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Industry Partners
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:
Improving biosecurity in swine transport
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre by admin on August 11, 2016 | No Comments
Author: Sarah Ethier
Reference: Western Hog Journal Summer 2016
While on farm biosecurity measures are increasingly stringent, a major gap that can allow for transmission of disease is biosecurity in transport. As such, new cleaning procedures for trailers must be developed to make sanitizing trailers easy and effective. Problems associated with cleaning trailers include the low number of trailers available, downtime required between loads, limited washing capacity, and trailer designs that make cleaning difficult.
After inventory of currently available trailers is taken and graded on ease of cleaning and ease of animal handling, automated systems will be developed to assist in cleaning the trailers.
The three main trailer companies supplying stock trailers to Canada are Wilson Trailer Company, Eby Trailers, and Merritt Equipment. Each of these trailers has both pros and cons. However, small changes such as capped end-plates and changes in crossbar shape can go a long way in making cleaning easier.
An up and coming trailer style is hydraulic. These trailers contain multiple flat decks that are filled with livestock and then hydraulically raised into place. This allows ease of pig movements and ease of cleaning. However, it is not known if these systems will withstand the harsh winters in Western Canada.
Enrichment for sows
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre, Uncategorized by admin on | No Comments
Author: Victoria Kyeiwaa
Reference: Western Hog Journal Summer 2016
Enrichments are known to be beneficial to piglets and young pigs, reducing aggression, fear, behavioural vices and increasing growth. However, it is not known if this data can translate to sows because older pigs show different behaviours. This study aims to discover the most effective type of enrichment for gestating sows.
Four treatments will be provided: rope, small amounts of straw, wood on chains, and a control where no enrichment is provided. Because pigs are social animals and their social status can influence enrichment use, the effects of social status will also be examined. Social status is determined in a feed competition trial whereby six focal sows – three dominants and three subordinates – are selected for additional data collection. Mostly, in a social environment, subordinate animals are being bullied and driven away from available resources by dominant ones. Dominant and subordinate sows are selected in this study to determine if all sows, irrespective of social status, will benefit from enrichment use. Sows can lose interest in enrichments over time. Rotations of enrichments will be done to determine if this can generate more interest as opposed to a constant enrichment.
Cameras are mounted over the pens and time lapse photos taken on selected days to determine the level of enrichment use, and the activities and postures of sows. Stereotypic behaviours are recorded by live observation of sows, and levels of aggression are determined using skin lesion scores, ranging from 0 (no injury) to 3 (severe injury) on both sides of the body. Accelerometers are used as automated measuring tools to record the mobility of animals, similar to pedometers used to record fitness activities in people. Accelerometers are being used in this research to compare the activity levels of dominant and subordinate sows. Saliva samples are also taken in early, mid- and end of each trial to determine cortisol levels as a measure of stress.
Seeking the best flooring slat and gap widths for sow comfort and manure handling
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Author: Christine Rawluk
Reference: Western Hog Journal Summer 2016
Current industry standards are moving to group housing for sow. However, little is knows in regards to the proper gap and slat width to optimize both comfort of sows and manure management. Researchers at the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment at the University of Manitoba are currently researching the optimal slat configuration. The study consists of two phases. Phase one is a kinematics analysis of sows walking over different configurations of slat gap sizes. Phase two is a scaling-up test conducted in a swine barn.
Kinematics is the analysis of motion and gait. Large lame sows and small non-lame sows were walked along a corridor with varying slat and gap widths. Slat width were either 3, 4, or 5 inches and gap widths were 3/4, 7/8, or 1 inch. Sows were walked along the corridor with slats either parallel or perpendicular to the direction of motion, and this gait was compared to a control of a solid concrete floor. The direction and size of slats and gaps did not affect the gait of large sows. However, small non-lame sows were affected, especially when walking parallel to the direction of gaps. It was concluded that the configuration that altered gait the least was slat width of 4 inches and gap width of 3/4 inches.
Phase two is currently being tested. Two groups of bred gilts are being evaluated over two gestation periods. One group is using the slat configuration deemed best by the kinematics study, and one group is using the industry standard slats with 5 inch slat widths and 1 inch gap widths. Sows will be evaluated for development of lameness, uneven weight distribution, activity level, lying comfort and use of space within the pen. To evaluate manure management, variables tested include pen cleanliness, percentage of manure covering the floor, percentage of gaps plugged, and air tests of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide levels.
