Weaning Management – Advances in Pork Production (2012)

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Procedures need to be implemented before weaned pigs arrive include setting ventilation controls to allow for the room to dry after washing and disinfection. The room should also be warmed before pigs arrive and supplemental heat sources should be in place and functioning. Mat feeding for the first 3 days in the nursery is encouraged in order to significantly decrease percentage of pig removals.

All waterers should be functioning and adjusted to the proper height which is at shoulder height for the smaller pigs in the pen.

If all of the proper preparatory procedures are performed, the pigs can be left to rest for approximately 36 hours after weaning to allow them to acclimate. Pigs should be observed to ensure that they have found the water source and are beginning to develop feeding behavior.

The identification of candidate pigs for teaching feeding behavior is a high priority during the first few days after weaning.

Adherence to three key concepts when formulating diets for weaned pig are economics, maximized energy intake and high digestibility.

The study goes on to discuss the importance of dietary Lysine and concludes that the basic concepts and management practices for feeding older-weaned pigs are not different than those for younger weaning ages.

Weaning Management – Advances in Pork Production (2012)

Sex sorting sperm-Geoff Geddes 2016

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Sorting equipment is now in place at Fast Genetics and sows are being inseminated with sex-sorted sperm.

The final phase is the commercial stage, where it’s easy to imagine the benefits of a single-gendered offspring. “There’s always an economic difference between raising males and females, but producers could further capitalize on it depending on their packing plant relationships”

“Overall, it will allow us to create a better product and have faster genetic gain at the nucleus by skewing gender.”

Sex sorting sperm-Geoff Geddes 2016

Managing feeding to reduce feed wastage in lactation – Dr.Dan Columbus 2017

Posted in: Economics, Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre, Production by admin on May 1, 2017 | No Comments

Electronic feeding systems have multiple advantages over manual feed delivery including collection of feed intake data, controlled delivery of fresh feed, reduced feed wastage, and lower labour costs. However, these feed systems can be costly to install and maintain.

A simple feeding system was developed to reduce this cost consisting of a feed drop tube that extends to approximately one inch above the base of the feeder, which required the sow to manipulate the tube to release small quantities of feed.

A total of 45 sows and litters were randomly assigned to one of three feeding systems – manual feeding, a commercially available electronic sow feeder, or the modified system.

The type of feeding system used had no effect on sow body weight, body condition score, or back fat. Sow feed intake was significantly higher with manual feeding when compared to the other two feeding systems in the first two weeks of lactation, no difference was evident in the third week.

It was found that manual feeding of sows during lactation can result in higher feed usage with no corresponding increase in sow or litter productivity. At today’s feed prices, the reduction in feed intake associated with the electronic or modified feeding system would save producers an estimated $8.50 per lactation when compared to manual feeding. Therefore, the electronic and modified feeding systems should be considered to minimize feed wastage and maximize returns.

Managing feeding to reduce feed wastage in lactation – Dr.Dan Columbus 2017

Developing effective enrichments for group-housed sows – V. Kyeiwaa, J.Brown, Y.Seddon and L.Connor 2017

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The overall aim of these studies is to develop suitable enrichments for sows by identifying simple, safe and cost-effective enrichments that can be added to group sow housing systems, and form part of their routine husbandry practices.

Four different enrichment treatments were provided to sows in group housing. Each enrichment object had properties known to be attractive to pigs. Time spent interacting with different enrichments was compared to the daily activity patterns of sows in order to identify the most effective enrichment for sows.

The four treatments consisted of: 1) constant provision of wood on chains, 2) rotation of three objects rope, straw, wood on chain, 3) rotation of three objects with an associative stimulus bell or whistle, and 4) control (no objects: Control).

It was found that regardless of the treatment provided, on average 15 per cent of sows were out of their free-access stalls and present in the loafing area of the pen throughout the day. Provision of enrichment to group-housed sows can help increase the use of pen space, and that rotating enrichments can increase sows’ interactions with the enrichment while mainting the same constant enrichment will result in habituation and disinterest over time. The straw enrichment produced the greatest response resulting in the largest number of sows interacting with the enrichment 24 percent of sows were present in the enrichment area when straw was provided, compared to 12 per cent when no enrichment was provided (Control).

Developing effective enrichments for group-housed sows – V. Kyeiwaa, J.Brown, Y.Seddon and L.Connor 2017

Pig breeding in Canada – Treena Hein 2017

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Dr. Carl Lessard and his colleagues are calling out to purebred swine producers and other livestock producers across the nation for donations of sperm and eggs from purebred animals in all areas of the country, including poultry, bison, cattle, sheep, goat, horse, pig, deer, elk and more. The goal of this project is to create a germplasm repository for pigs and all other types of Canadian livestock.

Lessard is the curator of the Canadian Animal Genetic Resources program (CAGR) at the University of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. CAGR is developing methods to produce embryos in the lab and freeze them for long-term preservation in order to preserve the full genome of the animal in the best manner available. The group is seeking funding to demonstrate that the stored embryos can be transferred and grow successfully in a recipient.

Proving the effectiveness of these preservation techniques will offer new tools for purebred producers and the swine industry in distributing genetics both nationally and internationally.

There is also value in genetic preservation of heritage breeds. CCSI geneticist Dr. Mohsen Jafarikia says one potential application of heritage breed genes is their use as genetic markers, which can be used to improve certain traits in commercial breeds.

Preservation of animals from different genetic backgrounds guarantees the availability of variation in the
future, in case of unpredicted environmental changes such as climate change and potential new disease outbreaks.

Through the industrialization of pig production and the development of pork products (driven by the demands of the consumers), several heritage pig breeds have been progressively discarded from commercial production placing them on endangered breed lists thus indicating the importance of preserving their genetics as soon as possible.

Pig breeding in Canada – Treena Hein 2017

DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFSET MODEL FOR DETERMINATION OF ODOR-ANNOYANCE-FREE SETBACK DISTANCES FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION SITES: PART I AND II

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on August 24, 2016 | No Comments

Authors: L. D. Jacobson, H. Guo, D. R. Schmidt, R. E. Nicolai, J. Zhu, K. A. Janni

Reference: Transactions of the ASAE 48, no. 6 (2005): 2259-268.

Odor nuisance has been increasing in importance for new and existing animal production facilities. The object of this study, published in two parts, is to develop a method of establishing minimum offset distances.

An OFFSET model was developed based on an air dispersion model and actual odor emissions.  This model is based on extensive research at 280 animal buildings and manure storage facilities from 85 Minnesota farms. This model takes into account the local weather patterns as well as topography. This model does not overpredict odor travel distance.

Development of OFFSET model for setback distances Part I – Jacobson et al 2005

Development of OFFSET model for setback distances Part II – Jacobson et al 2005

Comparison of five models for setback distance determination from livestock sites

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Authors: H. Guo, L.D. Jacobson, D.R. Schmidt, R.E. Nicolai, and K.A. Janni

Reference: Canadian Biosystems Engineering 46 (2004): 17-25.

Odour has been a frequent hurdle when considering building new barns or expanding existing barns. In order to combat odour complaints and nuisance, various governments have developed minimum setback levels using different models that take into account different models. Main models include the Ontario MDS-II model, W-T model, Austrian Model, Purdue model, and Minnesota OFFSET model. These models take into account various factors including herd size, ventilation type, manure storage type, feed type, meteorological and topographic factors, building design among others.

This study aimed to test the setback distances generated by these five models and test them against 13 existing swine production facilities. Results showed that the minimum setback distances varied by as much as ten times between the different models. The only models that took into account actual odour emissions (measured by averages of various sources in a certain area) instead of indirect quantities were the Purdue and Minnesota OFFSET models.

Comparison of 5 models for setback distances – Guo et al 2004

Portable assay could deliver faster PEDv detection

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on August 11, 2016 | No Comments

Author: Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency

Reference: Western Hog Journal Spring 2016

A research team has developed a pen-side assay for testing fecal swabs, truck washer and environmental samples for PEDv. This fast, easy and accurate test can allow for better detection of the disease and can allow appropriate biosecurity measures to be taken. The test takes approximately an hour and is cheaper than sending a sample to a lab. The research team is also looking into assays for porcine deltacoronavirus and transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

portable PED assay

Feeding barley to starter pigs

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Authors: Z. Nasir, L.F. Wang, M.G. Young, M.L. Swift, E. Beltranena and R.T. Zijlstra

Reference: Western Hog Journal Spring 2016

This study aims to test if low quality (LQ) barley can be fed to starter pigs in replacement of wheat.

Piglets were weaned at 24 days of age and fed pre-starter diet for two days followed by a starter diet for five days. Piglets were fed one of four diets: 1) wheat based; 2) high quality barley based; 3) low quailty barley based with medium net energy; 4) low quality barley based with low net energy.

Piglet growth performance and final weight was greatest with the both low quality barley diets, followed by high quality barley diets and wheat diets. Energy digestibility was greater for the wheat diet over the barley diets.

Given proper diet formulation, low quality barley can be incorporated at up to 65% replacement of wheat is weaner pig diets without adverse effects.

Feeding Barley to starter pigs Nasir

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.

Slat gap width Rawluk