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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:
Tryptophan Requirement of Young, Growing Sows During Pregnancy
Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on August 13, 2013 | No Comments
Accelerated conceptus growth in the last trimester may increase amino acid and energy requirements of pregnant sows. The objective of this study was to determine the Trp requirement in early (EG, d 35 to 53) and late (LG, d 92 to 111) gestation using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method. Six 2nd parity sows received 6 diets each based on corn, corn starch and sugar in both EG and LG at a constant allowance of 2.4 kg/d. Diets in EG contained Trp at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 % of the current Trp requirement (2.5 g/d) in EG and 60, 80, 100, 140, 160 and 180% in LG. Sows were fed 2 mg/(kg BW·h) of L[1-13C]Phe over 4 h in 8 ½-hourly meals. Requirements were determined as the breakpoint in IAAO using 2-phase nonlinear models. Sows, 167.7 kg (SE 3.93) at breeding, gained 44.3 kg (SE 3.63) during pregnancy and had litters of 14.5 piglets (SE 0.43) weighing 19.0 kg (SE 1.41). The Trp requirement was greater (P = 0.002) by 52% in LG (2.6 g/d) compared to EG (1.7 g/d). The increase (P = 0.001) in Phe retention from EG (2.94 g/d) to LG (8.28 g/d) agreed with a gain of 1 g/d N per fetus in LG and indicated that maternal protein gain was similar in EG and LG. Heat production was greater (P = 0.008) by 3% in LG compared to EG. Lipid retention decreased (P < 0.01) from EG to below zero in LG. Young sows strive to maintain fetal and maternal protein growth even if lipid retention becomes negative. This shows the importance of meeting amino acid requirements in late pregnancy.
Isoleucine Requirement for Maintenance in Sows
Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on | No Comments
The objective of this study was to determine the Ile requirement for maintenance using the indicator AA oxidation method. Each of six sows, non-pregnant after their 4th litter, received 6 diets based on corn, corn starch and sugar at a mean ADFI of 2.19 kg/d (SE 0.014). Diets were calculated to provide Ile at 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, and 70 mg/kg0.75 BW. Sows were confined in respiration chambers overnight before each oxidation study to determine fasting energy expenditure. The 13C background in expired CO2 was determined for 1.5 h. Sows were fed 2 mg/(kg BW·h) of L[1-13C]Phe over 4 h in 8 ½-hourly meals. Expired CO2 was analyzed for 13C enrichment above background. Requirements were determined as the breakpoint in indicator AA oxidation in 2-phase nonlinear models. Mean sow BW was 219 kg (SE 2.41). The ADG of -0.199 kg/d (SE 0.098) during the 18-d study was not different from zero (P = 0.10). The Ile requirement was 35 mg/d×kg0.75 (P= 0.001). Overall Phe retention was less than zero (-0.92 g/d, SE 0.125, P = 0.001) but not different from zero (P = 0.14) for Ile intake above the requirement at -0.53 g/d (SE 0.334). Fasting heat production was 19.3 MJ/d (SE 0.41) or 334 kJ/kg0.75 BW (SE 8.5). The mean of fasting and fed heat production was 31.8 MJ/d (SE 0.19) and energy retention was -0.14 MJ/d (SE 0.054), which was not different (P = 0.80) from zero. The fasting and fed respiratory quotient was 1.0 (SE 0.02) and 1.02 (SE 0.02), respectively. Because energy and protein retention were not different from zero, the determined value of 35 mg/d×kg0.75 therefore represents the Ile maintenance requirement. AA maintenance requirements are greater for modern pigs but their ratios remain similar.
Isoleucine Requirement for Pregnancy in Adult Sows
Posted in: Ontario Pork, Pork Insight Articles by admin on | No Comments
Pregnant adult sows show little maternal growth so that accelerated conceptus growth in the 3rd trimester can cause large differences in nutrient requirements between early (EG) and late (LG) gestation. The objective of this study was to determine the Ile requirement in EG (d 37 to 61) and LG (d 89 to 109) using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method. Seven 4th parity sows received 6 diets each based on corn, corn starch and sugar in both EG and LG at a constant intake of 2.5 kg/d. Diets in EG contained Ile at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 % of the current Ile requirement and 60, 80, 100, 140, 160 and 180% in LG. Sows were fed 2 mg/(kg BW·h) of L[1-13C]Phe over 4 h in 8 ½-hourly meals. Requirements were determined as breakpoints in IAAO using 2-phase nonlinear models. Sows, 232.0 ±4.9 kg at breeding, gained 19.1 ±4.4 kg in gestation and had litters of 17.7 ± 0.75 piglets weighing 22.6 ± 0.87 kg. The Ile requirement was greater in LG than EG (P = 0.001) at 3.6 g/d vs. 9.7 g/d. The increased (P = 0.001) in Phe retention (-0.48±0.55 g/d in EG vs. 3.34 ±0.55 g/d in LG) was caused by accelerated fetal growth. Energy and lipid retention decreased (P < 0.003) from EG to LG and were negative in LG. This indicates that Ile requirements were driven mainly by maintenance in EG and by fetal growth in LG. Both Ile and energy intake must be increased in LG but the greater change in Ile than energy requirement shows that amino acid supply is more critical in LG for adult sows.