Treating Swine and Municipal Wastewater with Microbial Fuel Cell Technology
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre by admin on August 9, 2016 | No Comments
Authors: B.Z. Predicala, M Nemati, L.D. Moreno
Reference: Prairie Swine Centre Annual Research Report 2014-15
Wastewater generated in the agriculture sector contain organic and nitrogenous compounds which represent a valuable source of energy that could be harnessed to offset the energy required for wastewater treatment. The potential use of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology for treatment of agricultural wastewater was evaluated.
Using model compounds (i.e., lactate, acetate, phenol), it was shown that treatment of organic and nitrogenous compounds with concomitant generation of energy can be achieved successfully in microbial fuel cells, with biodegradation rates in continuous mode MFCs significantly higher than in batch systems. Biodegradability of the organic compounds influenced the open circuit potential (OCP), electrical current and power generation, which were higher in continuously operated MFCs. The possibility of biological removal of ammonia and nitrite (nitrification and nitritation processes) in the MFC systems was also demonstrated.
Getting More Piglets Interested in Creep Feed
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Authors: Yolande Seddon, Denise Beaulieu and Jennifer Brown
Reference: Centered on Swine Summer 2016
It is known that providing pre-wean piglets with creep feed can ease the transition from an all milk diet, to an all solids diet. However, research has shown that less than 50% of piglets actually consume creep feed when it is presented in its traditional form. This research was done to see if enrichments or a different creep feed tray could be used to increase the number of piglets consuming creep feed by taking advantage of piglets tenancy to explore.
Four groups of piglets were tested. Enrichments were presented 5 days post farrowing and creep feed was provided after 10 days. Group one was given a traditional feeder with no enrichment, group 2 was given a traditional feeder with enrichment, group 3 was given a flat tray as a feeder with no enrichment, and group 4 was given both the flat tray feeder and enrichment. On days 12, 19, and 25 dye was added to the creep feed. 48 hours later, anal swabs were taken to determine which piglets were eating the creep. At weaning, litters were mixed with piglets not on test and piglets that had enrichment in farrowing were given enrichment again. On the day of weaning, dye was again added to the feed to determine which piglets were eating. Piglet weights were taken on day 5, weaning and two days post weaning. Litters were observed for behaviour and periodic photos were taken.
Tray feeders were observed to be used more often. Frequency at the feeders increased with age. Litters provided with tray feeders and no enrichment had the most piglets eating creep. Feeder type or enrichment did not affect average daily gain.
Dietary ω-6 to ω-3 Fatty Acid Ratios Aff ect Protein Deposition in Nursery Pigs
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Authors: Laura Eastwood and Denise Beaulieu
Reference: Prairie Swine Centre Annual Research Report 2013-14
An experiment was conducted to determine if decreasing the dietary omega-6 (ω-6) to omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acid (FA) ratio would affect protein deposition in nursery pigs during a prolonged E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammatory challenge. Following a one week long challenge, six week old piglets fed a lower ω-6: ω-3 ratio had increased protein deposition rates, increased liver protein synthesis rates and increased average daily weight gains relative to those pigs consuming a diet with a higher ω-6: ω-3 FA ratio when feed intakes were similar. Protein synthesis was unaff ected by the presence of an LPS induced inflammatory challenge. Overall, reducing the ω-6:ω-3 FA ratio improves the efficiency by which piglets can utilize nutrients for growth, regardless of the presence of an inflammatory challenge.
The cost and variability of grinding wheat and barley to a particle size that optimizes feed efficiency.
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Authors: Danilo Sotto, Tom Scott and Denise Beaulieu
Reference: Western Hog Journal Summer 2016
Based on research from the Kansas State University, an average feed particle size of 700 to 800 microns is best suited to increase feed efficiency in all stage of swine production. However, this information is based on corn and soybean based diets. There is no data available for wheat and barley based diets, which are common in Western Canada.
Samples of feed from one toll mill and four on-farm mills in Western Canada were collected to determine average particle size and variability between mills. One farm used a roller mill, while the others used a hammer mill. The average particle size of wheat was 795 microns while barley was 833 microns. On average, wheat was withing acceptable limits established by the Kansas State University while barley was slightly above, but still within reason. From two farms, particle size of complete feeds was higher than recommended, indicating possible losses in feed efficiency. The diet particle size ranged from 657 to 968 microns. Variability was possibly due to the type of grain used, other ingredients used, as well as their proportions. While all farms were aware of the benefits of small particle size, none had a monitoring program in place.
