Evaluation of Temperature Conditions in Trucks During Transport of Market Pigs to Slaughter in Four Seasons
Temperature and humidity conditions vary significantly in different compartments in trucks that transport market pigs. Transportation of pigs can involve economic losses due to death, reduced meat quality and welfare concerns. More losses are reported in the summer with specific...
Reducing Temperature Requirements for Group Housed Sows to Save Costs
Sows in group housing systems maintain room temperatures between 9 to 12°C which reduces energy consumption by 78% compared to gestation rooms at a pre-set temperature of 16.5°C. Since sows can interact with each other, they have more control over...
Assessing Enrichment for Sows
Most research on the different forms of enrichment are done on piglets and growing pigs. In these pigs, some benefits include reduced aggression and fear, fewer behavioural vices and improved growth. Older animals such as sows differ and generally prefer...
Improving Biosecurity in Swine Transport
There are serious gaps in biosecurity, especially related to transportation. There is a need for easier to clean trailers and better sanitizing and cleaning procedures in order to reduce disease transmission. Issues that hinder the cleaning of trailers include downtime...
Assessing Cleanliness of Swine Transportation Trailers
A significant risk for transmission of swine diseases is pig transportation. This area needs to be researched to see what biosecurity measures can be taken to reduce risk of disease. Visual inspection as a means for assessing cleanliness is not...
Zinc Oxide and Antimicrobial Resistance in Pigs
An essential nutrient in a pigs diet is zinc, with minimum levels need around 100 ppm. In early starter rations, zinc oxide is often used therapeutically to control post-weaning E. coli diarrhea in levels of 2000 to 3000 ppm. Zinc...
The Importance of Nitrogen for Growth
Protein is the second most expensive nutrient after energy in swine rations. While essential amino acids have been looked at extensively regarding requirements needed, total dietary nitrogen and non-essential amino acids have not. Pigs can use non-protein nitrogen to correct...
Getting More Piglets Interested in Creep Feed
Many piglets do not eat before weaning, even though it helps ease the weaning dip if they do. Weaning is a stressful period for piglets; they are removed from the sow and put into an unfamiliar environment, mixed with unknown...
Research in Pigs Benefits Human Health
The pig is one of the most appropriate models for health science research as they have anatomical, developmental and physiological similarities to humans. The knowledge gained from this research will benefit both the human health sciences and the agricultural industry....
Feeding Fusarium Contaminated Grain
Fusarium has been reported throughout western Canada. The principle toxin DON (deoxynivalenol or vomatoxin) contaminates the grain and impacts the feeding of pigs that ingest it. Average daily gain and feed intake are suppressed when fed DON levels over 1...
Nutritional Management of Grow-Finish Pigs: Energy and Feed Efficiency
Feed efficiency depends on many feed composition factors such as amino acid concentration, energy, and nutrient balance. Environmental factors also have a large influence. Feeder space allowance impacts growth and feed intake, with more feeder space increasing final body weight...
Novel Biocontainment Concept for Quarantine Facilities
Often the quarantine facility is located within 100 m of the breeding facility. This increases contamination risk as some viruses and diseases can spread further, such as PRRS virus which can be transmitted over 9.2 km in the air. Filters...
