Developing strategies for water conservation in swine production operations

Posted in: Economics, Energy, Environment, Pork Insight Articles by admin on June 5, 2012 | No Comments

The abstract for a study on water usage by drinkers and cleaning purposes. Three types of drinkers were tested for water use: controlled nipple, nipple with side plate, and trough with a constant level. Effectiveness and water use were recorded for cleaning with sprinkling beforehand and nozzle type in two differently floored rooms. Reducing water use in commercial barns can save money, but also has an environmental impact.

Viscosity dependent dual-permeability modeling of liquid manure movement in layered, macroporous, tile drained soil

Posted in: Environment, Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 26, 2012 | No Comments

Liquid swine manure has nitrogen and phosphorus that can be utilized for crop fertilization, but due to high levels of application the manure will often flow through macropores. If the manure reaches the water table it can pose an environmental risk. The permeation can be slowed by low permeability skin layers in the macropores, compact soil crusts, low permeability plowpan layers, or a tile drainage system. As well, the percent of dry matter in the liquid manure will affect viscosity, with a 5% increase in dry matter increasing viscosity by one order of magnitude. This study’s goal was to modify a dual-permeability model and apply it in field, determine the sensitivity of tile drain discharge rates, and numerically assess nutrient residue with additional variabilities. The dual-permeability model was able to give a fairly accurate prediction of liquid manure movement. The modified model included application method (injected or surface banded), the effect of soil crust and plowpan layers, and the anisotrophy ratios for the macropores. Viscosity was important to manure flow rates, and increasing viscosity of manure should be considered to slow permeation. Movement depends on soil features: a solid crust will slow movement, but a plowpan layer with vertical macropores will increase it. Flow has temporal variability, and the leading or trailing edges will be influenced differently by the soil properties. Overall, it is important to understand how the combination of specific soil characteristics influence liquid manure movement, and the dual-permeability model is a effective model to do so.

Impact of Repeated Applications of Liquid Swine Manure and Biogas Production By-Products on Soils and Crops

Posted in: Environment, Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 23, 2012 | No Comments

An experiment was done to find out the long and short term impacts liquid hog manure had on soils compared to  manure biodigestate that is produced from biogas production. Three amounts of hog manure (1,500, 3,000 and 6,000 gallons per acre) were applied along with three rates of urea: 50, 100 and 200 lbs N/acre. Assessments of grain and straw yield, nutrient concentrations, soil nutrients and properties were made on plant and soil samples collected every three years to determine how manure applications affected crop growth and soil properties. There was little difference in crop yields between applying traditional liquid hog manure and biodigestate. It was found that applying 3000 gallons per acre produced the best yields without creating nutrient excretion. When assessing the soils it was found that excess manure helped with N levels after harvest. Also soil salinity was only effected when greater than 4000 gallons were applied. Application of swine manure at rates of 3000-4000 gallons over three years had little impact on soil properties like pH, salinity and organic carbon compared to the urea fertilized treatments and the unfertilized control. In the long-term (>10 yrs) liquid swine manure trials, application rates of 3,000 – 4,000 gallons per acre every year gave near optimal yields for the crops examined (oats, canola, barley) and were not associated with any loading of nitrate or phosphate in the soil.

Comparative evaluation of the use of heat exchanger, ground source heat pump and conventional heating systems in grow-finish rooms

Posted in: Environment, Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on October 5, 2011 | No Comments

The use of the heat recovery ventilator with a forced-convection heater and the ground source heat pump system resulted in 52% to 39% reduction in energy consumption for heating and ventilation, respectively, relative to the conventional forced-convection heater after one heating season. However, data collection from multiple heating and cooling seasons is still needed to be able to fully compare the performance and feasibility of these three systems. Reduced energy costs will translate to reduced production cost and will help improve the profitability or minimize losses in swine operations.

Evaluation of temperature conditions in trucks during transport of market pigs to slaughter in four seasons

Posted in: Environment, Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Previous research at PSC has shown there is significant variation in conditions (temperature and humidity) among
different compartments in trucks transporting market pigs. This study examined conditions in truck compartments in greater depth by measuring temperature and humidity variation during transport of market pigs throughout the year.Pigs were transported from a commercial farm in Saskatchewan to a packing plant on a weekly basis, involving approximately 7.5 hours of travel.

This report describes the variable conditions observed during transport in different seasons, with pigs transported in the ‘belly’, upper-front and middle-front compartments encountering the least favourable conditions.

