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Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Isolation of Salmonella Bacteriophages from Swine Effluent Lagoons
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2006 | No Comments
Feed Grain Policy – Fuel or Food?
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The global dependence on fossil fuels is apparent and the changing climate is of increasing concern internationally. Both these issues have spurred many governments to look to the agricultural sector for alternative, renewable forms of energy supply; one of which is ethanol. It is non-toxic, water soluble and biodegradable so it poses no threat to water supplies or water ecosystems (Renewable Fuels Association, 2005). Ethanol blends also reduce tailpipe carbon emissions along with other toxic emissions (Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, 2006a). Finally, as a new industrial use for corn and feed grains, ethanol presents the prospect of increasing corn and feed grain prices. These perceived benefits have spurred interest in ethanol as an ingredient blended in gasoline. At the same time, ethanol competes with livestock for corn supplies. Increased ethanol production thus stands to increase corn prices, to the detriment of feed users of corn and feed grains. Conversely, ethanol production generates by-products that are high protein feed stuffs. Under current technology and economic conditions in the Canadian market the expansion of the ethanol industry is likely to place pressure on the swine sector due to rising grain prices. To relieve this pressure, further research and methods of evaluating the nutritional quality of DDGs need to be perfected, the regulatory functions of the Canadian Wheat Board and Canadian Grain Commission need to be rationalized to facilitate ethanol development, and further investment and development of 2nd generation ethanol production is required. Short term focus should be on development of DDGs as a reliable feed supply for monogastrics and reform of the Canadian Wheat Board to allow for a symbiotic relationship between the ethanol industry and the swine sector. In the long term the development of cellulosic ethanol production will allow grain to return to its traditional uses and the grain producer to reap an added harvest from the crop. Finally, development of an ethanol industry needs to be considered as a strategic choice for Canada. Ethanol development in Canada is not needed to drive up prices received by corn growers, although such development will increase the basis for Canadian corn and feed grains. From the swine industry perspective, the development of an ethanol industry will mitigate a competitive disadvantage relative to the US in the protein segment of feeds; the cost will be the maintenance or increase in the basis for corn and feed grains in Canada.
Siting Livestock Production Operations
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Selecting an appropriate site for a livestock operation is key to the long-term success of the project from an environmental, economic and social point of view. The initial planning stage is the best time to seek input on siting of livestock buildings and manure storage facilities, and to address public concerns such as odour and water quality.
Pulmonary effects of exposure to pig barn air
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Developing an evaluation protocol for the evaluation of additives designed to reduce odours in pig slurry
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The reduction of odours is still the major challenge for the swine industry. Several additives on the market claim to reduce odours. But how can the producer be sure of their efficiency? It was necessary to develop an evaluation protocol of these products that would be acknowledged by the scientific community and the concerned organisms. First, a standardized method for producing pig slurry was developed. Tunnels were then designed to simulate manure spreading conditions in the field. The minimum required number of eight panelists, carefully selected and trained, performed the olfactory evaluation. The experimental design ensured a sufficient number of replications for each treatment, within reasonable cost limits. Four additives were tested: two slurry additives, one biological and the other chemical (to be incorporated in the temporary storage pit), a feed additive (to be incorporated in the diet) and finally a combination of a feed additive and a slurry additive. To be significant, the difference between the control and each treatment had to be equal or superior to a percentage for every parameter (for example, a difference of at least 25% between odour concentrations). Secondly, the statistical confidence interval had to be 95% or more for every parameter. Those criteria allowed for the variabilities due to the different measurement methodologies. According to our study, none of these four additives showed a significant impact. Producers are encouraged to check with their supplier if the product they are using has been tested with this protocol and, if so, to see the results.
REDUCTION OF AMMONIA EMISSIONS FROM TREATED ANAEROBIC SWINE LAGOONS
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Transformation of organic matter during co-composting of pig manure with sawdust
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