Crowding Effects on Performance on Fully and Partially Slatted Floors
A major issue for animal welfare is floor space allowance. Space requirements may vary with housing conditions for maximum growth. More total floor area is needed for pigs on partially slatted floors compared to fully slatted floors according to the Code of Practice though research...
The Dose Response to Phytase Inclusion in Diets for Growing Swine
Phytic acid is the main source of phosphorus in oilseeds and grains in swine diets but is unavailable to pigs and is therefore excreted. Diet cost is increased by adding inorganic phosphorus to pig diets to meet the dietary requirements. The amount of available phosphorus...
Pre-Planned Segregation: The Effect of Grouping by Weight at Weaning on Variability in Body Weight at Nursery Exit
A critical issue for pork farmers is variability as it has been estimated to cost $3.41 per pig at market due to sort losses and an extra $1.25 per pig sold due to reduced barn utilization. Pre-planned segregation (PPS) is an option for managing variability....
Variation in Pig Performance: Can We Do Anything About It?
Loss of revenue at market and reduced barn utilization can be attributed largely to variation. Variation has two major categories: genetic and environmental. Environmental effects may be exposure to pathogens, access to resources such as water and food, as well as behavioural challenges. Some approaches...
Starch Content and in Vitro Digestibility of Barley and Wheat Samples Differing in Fibre Content
Wheat and barley have a large variation of DE content in Western Canada. This is caused by digestibility of energy changes. Cereal grains' main source of energy is starch, though the content differs among different samples. Fibre has the largest impact on changes in energy...
Voluntary Feed Intake and Growth Performance between Grower Pig Diets Containing Mustard Meal or Canola Meal
A valuable ingredient for the swine industry may be mustard meal, though concern exists regarding voluntary feed intake of this diet. Canola meal and mustard meal diets with a 15% inclusion rate were studied for 28 days. A 5% better growth performance and a 2.5%...
Effect of Wheat Sample, Particle Size and Xylanase Supplementation on Energy Digestibility of Wheat Fed to Grower Pigs
Changes in energy digestibility cause a wide variation in DE content of wheat in western Canada. This variability can affect pig performance. Supplementing enzymes with xylanase and reducing particle size may increase energy digestibility and reduce variation. Both of these procedures resulted in a partially...
Effect of Barley Sample, Particle Size and Enzyme Supplementation on Energy Digestibility of Barley Fed Grower Pigs
Variation in nutritional values of barley may lead to alterations of pig performance. Changes in energy digestibility cause variation in the DE content of barley. Some processing procedures may reduce this variation, including reduced particle size and enzyme supplementation. Enzyme supplementation did not increase energy...
Digestible Energy Content of Low Quality Barley Fed to Pigs
Western Canadian barley has a large range regarding DE content. DE content should be known in order to accurately formulate diets, minimize feed costs and reach a predictable swine performance. Equations were developed to predict the DE content of low quality barley using chemical and...
Soluble and Insoluble Non-Starch Polysaccharides on Nutrient Digestibility and Ileal Bacteria Populations in Grower Pigs
Fermentation of material in the gut may change from soluble (guar gum) and insoluble (cellulose) non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) influencing gut bacteria populations. Available nutrients and energy for the pig are reduced when fibre in their diet increases. Ileal bacterial populations and energy digestibility were studied...