Infrared Camera Could Keep Producers in the Black
A thermographic camera uses infrared radiation to form an image and may be able to detect diseased animals by identifying those who are losing heat. A single camera can be aimed at a pen and all animals in view would...
Good Things Come in 3D for Pork Researchers
3D vision systems can be used to rapidly and objectively assess hog carcass quality. The current evaluation system focuses on fat and lean carcasses, but the amount of each is not of too much importance, it’s the location of each...
On Farm Automation Takes Off
Collecting data is an important part of farming with trends moving towards precision farming, though it can be a time consuming process so new ways of doing this task are being looked into. Automation including 3D vision technology and individual...
Rapid PEDv Test Earns Top Marks
A faster, easier and cheaper method to detect Porcine Endemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) is being developed that uses a molecular diagnostic platform called the Accutas™. This test can be done on the farm with very fast results (1-2 hours) so...
Pork Quality: How to Assess without the Mess
New technology is being developed to help assess pork quality more efficiently. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shows promise with identifying water holding capacity, including meat colour, cooking loss and drip loss. Meat composition may also be able to be determined...
High Hopes for Hi-Tech Pork Research
New technology is being created to help the pork industry move forward through developing indicators of carcass value, welfare and performance. A few of these studies include developing a 3D vision system that can assess carcass value, using infrared cameras...
Cooling Systems for Pigs a Hot Topic
Transportation needs to be properly ventilated for pigs as they do not have sweat glands and often overheat which can be fatal. Most pig transport vehicles in Canada do not have a cooling system in place. Water misting systems can...
Researchers Get Testy with Airborne Pathogens
Airborne pathogens can occasionally elude biosecurity measures and are an economic burden for producers. Various filtration devices were tested on how effective they were at reducing the risk of airborne pathogens. A testing platform was built to evaluate different filter...
The Heat is On: Truck Wash System Dissolves Disease
The greatest vector for disease transfer in the swine sector is trucks. Cleaning trucks is expensive and labour intensive and is still a biosecurity hazard. A vacuum system prototype is being evolved to help vacuum contaminants from the truck. Along...
Effectively Reducing Odours
Reducing odours can help reduce possible environmental impacts and improve how acceptable they are to be near rural communities. Air cleaning technology was developed to reduce odour from the exhaust air from swine facilities. A bio-trickling air treatment unit was...
Effectiveness of Sprinkling During Transport
When air temperatures exceed 20 °C outside, pig comfort and meat quality can be improved during transport by sprinkling pigs before transport and unloading. Mortality of pigs during transport increases when it is hot outside and there are no regulations...
What Can We Learn From the Three Hitch Point
Standardizing operating systems may have many benefits. Benchmarking studies help measure these benefits and they have shown that standardizing may lead to large financial yields. Areas of focus should be the physical building, mechanical systems, animal handling, electrical systems and...
