Novel antimicrobials for swine health
Dr. Chris Gray, University of Guelph Summary The main goal of the project has been to enhance the performance and reduce the toxicity of a novel synthetic AMP (HHC-36), employ machine learning (ML) methods for discovering new, more potent antimicrobial peptides and to determine the hemolytic activity...
Establishing value/utility of soluble CD163 as a biomarker for predicting PRRS-induced disease severity in swine herds
Dr. John Harding, University of Saskatchewan Summary There is evidence to conclude that both sCD163 and the thyroid hormones are potential biomarkers of disease resilience. At present, we have stronger evidence for the thyroid hormones and supporting further investigation for potential use in breeding programs. That said,...
Strategies for detoxifying vomitoxin using innovative chemical and biological approaches in post-weaning piglets
Dr. Joshua Gong, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph Research & Development Centre Summary With global warming, contamination of feed ingredients by the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), occurs more often, thus compromising swine production efficiency. Sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) is a chemical that is able to detoxify DON. However, in...
Barn gas monitoring with automated ventilation control
John Van de Vegte, OMAFRA Summary Farrowing, nursery and finishing barns do require a designed ventilation system to manage air quality within the pig housing areas. Ventilation system performance is optimized through the use of a sophisticated ventilation system controller that must include automated static pressure management. Within...
Development of an in vitro/in vivo correlation method to assess the efficiency of oral drug release from medicated feeds in swine
Dr. Jerome del Castillo, University of Montreal Summary For the last 70 years, feed has been used as a convenient drug administration vehicle for group medication of pigs. Once they satisfy the requirements for regulatory approval, the dietary drug premixes may be admixed to any kind of...
Precision feeding of gestating sows
Dr. Ira Mandell, University of Guelph Summary Using feeding programs that precisely match estimated daily energy and Lys requirements for gestating sows provides the opportunity to reduce nitrogen losses to the environment and reduce lactation feed usage, without negatively affecting sow reproductive and lactation performance. Depending on...