It was found that pigs are exposed to variable temperatures during transport, with pigs transported in ‘belly’ compartments encountering lower than average temperatures, and those in upper-front and middle-front compartments encountering elevated temperatures. The effects of different boarding and insulation treatments on transport conditions during winter were examined, but further analysis is needed to determine their effectiveness. The results of these studies will provide important information for improving conditions during transport, and for the direction of future research.

Effect of different quality wheat dried distiller’s grain solubles (DDGS) in pig diets on composition of excreta and methane production from faeces and slurry

Posted in: Environment, Production by admin on August 24, 2011 | No Comments

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the incorporation in pig diets of 25% of ten different wheat dried distiller’s grain solubles (DDGS) from biofuel production, on (i) the excretion of organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C), and (ii) on the potential of methane (CH4) emission from effluents (faeces and slurry). Eleven experimental diets were formulated: a control diet mainly based on cereals and soybean meal, and ten experimental diets obtained by adding to the control diet 25% of one of the ten samples of DDGS. The DDGS differed by their origin and the process of biofuel production. They were classified according to a colour score used as an indicator of processing conditions. The ultimate methane potential of effluents (B0, expressed in L CH4/kg OM) was measured for each diet in anaerobic storage conditions over 100 days. The addition of DDGS to pig diets increased the amount of faeces excreted by 27 to 50% and the amount of slurry excreted by 7 to 50%, compared to the control diet. The OM excretions in faeces and in slurry were significantly increased by 59% and 75% respectively, with wheat DDGS inclusion, compared to the control diet. As for total N and C excretory patterns, the addition of wheat DDGS increased their excretions by 65% and 54%, respectively, compared to the control diet. The results indicated that the partitioning of N was shifted from urine to faeces with the inclusion of fibre from wheat DDGS. B0 values measured on faeces and slurry were respectively in a range from202 to 294 and from278 to 368 L CH4/kgOM. On average, B0 values were lower for the effluents from the DDGS diets compared to the effluent from the control diet. The type of DDGS also affected the B0, with lower values obtained for dark compared to medium or light DDGS. When methane emission was expressed per pig and per day, potential productions for slurry and faeces from the control diet were 51 and 68 L/day, respectively. On average, the values were significantly higher, by about 40%, for slurry and faeces from DDGS diets, with 72 and 98 L/day, respectively. It was concluded that the heating process of DDGS may reduce the methane production potential of their indigestible OM. However, because of the increased OM excretion, incorporating DDGS in pig diets increases the potential methane production per pig produced.

To view this complete artricle please visit: http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

Influence of phytase and carbohydrase enzymes on apparent ileal nutrient and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility in growing pigs fed wheat and barley-based diets

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Effects of phytase with orwithout carbohydrases on utilization of nutrients other than P are not well understood in diets adequate in P. Thus, we investigated the effects of Phyzyme XP® (PX) and carbohydrase enzymes (Porzyme®: xylanase and β-glucanase; C) on coefficients of ileal nutrient digestibility (CAID) in growing pigs fed wheat/barley-based diets. The dietswere: 1) basal (B, 8% less DE than NRC, 1998, with no enzymes), 2) B+PX, 3) B+PX+50 g C/MT (B+PX+50C) and 4) B+ PX+100 g C/MT (B+PX+100C). The PX was added at 100 g/MT to all phytase containing feed, and C was added at 50 and 100 g/MT to diets 3 and 4, respectively. Acid insoluble ash was used as an indigestible marker. Diets were fed to 4 barrows (BW 35.9 kg) fitted with a Tcannula at the distal ileum, according to a 4×4 Latin square design. Experimental periods lasted 7 d and ileal digesta were collected in 12-h periods on d-6 and d-7. At the end of the 4- wk period, pigs were fed a 5% casein diet to estimate basal endogenous AA losses. Data were subjected to pre-planned contrasts. Overall, diets containing PX had higher CAID of energy (0.60 vs. 0.58), AA (0.72 vs. 0.69) and phytate (0.56 vs. 0.33) comparedwith the B diet. When corrected for basal endogenous losses, PX-containing diets had higher coefficients of standardized ileal digestibility (CSID) of Met and Thr than the B diet. In the presence of PX, the highest response to C for CAID of energy (0.59 vs. 0.62) was achieved at 50 g/MT; the AID of DM and energy increased by 7.2 and 7.0%, respectively, with 50 g/MT of C compared to B diet. In conclusion, phytase and carbohydrase combined increased CAID of energy, and that PX-containing diets not only increased CAID of AA but resulted in lower diet-specific endogenous losses in a practical diet.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