The second study examined the costs associated with grinding different grains in different ways. Barley is more expensive than wheat to grind. Using a roller mill is more cost effective than a hammer mill. Flowability was negatively affected when particle size was reduced. Wheat flowed better than barley. It is estimated that by reducing the particle size of barley by 300 microns can translate to a $7.8/pig due to reduction in total feed cost.
Can sow diets enriched with extruded flaxseed replace antibiotics in starter feeds for piglets?
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Authors: L. Eastwood, D. A. Gillis, M. R. Deibert and A. D. Beaulieu
Reference: Western Hog Journal Fall 2015
This study aims to test whether the addition of omega-3 fatty acids into lactating sow diets can replace the use of growth promoting antibiotics in weaned piglet diets. Two groups of sows (one weaned at three weeks and one at four) were were fed one of two diets; control or omega-3. At weaning, 10 piglets were selected from each sow and split into two groups of five. One group was fed a diet containing antibiotics (LS50) and the other was fed the same diet without the antibiotic. After the first week piglets were fed a common phase 2 diet. Each nursery room was not washed before piglets were moved in to ensure they were immunologically challenged. All piglets completed the trial at 56 days of age. Piglet performance was monitored throughout the trial and blood samples were taken at 2 days post weaning.
Sow feed intake, number of piglets born, piglet growth, or the number of piglets weaned per litter was unaffected by diet. Sows fed omega-3 diets had higher levels of omega-3 in their milk. Sow diet also did not affect piglet average daily gain, average daily feed intake, gain:feed, or final body weight in the nursery. In piglets weaned at three weeks of age, average daily feed intake was higher in the fourth week in the nursery for piglets not fed antibiotics. Piglets weaned at four weeks and also fed antibiotics had higher average daily gain in week one, which increased gain:feed. Growth and gain:feed were unaffected by antibiotics in weeks two to four. Feed intake was higher for pigs fed antibiotics in weeks three and four. Piglet weight was unaffected by sow or nursery dietary differences. Piglets weaned at three weeks of age were consistently heavier that piglets weaned at four weeks. When weaned at three weeks, no differences were seen in the blood samples between diets. When weaned at four weeks, piglets weaned from sows fed omega-3 diets had lower white blood cell counts relative to control. White cell counts were unaffected by phase one diet; sow diet and phase one diet did not affect other blood parameters. Regardless of diet, piglets weaned at three weeks of age had lower creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and white blood cell counts relative to four week wean.
In a high health herd, the use of in feed antibiotics post weaning has no benefit. Piglets weaned at three weeks of age have heavier body weight than those weaned at four weeks. This may be in part to the lower levels of creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase, which are enzymes related to muscle breakdown.
Feeding wheat millrun to starter pigs
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Authors: H. Garcia, L.F. Wang, J.L. Landero, E. Beltranena, M. Cervantes, A. Morales, R.T. Zijlstra
Source: Western Hog Journal Fall 2015
This study aims to test whether wheat millrun can be used to replace soybean meal and wheat grain in stage three weaner pig diets. Diets were formulated containing either 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 per cent wheat millrun in substitution of up to 15 per cent soybean meal and 5 per cent wheat grain. After the pigs had been fed stage one and two diets, the were fed the experimental diets for 21 days.
Feed intake, growth, and final body weight was not affected by wheat millrun inclusion. Feed conversion improved as more wheat millrun was included. Increasing wheat millrun reduced apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy, but not of crude protein. Diet digestible energy values remained constant.
Given proper diet formulation, wheat millrun can be included up to 20% in nursery pig diets, replacing 15% soybean meal and 5% wheat grain. This can decrease the cost of diets, thereby increasing the margin for profit.
Feeding lower energy diets to hogs
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on August 4, 2016 | No Comments
Authors: Miranda Smit, Jose Landero, Malachy Young, and Eduardo Beltranena
Reference: Western Hog Journal Spring 2015
Feed represents the most expensive input in swine production. However, there is little data concerning the responses of hogs to different energy densities. This trial examines the effects of feeding lower than conventional net energy (NE) level diets.
30 kg hogs were fed diets that contained either 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, or 2.1 Mcal NE/kg. Pig body weight and feed disappearance were measured until the hogs were shipped.
Average daily gain was not affected by energy level, and average daily feed intake was higher for those diets containing less energy. The total calories consumer per pig remained the same. Dressing weight was not affected by feed energy level. Feeding a lower energy level diet saved approximately $10 per pig, but also caused the pigs to reach market weight a few days late.
Hogs can successfully be fed diets containing reduced energy levels, so long as they are able to eat more feed.