Effects of Handling Procedures and Transport Vehicle Design on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs
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The objectives of this project were to study stressors experienced by market pigs during handling and transport, to identify components of these stressors that can be modified, and to assess whether modifying these components can reduce stress and/or improve the ability of pigs to recover. This researched showed that the use of double deck hydraulic trailers resulted in less stress and better meat quality compared to pot belly trailers, likely due to the absence of internal ramps and reduced handling stress at loading and unloading. In addition, pigs spent more time standing during transport in winter, likely to conserve heat by minimizing contact with the trailer floor. Heart rate and internal body temperatures were also higher in winter, suggesting increased metabolic rate. In eastern studies, hot summer temperatures and shorter transport times resulted in increased stress on pigs and higher levels of PSE meat traits, while in western studies, long transport times in winter resulted in greater stress compared to summer conditions. Indeed, it was shown that pigs transported long distances in winter showed increased drinking in lairage, indicating dehydration and produced more hams with RSE and DFD meat characteristics. Lastly, there is significant variation in temperature and humidity conditions between compartments on all trailers studied, with upper rearward compartments having lower temperatures and central front compartments being warmer. Results of this research have implications for industry, regulators and for future research to improve transport conditions.
Zonejection: Conservation Tillage Manure Nutrient Delivery System
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on August 2, 2013 | No Comments
Manure application in minimum till (MT) systems is a challenge worthy of attention because residue cover is a keystone for environmental protection. To develop a system combining zone tillage and manure application into one operation (zonejection), two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, liquid swine manure (LSM) was applied in fall or spring for two site years (A, B). In Exp. 2, LSM was zone-applied either all preplant (PP) or split between preplant and sidedress (SP) for three site years (C, D, E). In both experiments, dietrich (DMI), vibro shank (VS), or subsurface deposition (SSD) applied the LSM, corn (Zea mays L.) was seeded in the manured zone, and NO3–N movement was monitored. Nutrients were supplied by inorganic fertilizer (IF) in control treatments under conventional till (CT), no till (NT), and zone till (ZT). With fall-applied LSM, aft er a mild winter, more N was lost from the soil–plant system (i.e., 35 kg ha−1 soil NO3–N) than aft er a cold winter with snow cover (18 kg ha−1), and corn grain yield was reduced (by 1.2 Mg ha−1), even though supplemental fertilizer N was sidedressed. In Exp. 2, with LSM zoned all PP or SP, grain yield and N use effi ciency were comparable to that with IF, except when double the crop N requirement was zoned all PP (Site D). Planting into a zone of concentrated LSM (3.4 S m−1) reduced grain yield when the LSM was injected by VS. With careful management, zonejection allows efficient utilization of manure nutrients while preserving residue cover.
Impact of Calcium and Phosphorus on Sow Lameness and Sow Longevity
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on July 31, 2013 | No Comments
The current NRC Swine (1998) recommendations for Ca and P
feeding levels for gestating sows are primarily based on data for
stall housed sows. Additionally, much of the literature on Ca and P
requirements is older and may not be relevant to the modern, high
producing sow. A trial was conducted to determine if the current
recommended feeding levels of Ca and P during gestation are
adequate for high producing sows housed in stalls or groups. We
found that the current recommendations are adequate for group
housed sows in a non-competitive group housed situation. We also
observed increased performance in the group setting, with group
housed sows giving birth to larger litters and heavier piglets.
The Efficiency of Energy Utilization by Growing Pigs Selected for Potential Growth Rate
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Feeding pigs specific diets based on potential growth rate as
determined by growth rate in the nursery may decrease variability
in grow-out and finishing. In our study, however, pigs separated
into slow, average or fast potential growth rates by determining
growth rate in the nursery had comparable growth rates, feed
intake and rates of protein and lipid deposition in late finishing.
Effects of Altering the Omega-6 to Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio in Starter Diets on Piglet Inflammatory Response
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An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of altering
the omega-6 (n-6) to omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid (FA) ratio in starter
diets on the inflammatory responses of piglets post-weaning.
Piglets were subjected to an inflammatory challenge by injecting
lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of gram-negative bacteria
which triggers an immune response. Weanling pigs fed diets
containing different n-6:n-3 FA ratios responded differently to an
LPS induced immune challenge, and thus the FA profile of a ration
may affect the response of piglets to inflammatory challenges in
the nursery.
Spray-Dried Animal Plasma Mitigates the Negative Impact of Deoxynivalenol (DON) in Nursery Pigs
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Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin of concern to grain and
livestock producers in Canada. It is prevalent in cool, temperate
regions and often occurs on wheat and barley. The use of DON
contaminated grain in livestock feed leads to depressed feed intake
and growth performance. Pigs are especially susceptible to its
negative effects relative to other livestock species, and thus a study
was carried out to determine if the negative effects observed with
feeding DON contaminated diets could be mitigated by feeding a
clay binder and/or spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP). Pigs fed
a DON contaminated diet plus SDAP performed as well as those
consuming a non-contaminated diet in terms of ADFI and ADG.
Creep Feeding in the Farrowing Room: Do the Outcomes Depend on Weaning Age?
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Creep feed could benefit older weaned piglets by supplementing
nutrients in sows’ milk. Additionally, it could aid the transition to
solid feed at weaning, perhaps more of a benefit to the younger
weaned piglet. In our experiment, body weight at nursery exit was
greater in piglets offered creep feed for one week prior to weaning,
regardless of weaning age (3 vs 4 wk weaning). However, less than
4 % of the piglets weaned at 3 weeks of age showed evidence of
creep feed consumption.