Analysing New Crop Grains

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 2008 | No Comments

A cold and wet spring which delayed seeding and sprouting has resulted in a late harvest
throughout most of Saskatchewan, if not the Western Canadian Prairies. Although, a
long, dry and sunny fall could significantly improve the outcome, it is reasonable to predict that
the harvest will result in significant amounts of grain that is immature, frozen and or
sprouted. Discounted, frost damaged wheat, canola or barley can represent an opportunity for pork
producers. Producers should have the grain tested for fibre content (ADF and NDF) and use
appropriate equations to adjust the DE content. However, these equations are not accurate if the
damage is severe (bushel weight of 40 or below for wheat or 45 for barley). The energy content
of severely damaged grain should be discounted by 10% and/or it should be diluted with
undamaged grain.
If ergot or mould is suspected, again the grain should be tested. It should then be mixed with
“clean” grain to ensure the toxin does not exceed the recommended levels. None of this grain
should be included in rations destined for the breeding herd.

Net Energy Content of Canola Meal and Full-Fat Canola Seeds in Swine

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Evaluating Energy Usage and Various Energy Conservation Strategies for Swine Barns

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Energy usage in swine barns and potential energy conservation measures were evaluated in
this study. A survey of 28 swine facilities showed large variability in energy used per hog
produced between barns. Energy audits conducted in four selected barns identified the various
areas, equipment, and practices in the barn that contributed significantly to the total overall
energy consumption, thereby aiding in prioritizing areas for intervention. Using computer
simulation, various potential strategies that can be applied in a barn in terms of lighting, creep
and space heating, fans, feed motor, and heat recovery were examined. Simulation results for a
typical 600-sow operation showed that potential annual savings up to 47,391 kWh electricity (79
kWh/sow) or 88,404 m3 natural gas (147 m3/sow) can be attained.

Ractopamine hydrochloride and the environmental sustainability of pork production

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We (Patience et al. 2006) and others have shown improvements in lean growth and feed
efficiency when ractopamine (Paylean®) was fed to finishing pigs. The objective of the following
experiment was to determine if the improvements in nutrient utilization with Paylean can lead to a
demonstrable reduction in the environmental footprint of pork production.
A metabolism experiment was conducted to measure the effect of 0. 5 or 10 mg/kg
ractopamine (RAC) from Paylean on N and water balance in finishing swine. Paylean improved ADG,
N retention in the carcass and feed efficiency and decreased water intake and urine output. Because of
the improvement in N and water utilization in finishing pigs, we concluded that Paylean can reduce the
environmental impact of pork production.

Temperatures Within a Truck Transporting Pigs During Winter and Summer Months in Western Canada

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This study investigated the temperatures within a truck transporting pigs in western
Canada, during summer and winter months. Pigs were transported from PSC
Elstow Research Farm, and involved approximately 8 hours of travel to the Maple
Leaf plant in Brandon. The temperature conditions pigs were exposed to during
transport varied considerably between seasons and among compartments within
the vehicle, and pigs were exposed to temperatures as low as -15 °C or as high as
30 °C.

The effect of management strategies and parity on the behaviour and physiology of gestating sows housed in an electronic sow feeding system

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How group housed
sows are managed can have an impact on their welfare during gestation. The present study examined the effects of housing
management (static vs. dynamic), stage of gestation at introduction, familiarity within the group, and age of sow on some
aspects of the behaviour and physiology of sows in an electronic sow feeding system. Eight groups were introduced into
either a static or dynamic management system. Within an introduction group, 21 to 23 focal sows were selected based upon
their stage of gestation (pre vs. post-implantation), familiarity with groupmates (familiar vs. unfamiliar) and parity [young
(1st parity) vs. intermediate (2nd and 3rd parity) vs. old (4th parity and higher)]. The aggression at mixing, aggression at
the feeder, injuries, feeder entry order, lying patterns, and salivary cortisol concentrations were recorded. There were no
differences in the behaviour or physiology of sows housed in either housing management system, or based upon familiarity.
Sows mixed post-implantation were less aggressive (P=0.01), entered the feeding station later (P=0.03) and were
observed lying in the least preferred areas of the pen (P=0.001), than sows grouped within a few days of breeding. Older
sows were involved in more aggressive encounters (P=0.04), spent more time fighting at mixing (P=0.02), and lay against
the wall more (P<0.001) than did young sows, which tended to sustain more scratches (P=0.07), and ate later in the feed cycle (P<0.001). A dynamic management system is just as effective as a static management system when certain management criteria are met. Familiarity does not have an impact on the sows during gestation. Stage of gestation and parity should be considered along with the group dynamic as it can impact aggression and access to resources.

