Effect of an NSP-hydrolysing enzyme (Rovabio Excel®) in the diet of lactating sows on feed intake, body condition and litter performance and in vivo and in vitro nutrient digestibility.

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on July 4, 2010 | No Comments

A non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)-hydrolyzing enzyme (Rovabio Excel®, Adisseo), was added to barley- and wheat-based diets and fed to lactating sows to determine if there would be an improvement in sow and piglet performance and feed digestibility. An in vitro experiment was also performed to assess how the enzyme would influence fermentation of dietary fibre in the pig’s large intestine. Although the enzyme improved nutrient digestibility and the energy content of the diet, there was no effect on sow or piglet performance.

Download Entire PDF

Enriching pork products with omega-3 fatty acids may affect pork quality

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Carcasses from growing swine swine (n-96) fed diets containing either 0, 5 or 10 % flaxseed for 76 days were graded and the pork was subjected to a sensory evaluation by a trained taste panel.  Feeding flaxseed enriched the omega-3 content of the high fat pork (for example ground pork with 20% added fat) sufficiently to allow a labelling-claim in Canada, however, panellists detected evidence of off-flavours and rancidity in these products.  Increasing dietary flaxseed resulted in higher lean yield and reduced belly firmness and fat hardness. 

Download Entire PDF

The effect on growing pig performance of changes in energy intake achieved through restriction of feed intake versus changes in dietary energy concentration

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

The pig’s energy intake can be manipulated through restriction of its feed intake or by altering the energy density of its diet. The former approach is commonly taken in a research setting while the latter is generally the more common approach in commercial pork production. Restriction of the growing pig’s feed intake results in decreases in energy intake and in average daily gain. Some authors report analogous findings when dietary energy concentration is manipulated while others report that changing dietary energy concentration does not affect energy intake or growth performance. The objective of the present experiment was to compare the pig’s response to changes in energy intake brought about by either a change in feed intake or altering dietary energy concentration.

Impact of feeding diets containing extruded flaxseed meal and vitamin E in finishing swine

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Previously we have shown that pork from pigs fed high flaxseed containing can be subject to rancidity.  The objective of this experiment was to determine if added vitamin E could mitigate this problem.  A total of 96 growing pigs were fed one of 3 different diets for 11 weeks prior to slaughter.  The diets contained either 0 or 5 % flaxseed or 5% flaxseed plus 200 mg/kg vitamin E. As expected feeding flaxseed increased the omega-3 fatty acid content of the pork, especially high fat pork products.  This was accompanied by the detection of off-flavours such as rancidity.  The added vitamin E lessened these negative side-effects although this pork still did not score as high as that from animals fed no flaxseed.

Effects of transport conditions and vehicle design on the welfare and meat quality of pigs in Western and Eastern Canada

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

This study examined transport conditions and behavioural and physiological responses of pigs transported in summer and winter, in both Eastern and Western Canada. Data were collected during all stages of transport, including loading, transport, unloading and lairage (waiting) at the abattoir. Measures included truck temperature, pig behaviour, core body temperature, heart rate, blood measures of stress and meat quality.  The presence of steep internal ramps in pot belly trailers had a significant impact on the handling behaviour and heart rate of pigs at loading and unloading. Significant variation in temperatures was found between compartments within pot belly trailers during transport, both in summer and winter. The combination of handling conditions and truck temperatures had a significant impact on pork quality. In the winter trials a higher incidence of dark firm and dry (DFD) or moderate DFD pork was found, especially in the west where pigs experienced longer transport times. In the summer trials, a higher incidence of pale, soft and exudative (PSE) or moderate PSE pork was found.

The interaction of group size and alley width on the movement of near market pigs

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

The objective of this study was to examine the interaction between group size and alley width on the ease and speed of movement of near-market pigs. Pigs were moved in different group sizes through a three-sided simulated handling course, in which alley width could be changed. Data were collected on heart rate, duration, handling and behavioural measures. Moving a group of 4 or 8 animals is preferred for minimizing stress and alley width of 0.9m appears to be most conducive to easy handling.

