Amino acids as functional nutrients for pig health
The term ‘functional amino acids’ has been used to describe those amino acids supplemented in the diet for their roles beyond those for protein synthesis (i.e., lean gain). In the context of health, these include amino acids with significant roles in gastrointestinal health (e.g., barrier...
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Ken Engele
2024 PSC Producer Meetings Presentations
2024 PSC Producer Meetings In collaboration with Zoetis and PIC Canada AGENDA “Insights into mycotoxins in swine diets” Dan Columbus, Ph.D. – Prairie Swine Centre In this presentation, Dan provided information regarding mycotoxin prevalence, how they affect pigs, issues around sampling ingredients for mycotoxins, and mitigation strategies, including binders, detoxification,...
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Ken Engele
2024 PSC producer meeting presentation – Bergermann – The value of post-mortems in pigs
During the 2024 PSC producer meetings, held in collaboration with Zoetis and PIC, Veterinary Services Manager at Zoetic Canada Jeff Bergermann gave a presentation titled ‘Seek and you shall find: the value of post-mortems in pigs?’ In this presentation, Jeff discussed the different reasons why...
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Ken Engele
Road and disease-challenge tests with a modified prototype livestock trailer
The overall goal of the work conducted was to assess the performance of an improved prototype livestock trailer with ventilation, heating, misting and air filtration systems in maintaining a welfare-friendly and pathogen-free environment during transport. The testing and evaluation comprised of road tests and disease-challenge...
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Ken Engele
Testing of a rapid detection kit for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv)
Significant economic losses can result from outbreaks of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED), a serious disease currently circulating in North American swine herds. Accurate and rapid detection of PEDv is essential to expedite implementation of control measures for the disease. A rapid PEDv test kit is...
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Ken Engele
Effectiveness of functional amino acids in Salmonella-challenged low and normal birth weight pigs
We wanted to determine the influence of birth weight (normal – NBW vs. low – LBW) on pig response to a subsequent disease challenge and on the effectiveness of functional amino acid (FAA) supplementation in ameliorating this response. Weanling piglets were fed one of two...
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Ken Engele
Can slat-compatible enrichment influence the behaviour and response of pigs to a disease challenge?
Rearing pigs in highly enriched environments with a greater space allowance and provision of substrates (straw, mushroom compost, sawdust, wood branches) for rooting and chewing has been found to reduce the disease susceptibility of pigs to co-infection with PRRSV and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, increasing the speed...
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Ken Engele
Animal protein-based nursery diets and functional amino acids improve performance and health status of weaned pigs
Nutrition strategies in the post-weaning period are geared towards providing high quality diets (i.e., inclusion of animal-based protein sources) to mitigate the effect of weaning stress and immature digestive and immune systems. Some studies suggest that the inclusion of animal-based protein sources may not be...
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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...
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Ken Engele
Effects of long distance transport on early-weaned pigs
While transporting weaner pigs is a common practice in swine production, there is very little published research on how this process impacts piglet health and welfare. To address this gap, Dr. Jennifer Brown and colleagues at the University of Guelph and University of Saskatchewan are...
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Ken Engele