Effects of housing finishing pigs in two group sizes and at two floor space allocations on production, health, behavior, and physiological variables

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With the shift in hog operations to housing pigs in large groups of over 100 per pen, questions have arisen as to how these pigs should be managed. Pigs in large groups have been suggested to more efficiently use space in crowded conditions, because the free space available to all pigs is greater (McGlone and Newby, 1994). McGlone and Newby (1994) also hypothesized that space could be reduced in large groups without negatively affecting production. However, a study in a strawed system did not find such an interaction (Turner et al., 2000), and studies in nonbedded systems have not provided identical space allowances to both large and small groups (McGlone and Newby, 1994; Wolter et al., 2000). Space recommendations put forth by AAFC (1993) have been based on traditional group sizes, which tend to range from 10 to 40 pigs per pen. Therefore, this study examined effects of small (18 pigs) vs. large (108 pigs) group sizes provided 0.52 m2/ pig (crowded) or 0.78 m2/pig (uncrowded) of space on production, health, behavior, and physiological variables. Eight 7-to 8-wk-long blocks, each involving 288 pigs, were completed. The average birth weight at the beginning of the study was 37.4 ± 0.26 kg. Overall, average daily gain was 1.032 kg/d and 1.077 (±0.015) kg/d for crowded and uncrowded pigs, respectively (P = 0.018). Differences between the space allowance treatments were most evident during the final week of study. Overall gain to feed ratio was also reduced (P = 0.002) in the crowded treatment. Pigs in the crowded groups spent less (P = 0.003) time eating over the 8-wk study than did pigs in noncrowded groups, but average daily feed intake did not differ (P = 0.34) between treatments. Overall, average daily gain of large-group pigs was 1.035 kg/d, whereas small group pigs gained 1.073 kg/d (±0.015; P = 0.039). Average daily gain differences between the group sizes were most evident during the first 2 wk of the study. Over the entire study, gain to feed ratio also differed, with large groups being less efficient (P = 0.005) than small groups. Although large-group pigs had poorer scores for lameness (P = 0.012) and leg scores (P = 0.02) throughout the 8-wk period, morbidity levels did not differ (P = 0.32) between the group sizes. Minimal changes in postural behavior and feeding patterns were noted in large groups. An interaction (P = 0.04) of group size and space allowance for lameness indicated that pigs housed in large groups at restricted space allowances were more susceptible to lameness. Although some behavioral variables, such as lying postures, suggest that pigs in large groups were able to use space more efficiently, overall productivity and health variables indicate that pigs in large and small groups were similarly affected by the crowding imposed in this study. Broken-line analysis of average daily gain indicated no difference in the response to crowding by pigs in large and small groups. Little support was found for reducing space allowances for pigs in large groups.

What is a Nanoparticle: An Overview of Prairie Swine Centre Research

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 2007 | No Comments

Impact of piglet birth weight on the eating quality of pork

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Piglets born in large litters are, on average, smaller (PSC Annual Research Report 2006; p. 36-38). Low birth weight has been associated with fewer total muscle fibres, and fewer primary muscle fibres. The specific objective of the study was to determine if the eating quality of pork obtained from pigs with low birth weight differed from that of their larger litter-mates. Birth order, birth weight, total number born and total number born alive were recorded for 98 farrowings at PSC Elstow. Except for constant monitoring during farrowing and periodic measurements of body weight (BW), farrowing and piglet management were according to normal barn practises. From 24 litters, selected because they had at least 12 piglets born alive and which represented a range of body weight, 4 pigs were chosen and sent to Lacombe Research Station when they reached 120 kg, for extensive meat quality and sensory analysis. It was concluded that there was no effect of birth weight on carcass quality, physical, or histological properties of the meat or overall eating quality. Therefore, increasing litter size can be used by producers to increase productivity with no adverse effect on pig performance or meat quality.

EFFECTIVENESS OF A MANURE SCRAPER SYSTEM FOR REDUCING CONCENTRATIONS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND AMMONIA IN A SWINE GROWER-FINISHER ROOM

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