Focus on Feed Efficiency in Pork Production
Up to 70% of the variable cost of production can be attributed to feed. Having better feed efficiency can largely impact the feed cost per pig. Social, environmental, immunological and management scenarios should be considered when examining feed efficiency. The “Focus on Feed Efficiency” webinar...
Swine Innovation. What Does It Mean for Producers?
Swine Innovation Porc is designed to facilitate research, commercialization initiatives and technology transfer. The goal is to ensure measurable results and adoption of results in the Canadian pork industry. The Banff Pork Seminar provided results that may cut feeding costs by $8/pig marketed. There are...
Developing Strategies for Water Conservation for Producers
Water use can increase the overall production cost of swine operations through wastage and increase in manure slurry volume. Using water more efficiently can be beneficial both economically and environmentally. Water wastage was reduced by 60% when a trough with side panel and constant water...
Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulate the Immune Response of Pigs?
The most stressful time in a piglet’s life is weaning. The numerous amounts of stressors present contribute to the post-weaning growth lag which can lead to anorexia and immune reactions. Nutritional strategies may help improve performance when weaning, using techniques such as novel ingredients, highly...
Loading Facilities for Market Hogs: Saskatchewan’s Top 10
Loading facilities can result in longer loading times, increased incidence of rough handling and prod use if poorly designed. Stress associated with this can affect meat quality, carcass and also increase the amount of downer pigs and losses. Ten Saskatchewan barns were observed to see...
Motivated for Movement – What is the cost of sow exercise?
Preliminary sow performance measures suggest exercising stall-housed gestating sows for 10 minutes, once per week has minimal effects on the productivity of younger sows, but may have a positive effect on older parity sows - increasing the number of live born and reducing stillborns. With...
by
Ken Engele
Ideas to Fine Tune Your Operation
During these unprecedented times producers are challenged with maintaining operational efficiency and assessing external factors that directly impact their operations. By taking a inward approach we may be able to find little things that can positively impact the bottom line. As we start to find...
by
Ken Engele
Heart Health’s Potential Link to Early-life Nutrition
While researchers are well versed in the cardiovascular risks associated with a bad diet, a lack of exercise, and smoking, they’re still learning about another possible risk factor that could lead to poor cardiac health: what you consume in the first few weeks of your life. Dr. Daniel Columbus, an adjunct professor at the...
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Ken Engele
Pigs Consume more Water When Stressed
Two novel technologies consisting of an individual water consumption system (IWCS) and infrared thermography system (ITHS) were installed in a finishing room. The individual water consumption system (installed in each pen) was composed of a nipple drinker attached to a water flow meter, and an...
by
Ken Engele
Amino Acids Can Enhance Pig Robustness
Highlights Average daily gain and feed efficiency in diseased pigs may be improved by a combination of functional amino acids supplemented above requirements for growth Functional amino acids improved the immune response associated with Salmonella infection Bacterial shedding and intestinal colonization can be reduced by...
by
Ken Engele