Nutritional Value of Zero-Tannin Faba Beans for Grower-Finisher Hogs
Zero-tannin faba beans are available in Alberta and so nutrient content and a performance study need to be completed in order to see if they may be a potential replacement to soybean meal in swine diets. Amino acid and energy...
Crowding Reduces Performance of Weanling Pigs
Floor space in a swine operation needs to be used efficiently in the aspects of space and pig performance. Many floor space experiments examine different group sizes on the same floor space which leads to confounding results due to groups...
Interaction Among Lactose, Plasma Proteins and Crowding in Weanlings
Current starter programs use lactose and porcine plasma as key ingredients. If antibiotic use in diet is restricted, these may become more important. Depending on age or weight of the pigs, these feed additives may have differential effects. This is...
Dietary Phytase Reduces Phosphorus Excretion in Weanling Pigs
Phytase use in pig diets is increasing as it is effective in improving the digestibility of phosphorus in cereal grains. Less total phosphorus is needed and phosphorus output is decreased along with feeding costs. The calcium to phosphorus ratio needs...
Greenhouse Gas Emission from NAP-Covered Earthen Manure Storage Basin
The agriculture sector contributes to Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock operations and manure storage having a large part. A negative air pressure (NAP) cover may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from earthen storage basins. The NAP-cover had a minor...
Manure Handling Systems Reduce Air Contaminants in Swine Barns
Various factors were studied to understand the sources of air contamination in intensive swine operations. Once the factors effect is decreased, the overall effect on air quality should be illustrated. Two manure-handling systems were tested to see which eliminates all...
Social Factors Affecting Injury Levels and Behaviour of Sows in a ESF System
Stress after regrouping may alter behaviours and decrease the farrowing rate in sows. Resting locations, eating order and injuries reflect the severity of stress experienced. Behaviour was studied too see the impact stage of implantation, parity and familiarity with penmates...
Effects of Stall Width and Sow Size on Behaviour of Gestating Sows
In North America, gestation stalls are usually the same size within a farm even though body weights in gestating sows vary (150 kg to 350 kg). Different sizes of stalls are recommended by the Code of Practice to accommodate the...
Crowding Effects on Performance on Fully and Partially Slatted Floors
A major issue for animal welfare is floor space allowance. Space requirements may vary with housing conditions for maximum growth. More total floor area is needed for pigs on partially slatted floors compared to fully slatted floors according to the...
The Dose Response to Phytase Inclusion in Diets for Growing Swine
Phytic acid is the main source of phosphorus in oilseeds and grains in swine diets but is unavailable to pigs and is therefore excreted. Diet cost is increased by adding inorganic phosphorus to pig diets to meet the dietary requirements....
Pre-Planned Segregation: The Effect of Grouping by Weight at Weaning on Variability in Body Weight at Nursery Exit
A critical issue for pork farmers is variability as it has been estimated to cost $3.41 per pig at market due to sort losses and an extra $1.25 per pig sold due to reduced barn utilization. Pre-planned segregation (PPS) is...
Variation in Pig Performance: Can We Do Anything About It?
Loss of revenue at market and reduced barn utilization can be attributed largely to variation. Variation has two major categories: genetic and environmental. Environmental effects may be exposure to pathogens, access to resources such as water and food, as well...
