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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:
Application of Novel Technologies for Semen Evaluation
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on June 4, 2012 | No Comments
Technological advances in breeding have allowed less sperm to be used per dose in artificial insemination, but evaluating sperm would allow further reduction with consistent results. Currently, sperm is evaluated for mobility and morphology using microscopes or Computer Automated Sperm Analysis (CASA), and sperm concentrations are taken by CASA or through photometric methods. Flow cytometry allows rapid analysis of concentration and characteristics, to sort X and Y populations for gender selection, and is becoming more accessible due to micro-fluidic capillary flow systems. Flow cytometry is used for bull semen, but is limited to adrology labs for boars at the moments. Although a definite fertility test is unlikely in the near future, flow cytometry allows multiple variants to be tested precisely, objectively, and in large samples. One assay that can be performed with flow cytometry is the Sperm Chromatic Structure Assay, which marks DNA with different coloured fluorescent dye depending on whether it is normal or denatured. Another assay to determine sperm viability uses propidiom iodine to test the membrane integrity, which is more accurate than basing viability on mobility alone. Acrosome integrity can also be assessed at the same time as membrane integrity, and does so with specific dyes and plant lectin. There are also a variety of additional assays fluid cytometry is able to perform, which makes it a valuable and adaptable tool.
Science to Reality – Reproductive Research in the Future
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on June 2, 2012 | No Comments
Future reproductive study focuses should be multidisciplinary, and could follow a number of direction. Of importance is the continued study of genetics x environment on phenotype expression. This could aid understanding of the correlation between litter size and birth weights – which are related, but not completely linear. Also, to close the phenomic gap that exists for traits with low heritability, and have multiple genes involved. It will be important to take a multidisciplinary approach to research for nutrition-reproduction studies, and management for first parity sows. The effect of open housing on the estrus cycle, and gamete biology are areas that will continue to require study, especially working on freezing sperm and eggs. Ways to help reach these research goals could include in-house research facilities in commercial barns, training students, and focusing on research that can be applied quickly into commercial barns.
Genomics and Animal Health
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There has been an increased interest in using genetic information to select pigs with health traits, such as a strong immune system. The innate immune response has receptors encoded in the germline, but the functional immune response requires expression of germline encoded regulatory genes. The result is a complicated genetic make-up for the immune response, but Genome-Wide Association Studies should help to determine the genetic pathways and genes involved. A QTL database already contains many locations for health-related QTLs, and studies have begun to test the application of this knowledge. Genetic components for pathogen resistance or vaccine response remain complicated and are likely polygenic. Of specific interest is a resistance to PRRSv, and it has been determined that macrophage response and cytokine levels could contribute. PRRSv subverts innate immunity, and vaccines are ineffective because it is an RNA virus which constantly mutates. The PRRS Host Genomic Consortium is working to identify genes associated with PRRSv resistance, and so far has found the genes involved to have some heritability. This suggests selective breeding might be used to increase PRRSv resistance, and studies are ongoing including ones for the commercial application. Genetic sequencing and other genetic techniques are allowing the genes associated with certain traits to be identified. Health-related genes are one of the current focuses, and studies are ongoing on pathogen resistance and vaccine response, especially PRRSv resistance.
Implications of Genomics for Genetic Improvement Programs
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SNP genotyping allows for SNPs associated with a phenotype to be identified and used, but SNPs with a smaller effects can be overlooked. Genomic Selection would fit all SNPs by including each one as a regression dependent on all other SNPs. The allele substitution effect would be random, and this would avoid overestimating the impact of a SNP. The Genomic Estimated Breeding Value can then be calculated for an individual from the SNP estimates. The SNP estimates can be obtained by BLUP, Bayes-A, or Bayes-B methods. The Genomic Selection method would allow the breeding value of individuals to be calculated, rather than just those with a certain phenotype. However, SNP re-estimation would have to be updated continuously because the SNP effects are from the training population, and other genetic interactions can contribute. Commercial pigs are often crossbred, so the pure parental lines are where genetic selection is conducted. Also, the parental lines are often kept in a facility with a higher biosecurity. If crossbred phenotypes could be recorded the parental breeding value could be more accurately estimated, but cost and the use of mixed semen makes this difficult. Genomic Selection allows the SNP effect to be estimated for crossbreeds of a phenotype, and eliminates the need for tracking pedigrees. High-density SNP genotyping is still not cost-effective for individual analysis and using smaller panels still require a large amount of SNPs. Instead, genotype selection of around 400 SNPs can be done on individuals, and then portions of high-density SNPs from the parents used. Genomic Selection has the potential to provide more accurate breeding values, and selection effects seen more clearly in production settings.
New Feed Processing Technology that May Influence Feed Efficiency
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on April 24, 2012 | No Comments
This presentation by Dr. Tom Scott of the University of Saskatchewan was presented at the 4th in a series of 8 webinars on Feed Efficiency hosted by Prairie Swine Centre. To access the presentation scroll down and click on Download PDF
Herd Management Factors that Influence Whole Herd Feed Efficiency
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on April 11, 2012 | No Comments
This presentation by Dr. Aaron Gaines of The Maschoffs was presented at the 3rd in a series of 8 webinars on Feed Efficiency hosted by Prairie Swine Centre. To access the presentation scroll down and click on Download PDF
Feeding and barn management practices that improve feed efficiency
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on March 30, 2012 | No Comments
This presentation by Dr. Goodband of Kansas State University was presented at the 2nd in a series of 8 webinars on Feed Efficiency hosted by Prairie Swine Centre. To access the presentation scroll down and click on Download PDF
Ten Rules to Optimize Nursery-Grow-Finish Productivity
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on March 29, 2012 | No Comments
Improving nursery and grow-finish performance can help to increase profitability. PRRS is an expensive virus in terms of its effect on performance, so every effort should be made to keep it out of the nursery where pigs are vulnerable to disease challenges. Ways to manage nursery PRRS are to eradicate it in the sow herd if possible, or to increase the age of infection for nursery pigs. Nursery pigs should be given sufficient space, and kept in an environment at the optimal temperature. Good stockmanship in the nursery includes proper sanitation, adjusting temperature, feeders, and drinkers, and intervening if pigs are not eating 36 hours post-weaning. The nursery should have a feed budget that switches pigs to simpler diets as soon as possible. The feed budget’s effectiveness can be maintained by proper room management, increasing the age of weaning, and measuring weights as much as possible. The health status should be kept high through controlling other pathogen levels by vaccinating, medication, or depopulating and repopulating. The grow-finish room should be clean and set-up before the nursery pigs are transferred over. Grow-finishers often are affected by respiratory diseases around week 20, so vaccinations, ventilation and density management can be used to help prevent this. The finishing feed diets should be budgeted to avoid wasted costs and feed wastage. Chores like barn walk-throughs and individual pig treatments can help fix problems before they become serious. Finally, grower diarrhea incidences should be controlled through medication, sanitation, and biosecurity.
Large Group Auto Sort Systems for Managing Growing-Finishing Pigs – 2012
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Some of the challenges facing pork producers are the high costs of production, increasing consumer demands, and lack of quality workers. New technologies can help address these problems, and one example is large pen auto sorters. Auto sorters can provide similar performance levels to smaller groups, and also provide an economic benefit. However, both of those require proper management of the system, otherwise problems like pigs dying, poorly designed layouts, and reduced performance can occur. Recent producer experiences have shown that auto sort systems can maintain or improve performance, especially as group size and density increases. Also, producers had production savings that varied depending on system, feed, and genetics, and can receive packer bonuses from providing more pigs in the target weight.
The Future of Finishing Barns
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When building finishing barns the focus has generally been on reducing capital costs, but ways to enhance performance should also be taken into consideration. If barns could be built to improve feed conversion in finishing pigs, the additional capital investment would be paid off by increased profit per pig. Also, currently more pig spaces are needed in Ontario to produce enough pigs to keep packers at capacity and profitable. The cost of pig space could be reduced if identical barns were built, or at least limit barns to a couple of floor plans. Also, galvanized steel roofs could potentially be used with the right insulation to lower cost per pig space. The current Canadian barn style can be changed to consider long-term operation costs, or could model after cheaper American barns.