A reverse vaccinology approach to swine dysentery vaccine development

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

This study aimed to use a reverse vaccinology approach to identify B. hyodysenteriae proteins for use as recombinant vaccine components. It was found that the pigs developed antibodies to the proteins, and following the experiment only one developed swine dysentery compared to five of nine non-vaccinated control pigs.

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

Measurement of pig claw pressure distribution

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The change in pressure distribution when an animal with claw problems tries to move leads to specific lesions at the claw sole, which tends to reach the soft tissue causing pain and lack of welfare. Older animals (finishing pigs and sows) are particularly subject to locomotion problems caused by claw injuries, as the use of fogging to reduce heat stress and close contact with urine and manure residues on the floor can reduce claw hardness. The objectives of this research were to simulate in laboratory, the static claw pressure distributions of pigs standing on a hard surface compared to rubber flooring; and to measure the dynamic effects in the field, using live animals with normal gait using a piezoelectric sensing device and to correlate the regions of the claw under most stress to the defects frequently found in commercial pig production. It was found that the rear outer claws are severely overloaded when compared to rear inner claws and front
claws (irrespective of digits) and that is associated with the reported pathologies found in the literature (cracks and sole
ulcers). Also, that applying cushioning through the use of rubber mattresses may reduce the overloading of claws, mostly the rear outer claws, and this may prevent defects from occurring.

For more information the full article can be found at  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15375110

Evaluation of recombinant Bhlp29.7 as an ELISA antigen for detecting pig herds with swine dysentery

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Diagnosis of Swine dysentery (SD) traditionally has relied on detecting the spirochaete in the faeces of acutely
affected pigs. To date simple and reliable serological assays that can be applied as a diagnostic tool at the herd level have not been available. In the current study a recombinant histidine tagged 29.7 kDa lipoprotein of B. hyodysenteriae (His6-Bhlp29.7) was used as an ELISA plate-coating antigen. It was found that when used on sets of 40 sera from slaughter-aged pigs the His6-Bhlp29.7 ELISA as established proved to be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of SD at the herd level.

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

Use of different cooling systems by pregnant sows in experimental pen

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Literature suggests that pregnant sows are able to select the types of cooling they prefer in the pen. This hypothesis was tested by comparing different cooling regimes. A fixed group of four pregnant sows was selected; six cycles of observations were carried out during summer. Inside the pen, four areas were selected and treated with different regimes; not cooled, cooled with an airstream, cooled with an airstream and water on the floor, and cooled with water on the floor. The use of the different areas by the sows was monitored in relation to air temperature and the temperature–humidity index [Ingram D L (1965). Evaporative cooling in the pig. Nature, 207, 415–416.].

The presence of the sows in the cooled areas became more important with increasing temperature. Below a temperature of 22°C, areas that were not cooled, or were cooled solely by an airstream, were favoured. The occupancy of the area that was solely cooled by an airstream tended to increase up to a temperature of 30°C, when the area cooled by
water and an airstream was favoured. The use of the solely water-cooled area increased with temperature, especially with high temperatures.

It was concluded that the behaviour of the sows, in terms of which area of the pen they occupied, was a function of air temperature. During the day, there appeared to be threshold temperatures above which sows moved to areas that they found more comfortable. 

For more information the full article can be found at  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15375110

The Science behind the Issues in Animal Welfare

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For most animal welfare concerns there is at least some degree of overlap among the different viewpoints. When measures arising from different viewpoints lead to the same conclusions it is much easier to reach consensus in interpretation. This is especially true when reduced productivity corresponds with other measures, since the evidence also provides economic incentive for alleviating a welfare concern. Most recommendations for floor space allowance for growing-finishing pigs, for example, are based on measures of productivity (Gonyou, et al 2006). However, productivity rates do not always correspond with other measures of welfare – for example when a lame sow who finds it painful to stand or walk delivers and weans a large, healthy litter of piglets. In many respects, intense selection for high levels of  production has created a mismatch between productivity and other aspects of biological fitness. For example, breeding sows have to be feed-restricted in order to maintain high reproductive rates, yet they show signs of chronic hunger on the diets commonly provided. There are also examples where selection for fast lean growth has also led to producing pigs that may be more aggressive, more difficult to handle or are more susceptible to handling stress. Disagreements
among the viewpoints, especially when different scientific measures conflict lead to the most contentious debates concerning animal welfare.

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus in swine under different breeding environment and abattoir in Beijing, China

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This study was to investigate the prevalence of HEV in pig herds under different breeding environment and in abattoirs
located in Beijing, China. The results of this study indicated that the prevalence of HEV in the pig herds were quite high. Additional public-health concerns might be placed on pork safety.

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

C-reactive protein quantification in porcine saliva: A minimally invasive test for pig health monitoring

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Study objectives were to investigate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) in pig saliva could be quantified using an adapted, timeresolved immunofluorometry assay (TR-IFMA), and to determine whether the assay could distinguish healthy from diseased animals. The test method had intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of 5.75% and 9.73%, respectively, the limit of detection was 0.47 ng/ mL and the coefficient of determination was 0.98. Analysis of CRP concentrations in paired serum and saliva samples from 50 pigs gave a positive correlation (r = 0.702, P < 0.01) and the salivary CRP concentration was able to distinguish healthy from diseased animals in 62 samples from pigs with naturally occurring or experimentally-induced inflammation. The results suggest that this minimally invasive, straightforward and sensitive assay may be useful in pig health and welfare monitoring.

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

Working Together for Responsible Animal Care

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Responsible animal care has many facets, including:
– Understanding what is animal welfare,
– Making sure we take care of basics needs,
– The laws and how they are enforced,
– Identifying what needs fixing and fixing it,
– Communicating with the public and consumer,
– Combining research and ethics,
– Making sure industry is at the table and providing input.

Working together means with your neighbor, community, fellow producers, other all livestock groups, regulators and those outside the industry. We have diversity within groups and often are challenged by the diversity within the livestock industry, let alone the chalenges of working with those outside the industry. in this paper the points above will be discussed and also examples will be given on how collective, cooperative actions advance animal care.

Balancing Sow and Piglet Welfare with Production Efficiency

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Welfare by admin on April 1, 2008 | No Comments

Due to welfare concerns for sows, several countries have adopted or are working towards loose housing. These systems can increase the sow welfare, but often require more management and piglet welfare/mortality should be examined as well. The welfare issues with housing sows in crates are physical and behavioural. The behavioural issues can result in oral stereotypies, but are not only due to housing conditions. Sows are restrictively fed leading up to farrowing to maintain stable body condition, and this can result in chronic hunger even though nutritional requirements are being met. Alternative systems to farrowing crates include outdoor housing, yards/kennels with floor feeding, yards with individual feeders, cubicles or free-access stalls, yards/kennels with short stall feeders, and electronic sow feeders. One of the problems with group housing is the social dynamic, especially as chronically hungry sows are prone to aggression. Sow aggression can result in varied body conditions within a herd, as dominant sows will monopolize feed if it is not carefully managed. Various feeding systems like ESF, or stall feeding can help prevent this, and frustration can be alleviated by providing bedding or foraging material. The economic challenge of group housing includes the initial installation costs, and the reproductive performance of sows. Social stress can affect reproductive performance, which is why sows are often housed in stalls for the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. However, with proper group and feeding management it is possible to achieve the same reproductive performance as stalls.

Alternative systems for farrowing and lactation housing include individual housing with reduced confinement (sow is able to turn around), group farrowing with individual huts, or a two stage system with increased space at lactation. Some of the welfare concerns with these systems are that movement and nesting behaviour is still restricted in individual housing, and aggression increases after farrowing when housed in groups. Economically, the increased space costs more, and studies show varied results for pre-weaning mortality. Non-crate farrowing systems increase piglet mortality due to crushing, but the sows tend to have larger litters and decreased mortalities from other causes. Studies have shown non-crate farrowing can achieve similar mortality rates to commercial levels, but they are still on the high end and more work would be needed before non-crate systems are suitable for commercial use. Proper management and design can make non-confinement housing feasible for gestating sows in commercial production, but additional research will need to be conducted on how to successfully transition to non-confinement farrowing and lactation housing on a commercial scale.

Developing the Animal Care Assessment

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The Canadian Pork Council developed the Animal Care Assessment (ACA) after international and domestic pressure proved it was needed. The UK was the first to adopt animal welfare guidelines, and Europe followed shortly after. In the US, retailers were increasing pressure on producers to provide welfare guidelines, and the industry responded by creating the Swine Welfare Assurance Program. Canada created the ACA shortly after, and set a minimum care point for producers based off of on-farm audits. However, the ACA is a voluntary program with no financial incentive. It is important for Canada to be seen as upholding high animal welfare standards in order to maintain its export market, and producers should see that the ACA will help Canada keep up with global change.