Comparison of performance of radiant and forced-convection heaters in swine grow-finish rooms

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

The goal of this study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of two heating systems in terms of energy efficiency as well as effect on barn environmental conditions and hog performance. An infrared radiant heater and a forced-air convection heater were installed separately in two grow-finish rooms at the Prairie Swine Centre Inc (PSCI) research facility. Consumption of natural gas and electrical energy were monitored in each room, as well as air temperature, relative humidity, and ventilation rate. Additionally, gas sensors were installed to monitor hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ammonia (NH₃), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations in the rooms. The results from three completed trials showed that the room with infrared radiant heating system consumed more natural gas but less electrical energy compared to the room with forced-air convection heater. Mean air temperature was higher in the room with forced-convection heater than in the room with radiant heater, but air temperature distribution at various locations within each room was similar. Generally, the relative humidity, ventilation rate, gas concentrations (NH₃, H₂S, CO and CO₂), and pig performance were relatively similar between the rooms, indicating no significant impact of the type of heater on these parameters.

Application of computer simulation to evaluate potential measures for improving energy efficiency in hog production

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

Results from previous work of Navia (2008) showed that many of the barns currently in use are not optimized for using energy as efficiently as possible, mainly because the cost of energy in the past has been very minimal. In view of emerging concern regarding the increasing trends in global energy prices, there is a need to re-examine existing barn building design and management to use less energy and more efficiently.  As part of the on-going effort to reduce the cost of production in swine operations, this study aims to optimize energy efficiency and reduce overall energy use in swine barns. Computer simulation is being utilized to examine various energy conservation strategies that can be applied in a barn. Preliminary results show that the use of air to air heat exchangers and lighting modifications have high potential in reducing the annual energy consumption in the barn. From the simulation results, the most promising measures will be retro-fitted into the barn to enable collection of actual barn data that will serve as basis for the development of a decision software tool.

Downlaod Entire PDF

Evaluation of methods for controlling and monitoring occupational exposure of workers in swine facilities

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of selected engineering and management measures, namely, oil sprinkling, low protein diet, high level of cleaning and manure pH manipulation, in reducing ammonia (NH₃) and respirable dust concentration in swine production rooms. Six grow-finish rooms at PSCI research facility were used with two as control and four as experimental rooms each employing one of the measures being investigated. Sampling equipment was installed in each room for measurement of ammonia and respirable dust concentrations within the room airspace. Worker exposure to ammonia and dust from the rooms was also assessed by equipping workers with a personal monitoring gear similar to those installed in the rooms. Ammonia levels were monitored using both the standard method and using commercial gas sensors. Results from completed trials so far showed that low-protein diet, pH manipulation of manure and employing high level of cleanliness could potentially reduce ammonia concentrations in swine production rooms. Among these various measures, only spraying of canola oil reduced dust levels inside the rooms. Moreover, average daily gain of pigs was relatively similar between control and experimental rooms. A benefit-cost analysis will be conducted after all trials are completed.

Transportation of Pigs in Western Canada: Temperatures Within Trucks During Winter and Summer Months

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 2009 | No Comments

The pigs were transported from the PSC Elstow Research Farm, and involved approximately 8 hours of travel to the Maple Leaf plant in Brandon. Pigs were loaded in the evening and transported overnight to arrive at the packing plant at 6 am. Trials were conducted in both winter and summer. The truck used for transportation was a three-deck dual (cattle and pigs) purpose, pot-belly trailer. The temperature conditions pigs are exposed to during transport vary considerably between seasons and among compartments within a vehicle. It was found that it may be possible to better standardize these temperature variations by changing ventilation and insulation values in each section/compartment of the trailer. The results found in this study will provide direction for important studies in the future.