like Mycoplasma, and purchasing gilts from PRRS-negative herds can all help depending on the specific barn conditions they are entering. Finally, good husbandry and management protocol dedicated to reducing transmission can help reduce the impact of a disease.
Pulling the Pin on Disease
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on April 1, 2008 | No Comments
When a new disease enters the herd there are indirect costs from increased mortality and decreased performance, and direct costs from treatment or vaccines. The effectiveness of a treatment or vaccine should be considered, and certain ones can bring additional risks as well. If things are not improving, the barn should be examined by someone outside (veterinarian, feed representative etc.), advisors and spreadsheets should be used to see costs and make decisions, and the producer should set an expense point that will not be crossed.
Optimum Pig Flows
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Producing the right number of pigs will optimize performance, but the number varies from barn to barn. Producing the maximum number of pigs possible is not always the most profitable strategy, as lighter nursery pigs are not desirable when feed costs are high. As well, the temperature and season will affect reproduction and weight gain, and numbers might need to be altered. Maintaining good herd health helps keep good growth and mortality rates, and can be achieved by strict biosecurity protocols and monitoring gilt and semen sources. A decision on what to do with a sick pig should be made quickly, and in some cases it might be more cost effective to destroy it rather than culling.
Managing Pig Flow – Considerations as a Buyer of Weaned Pigs
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The US has increased its purchasing of Canadian weaned pigs, so understanding what wean-finish producers want from a supplier is necessary to maintain or increase the demand. The producers want pigs of a known genetic source, known health, older age, large lot sizes, minimum defective and rejected pigs on arrival, and possible a more flexible arrival time.
Control of Salmonella in the Pork Production Chain
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Salmonellosis is a prevalent food borne illness in North America, and can be spread through pork products. Slaughter and processing plants have decreased the risk of contamination, and this may soon be true for processors and packers as well. There are still few practical solutions for controlling Salmonella in live swine herds. One way to reduce Salmonella is to reduce human entrance, and to improve hygiene/biosecurity for those that do enter the barn. Environmental contamination can be improved by more stringent cleaning and sanitizing protocols. It has been suggested that an all-in all-out system should reduce contamination, but studies on the subject show contradictory results with no clear answer. Feed can be contaminated with Salmonella as well, however the contamination strain often isn’t the one associated with human illness, or even swine seropositive results. Season and temperature can impact Salmonella prevalence, and cold-stressed nursery and heat-stressed market pigs are at higher risk to carry Salmonella. Use of a vaccine and therapeutic levels of chlortetracycline appear to have little effect. Overall, no clear method for controlling on-farm Salmonella has been documented yet.