Rolling behaviour of sows in relation to piglet crushing on sloped versus level floor pens

Posted in: Environment, Production, Welfare by admin on August 23, 2011 | No Comments

The study focused on the rolling behaviour of sows and the crushing of piglets by sows’ rolling behaviour. The experiment examined the influence of sloped floor in loose housed farrowing pens on the rolling behaviour of sows and crushing of piglets. The experimental unit was made up of 24 pens. There were two experimental pen designs with piglet creep in the corner of the pen and piglet creep across the end of the pen, respectively. Both of the experimental pen designs had a 10% sloped floor in the sow’s resting area. The two control pen designs were identical to the experimental pen designs, but with a level floor. The behaviour of 85 sows and their litters was continuously video recorded. Behavioural observations were made from birth of the first piglet and until 3 days after birth of the first piglet. Rolling behaviour of sows caused significantly more trapped piglets under the sow than lying down from standing. Rolling behaviour caused 64% of the trapped piglets and lying down from standing caused 36% of the trapped piglets. Rolling from udder to side without protection trapped significantly more piglets than rolling from udder to side near slanted wall or piglet protection rails and rolling from side to udder. With a certain pen design sloped floor reduced rolling from udder to side without protection and reduced the number of trapped piglets, but results concerning lying behaviour showed that sloped floor pushed sows to rest on the level part of the floor. The results indicate that rolling behaviour that crushes piglets can be reduced, and sows prefer to lie on a level floor.

To view this complete article please visit: http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci/

Apparent nutrient and mineral digestibility in growing–finishing pigs fed phosphorus reduced diets supplemented with benzoic acid and phytase

Posted in: Environment, Production by admin on August 22, 2011 | No Comments

In a study with 32 growing–finishing crossbred gilts (26–109 kg BW) the effects of benzoic acid and phytase (Peniophora lycii) on nutrient digestibility in P reduced diets was examined. All animals were restrictively fed one of four experimental diets: control diet (CC) without any supplementation, control diet with 0.5% benzoic acid (CB), phytase diet (750 IU/kg,) without benzoic acid (PhyC) and phytase diet with 0.5% benzoic acid (PhyB). Total P (digestible P) content of the control diets was 4 g/kg (1.43 g/kg). In the grower period a negative interaction of benzoic acid×phytase on apparent crude protein and energy digestibility was observed. In the finisher period both additives increased digestibility of P by 12%. Phytase improved Ca digestibility in both fattening periods (+13%). In the finisher period an interaction of benzoic acid×phytase reduced Ca digestibility from 0.62 in diet PhyC to 0.54 in diet PhyB. The results of this study indicate that the combination of benzoic acid and phytase in P reduced diets can adversely affect apparent nutrient and mineral digestibility. So far, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

Microbial phytase and liquid feeding increase phytate degradation in the gastrointestinal tract of growing pigs

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The quantitative degradation of inositol phosphates (InsP6 to InsP2) in the stomach and small intestine as influenced by microbial phytase and fermented liquid feeding was compared by combining the results from two experiments. Six pigs (49 kg) were fitted with gastric cannulas (Exp. 1) and 3 pigs (42 kg) were fitted with special ileal cannulas (Exp. 2) for total collection of digesta. The pigs were castrated males, and both experiments were 3×3 Latin squares. A basal wheat/barley diet was pelleted at 90 °C (P 4 and Ca 7 g/kg DM). Diet 1, basal diet fed dry; diet 2, diet 1 with microbial phytase (750 FTU/kg) fed dry; diet 3, diet 2 fed in liquid form (fermented 17.5 h, 20 °C, 50% residual in the tank). InsP6-P was not present in gastric or ileal digesta in pigs fed diet 3 due to complete InsP6 degradation before feeding. In pigs fed diet 2 the amount of gastric InsP6-P was considerably smaller compared with pigs fed diet 1 due to phytase addition. On the other hand, the amount of ileal InsP6-P was only slightly less in pigs fed diet 2 compared with diet 1 indicating that InsP6 is greatly degraded in the small intestine. Furthermore, the amounts of gastric or ileal InsP5–InsP2-P were very small for all diets showing that degradation of these compounds is rapid and nearly complete.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci