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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:
Electron microscopy finder-grids link quantitative cytometry with high resolution confocal imaging in the study of TGF-β1 expression in the small intestine mucosa in growing pigs
Posted in: Production by admin on August 24, 2011 | No Comments
A new method is proposed linking the high-throughput quantitative population analysis with high-resolution imaging systems. Samples from piglet small intestine labelled against transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) were overlayed with electron microscopy finder grids and scanned by SCAN^R scanning cytometer. From the tissue map generated by SCAN^R, regions of interest (ROI) with TGF-β1-positive cells were selected and their coordinates stored from the sample overview. ROI were then located under the confocal microscope enabling detail visualization of the pattern of intracellular localization of the studied cytokine
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci
Innate immune response of blood neutrophils in Iberian pigs under different production systems
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Ninety Iberian pigs were grouped into three production systems commonly used in southwest Europe: Montanera (free-range and feeding on natural resources, mainly acorns and grass), Intensive (in confinement and fed commercial feed), and Recebo (similar to the Montanera system, but fed commercial feed in the final fattening stage). The aim of the present work was to determine and compare the phagocytic function of blood neutrophils from Iberian pigs in these production systems. We measured the phagocytic function of neutrophils (as measured by chemotaxis, phagocytosis and microbicidal capacity) from pigs at the beginning and end of fattening, in the different experimental groups. Neutrophils from Montanera animals were more active than those from the other production systems, especially those from the Intensive production group.
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci
Molecular weight changes of arabinoxylans of wheat and rye incurred by the digestion processes in the upper gastrointestinal tract of pigs
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Twenty cannulated-pigs were fed wheat flour (WFL), wheat whole grain (WWG), wheat aleurone flour (WAF) and rye aleurone flour (RAF) differing by their arabinoxylans (AX) proportions. After ileal collection of digesta (0800–1800), the soluble phase was extracted. The weight average molecular weight (MWw) of the ileal soluble phase and of the dietary water extracts were determined by high-performance size exclusion chromatography. The MWw value of the ileal soluble phase of digesta after feeding the RAF diet was reduced by approximately 25% compared with the dietary water extract whereas no difference was found between the water extract and the ileal soluble phase when the wheat based diets were fed. The viscosity of the ileal phase is the highest after feeding the RAF diet. In conclusion, the MWw of AX from wheat diets is not changed during passage of the upper intestinal tract of pigs, whereas that of AX from RAF diet is reduced by 25%
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci
Epistatic quantitative trait loci affecting chemical body composition and deposition as well as feed intake and feed efficiency throughout the entire growth period of pigs
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Numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for growth and feed intake in pigs, however, there are currently no reports of interactions between QTL (epistasis) for these traits at different stages of growth. A genomic scan for epistatic QTL was conducted on animals from a three generation full-sib population, created by crossing Pietrain sires with a crossbred dam line. All types of two-locus interactions were fitted in the model using Cockerham’s decomposition, by regressing on a linear combination of the individual QTL origin probabilities. This study is the first to report epistatic QTL for growth, feed intake and chemical body composition in pigs. Eighteen significant epistatic QTL pairs were identified, seven affecting growth, six affecting feed intake or food conversion ratio, and five affecting chemical body composition. Most interacting QTL resided on different chromosomes; only two were located on the same chromosome. The identified QTL pairs explained substantial proportions of the phenotypic variance, from 5% to 10.3%. All types of digenic epistatic effects were identified with the additive-by-additive effect being the most prevalent. These findings suggest that epistasis is important in the genomic regulation of growth, feed intake and chemical body composition. Furthermore, interactions occur between different pairs of epistatic QTL for the same trait depending on the growth stage, increasing the complexity of genomic networks. This agrees with studies on gene expression levels which showed that those are time and tissue dependent.
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci
Intrauterine growth restriction reduces intestinal structure and modifies the response to colostrum in preterm and term piglets
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We investigated some consequences of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on weight and structural and functional parameters of the intestine at birth and after 2 days of colostrum feeding. IUGR altered intestinal morphology, leading to a longer and thinner small intestine in piglets born both preterm and at full term, together with reduced villous size in term IUGR piglets. Preterm IUGR piglets displayed an improved ability to adapt to colostrum intake by rapid intestinal catch-up growth, relative to other groups of pigs. In contrast, intestinal nutrient absorption surface was impaired by IUGR during the first days of life in term piglets. The postnatal effects of IUGR may have long term consequences for developing piglets, and these effects may depend on gestational age at birth, preterm or term.
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci
Strategic use of feed ingredients and feed additives to stimulate gut health and development in young pigs
Posted in: Production by admin on August 23, 2011 | No Comments
There is a wide interest in developing management and feeding strategies to stimulate gut development and health in newly-weaned pigs, in order to improve growth performance while minimizing the use of antibiotics and rather expensive feed ingredients, such as milk products. A better understanding of the mechanisms whereby antibiotics influence animal physiology, as well as appropriate use of disease models and in vitro techniques, will lead to the development of alternatives to in-feed antibiotic. Given the considerable advances made in the understanding of intestinal nutrient utilization and metabolism, a complimentary goal in nutrition might be to formulate young pig diets with the specific task of optimizing the growth, function and health of the gut. Important aspects of gut health-promoting pig diets are: reduced content of protein that is fermented in the pigs’ gut, minimal buffering capacity, minimal content of anti-nutritional factors, and supply of beneficial compounds such as immunoglobulins. The optimum dietary level and type of fibre will vary with the nature of enteric disease challenges and production objectives. These diet characteristics are influenced by feed ingredient composition and feed processing, including feed fermentation and application of enzymes. A large number of feed additives have been evaluated that are aimed at (1) enhancing the pig’s immune response (e.g. immunoglobulin; ω-3 fatty acids, yeast derived ß-glucans), (2) reducing pathogen load in the pig’s gut (e.g. organic and inorganic acids, high levels of zinc oxide, essential oils, herbs and spices, some types of prebiotics, bacteriophages, and anti-microbial peptides), (3) stimulate establishment of beneficial gut microbes (probiotics and some types of prebiotics), and (4) stimulate digestive function (e.g. butyric acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, glutamine, threonine, cysteine, and nucleotides). When manipulating gut microbiota the positive effects of gut health-promoting microbes should be weighed against the increased energy and nutrient costs to support these microbes. In some instances feed additives have been proven effective in vitro but not effective in vivo. The latter applies in particular to essential oils that have strong anti-microbial activity but appear not to be effective in controlling bacterial pathogens when fed to pigs. A combination of different approaches may provide the most effective alternative to in-feed antibiotics.
To view this complete article please visit: http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci/
Proof of Principle of the Comfort Class concept in pigs. Experimenting in the midst of a stakeholder process on pig welfare
Posted in: Economics, Production, Welfare by admin on | No Comments
Animal welfare in livestock systems is strongly dependent on husbandry conditions. ‘Comfort Class’ is defined as a specific minimal level of husbandry conditions of animals, at which the ability of animals to meet their needs is not compromised by husbandry conditions. It is assumed that if this level is attained, animal welfare (the quality of life as experienced by the animal) will not be restricted by husbandry conditions. This idea of a Comfort Class level originates from an early interdisciplinary innovation trajectory in pig husbandry and was adopted by the major Dutch pig farmers’ organisation and the major Dutch animal protection organisation. These two parties built a Comfort Class facility as a proof of principle to test and demonstrate the idea. The aim of the first study in this facility was to empirically test whether a facility that meets the Comfort Class level results in good animal welfare for pigs. In two batches each with 144 undocked pigs, housed in three group sizes, observations were made on tail integrity, skin lesions, activity patterns and degree of synchronisation and clustering of eating and lying behaviour. In the first batch, tail and skin damage was at a low level. The second batch, starting with 64% of the animals having bitten tails, ended with almost all tails recovered. Activity patterns were similar for group sizes and growing stages. Resting behaviour was highly synchronised, but rather spread out over the lying area. Synchronisation of eating was limited, as 52% of the meals were taken alone and a further 29% by two pigs together. The study offered support for the hypothesis, that the Comfort Class level results in a good quality of life for pigs, especially based on the absence of observed welfare infringements (conclusion 1). Results on space use, synchronisation and clustering indicated that the theoretically derived requirements on space allowance and number of feeders might be reduced without compromising the Comfort Class level. The expected limited statistical power of the experiment did not hinder further development, as, during the process, working on the scientific underpinning of the concept was more important than the actual rigidity of the conclusions. The concurrent scientific activities legitimated the stakeholders’ activities and emphasised their claim that practical animal welfare improvement is possible. The project initiated further experimentation and design in practice and contributed to market introduction of welfare improved pork. The methodology applied in the project turned out to be the start of a series of interactive innovation initiatives in animal production sector, leading to the RIO (“Reflexief Interactief Ontwerp”, Dutch for Reflexive Interactive Design) innovation approach. Conclusion 2 of this study is that this interactive approachto experimentation facilitates the implementation of science based welfare improvements in practice.
To view this complete article please visit: http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci/
Characterization of gastrointestinal microbial and immune populations post-weaning in conventionally-reared and segregated early weaned pigs
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Weaning is a critical developmental event in the young pig as it relates to the establishment of the commensal microbiota and immunological development. Furthermore farm production systems can have dramatic impacts on the development of these events and their continued progression later in the production cycle. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and flow cytometry analyses were performed to investigate the microbial community and associated immune system development between pigs weaned to an on-site conventional (CONV) and a segregated early weaning (SEW) facility. Ordination methods were performed to determine the relationship of specific TRF peaks and immune measurements to each management system. Jejunal intraepithelial (IEL) activated and γδ lymphocyte populations were positively associated with CONV pigs, whereas activated CD8+ T cells and T cells with memory phenotypes in IEL were positively associated with SEW pigs. TRFLP analysis indicated peaks putatively containing Lactobacillus sp. and Pediococcus sp. whose presence in the gastrointestinal tract was positively correlated to SEW pigs post-weaning. TRF peak B100 was positively correlated to CD8+ and memory T cell phenotypes in the peripheral blood and jejunal IEL compartment, and negatively correlated to CD3+ T cells in blood. Peaks B262 and B269 were positively correlated to activated and γδ T cell populations in IEL and blood, and negatively correlated to T cells with memory phenotypes in IEL. TRF peak H341 was positively correlated to memory T cell phenotypes in the blood and activated leukocytes in IEL, and negatively correlated to γδ T cell populations. These data demonstrate divergent development of specific members of the microbial community and their relationship to immune development between swine management systems.
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci
Rolling behaviour of sows in relation to piglet crushing on sloped versus level floor pens
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The study focused on the rolling behaviour of sows and the crushing of piglets by sows’ rolling behaviour. The experiment examined the influence of sloped floor in loose housed farrowing pens on the rolling behaviour of sows and crushing of piglets. The experimental unit was made up of 24 pens. There were two experimental pen designs with piglet creep in the corner of the pen and piglet creep across the end of the pen, respectively. Both of the experimental pen designs had a 10% sloped floor in the sow’s resting area. The two control pen designs were identical to the experimental pen designs, but with a level floor. The behaviour of 85 sows and their litters was continuously video recorded. Behavioural observations were made from birth of the first piglet and until 3 days after birth of the first piglet. Rolling behaviour of sows caused significantly more trapped piglets under the sow than lying down from standing. Rolling behaviour caused 64% of the trapped piglets and lying down from standing caused 36% of the trapped piglets. Rolling from udder to side without protection trapped significantly more piglets than rolling from udder to side near slanted wall or piglet protection rails and rolling from side to udder. With a certain pen design sloped floor reduced rolling from udder to side without protection and reduced the number of trapped piglets, but results concerning lying behaviour showed that sloped floor pushed sows to rest on the level part of the floor. The results indicate that rolling behaviour that crushes piglets can be reduced, and sows prefer to lie on a level floor.
To view this complete article please visit: http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci/
Genetic parameters for piglet survival, litter size and birth weight or its variation within litter in sire and dam lines using Bayesian analysis
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Genetic parameters for survival at birth, litter size, birth weight and its variation within litter have been estimated in dam (D1, D2 and D3) and sire lines (S1 and S2) and genetic associations among these traits were examined. Genetic parameters, calculated as posterior means, were estimated at piglet (D1 and D2; 23,565 piglets) and litter level (all lines; 3497 litters) using a Bayesian approach. Posterior means of heritabilities for survival at piglet level (SVBP) were consistently low at 0.01, 0.06 to 0.07 and 0.04 to 0.06 for direct (h2 d), maternal (h2 m) and total (h2 t) genetic effects, respectively, with positive posterior means of correlations between the direct and maternal effect (rg-dm). For survival at litter level (SVBL) heritabilities were between 0.05 and 0.20, with highest estimates in lines with lowest birth weight. For individual piglet birth weight (IBW) heritabilities were substantially higher than for SVBP, ranging from 0.13 to 0.19 (h2 d), 0.16 to 0.28 (h2 m) and 0.08 to 0.28 (h2 t). Heritabilities for average litter birth weight (ALBW) ranged from 0.23 to 0.34, while heritabilities for variation of birth weight within litter (STD) ranged from 0.10 to 0.27. Heritabilities for number born in total (NBT) ranged from 0.11 to 0.16. Genetic associations between SVBL and NBT varied from favourable at 0.39 (D1) to unfavourable at −0.22 (D2). Genetic correlations of SVBL with ALBW and STD were mostly favourable (0.22 to 0.55 and −0.18 to −0.52, respectively) except for SVBL-ALBW in D1 (−0.50) and SVBL–STD in S2 (0.48). In D1 favourable genetic correlations were estimated between direct or maternal effects of SVBP and IBW whereas those for D2 were unfavourable. Consistently negative correlations were estimated between direct effects of SVBP and maternal effects of IBW. Adjustment for NBT resulted in slightly higher h2 d and h2 m for SVBP, with unfavourable rg-dm. Selection for survival is expected to be successful because all lines showed considerable variation for this trait and relatively high heritabilities, in particular in lines with low ALBW. Maternal heritabilities of IBW were mostly at moderate magnitude and thus of interest for selection. For most lines, the correlations between traits indicate that selection on either IBW or ALBW is indirectly increasing survival at birth. The variation in heritabilities among lines indicates that the strategy of selection for an optimal birth weight with lowest variation within litter should be considered per line individually to maximise overall genetic improvement in piglet survival and growth.
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci