Effects of a carbohydrase cocktail supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and meat quality in finishing pigs fed palm kernel meal

Posted in: Meat Quality, Production by admin on August 22, 2011 | No Comments

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a carbohydrase cocktail supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and meat quality in finishing pigs fed palm kernel meal. A total of 96 [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] pigs (average initial BW of 50.49 kg) were randomly allotted to one of the following four dietary treatments: control and the diet containing 5% palm kernel meal supplemented with 0, 0.1 or 0.2% carbohydrase cocktail. The experiment lasted 10 weeks and there were six replication pens per treatment with four pigs per pen. During the entire experiment, the final body weight, ADG and G:F decreased in pigs fed the unsupplemented palm kernel meal diet, while no difference was observed in ADG, ADFI and G:F between the control and palm kernel meal diet with 0.1 or 0.2% carbohydrase. Dry matter, N and energy digestibilities were reduced in the unsupplemented palm kernel meal diet. However, there were no differences in dry matter, N and energy digestibilities between the control and palm kernel meal diet with 0.1 or 0.2% carbohydrase at the end of the trial. Blood profiles did not differ among all the treatments. Dietary treatment had no effects on meat quality with the exception that marbling score in the unsupplemented palm kernel meal diet was lower than the other treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet containing 5% palm kernel meal with carbohydrase cocktail can improve the growth performance and energy and nutrient digestibilities in finishing pigs, thus increasing the nutritional value of palm kernel meal.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

Effects of Saururus chinensis extract supplementation on growth performance, meat quality and slurry noxious gas emission in finishing pigs

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This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Saururus chinensis (S. chinensis) extract supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, longissimus muscle and subcutaneous adipose fatty acid composition and slurry noxious gas emission in finishing pigs. A total of 120 [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] pigs (54.10kg) were randomly allocated into one of the following dietary treatments: 1) CON, basal diet; 2) S1, basal diet with 1 g/kg S. chinensis extract; 3) S2, basal dietwith 2 g/kg S. chinensis extract. There were 10 replications per treatment with 4 pigs (2 gilts and 2 barrows) per pen. Throughout the experiment, no significant difference was observed in growth performance or nutrient digestibility among treatments. However, serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations as well as total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio were significantly decreased in pigs fed S2 diet compared with those fed diets without S. chinensis extract. Furthermore, the S. chinensis extract administration improved lightness (L*) value while having little effects on the fatty acid composition of longissimus muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Providing S2 diet also decreased slurry concentrations of NH3. Taken together, S. chinensis extract administration had only minor effects on finishing pigs with the exception of improving serum lipid protein profile and decreasing the emission of noxious gases from slurry.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

A comparison of two methods to assess nutrient digestibility in pigs

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The noninvasive estimation of nutrient digestibility (DIG) is usually done by total collection (TC) of feces in balance crates or by the indicator method (IM) using an indigestible marker such as chromic oxide (CO). TC is precise but involves much labor. These methods were compared using pigs fed corn–soybean meal diets. In Trial 1, 10 pigs (68.1 kg) were individually housed in metabolism crates for a 5-day (d) TC. The IM phase immediately followed by adding CO to the feed for 2 consecutive d, and collecting a single grab fecal sample. In Trial 2, 24 pigs (66.2 kg) were used and Cr was fed for 7 consecutive d with single samples collected for 5 d starting when the stool color appeared bright green (which usually occurred on d3 after Cr was fed). Samples were composited into 5 final samples (d1, d1+2, d1+2+3, d1+2+3+4, d1+2+3+4+5) labeled D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5, respectively. In Trial 1, DIG values of DM, energy, and N were 2–3 percentage points lower for IM vs TC; DIG of Ca and P was 10–20 percentage points lower for IM. Differences related to dietary treatments were observed for 4 of these nutrients with TC but none of the nutrients with IM. In Trial 2, DIG by IM increased from D1 through D5, coinciding with increasing Cr excretion. For the macronutrients evaluated, all reached their DIG plateaus by D5 and similar values were observed between TC and IM. Dietary treatment differences were observed for Ca and P by TC and were also detected by IM. It is concluded that a multiday sample works better than a single grab sample for IM and that several days of marker observance are required before the marker content stabilizes in feces

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

Characterization of Selected Nutrients and Bacteria from Anaerobic Swine Manure Lagoons on Sow, Nursery, and Finisher Farms in the Mid-South USA

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Swine (Sus scrofa domestica) production in the Mid-South USA comprises sow, nursery, and finisher farms. A 2007 packing plant closure started a regional shift from finisher to sow and nursery farms. Changes in manure stored in lagoons and land-applied as fertilizer were expected but were unknown because nutrient and bacterial levels had not been characterized by farm type. The objectives of this study were to quantify selected nutrients and bacteria, compare levels by farm types, and project impacts of production shifts. Nutrients and bacteria were characterized in 17 sow, 10 nursery, and 10 finisher farm lagoons. Total and thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter spp., Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. were evaluated. Highest levels were from total coliforms (1.4– 5.7 × 105 cfu 100 mL−1), which occurred with E. coli, Campylobacter spp., C. perfringens, and Enterococcus spp., in every lagoon and virtually every sample. Lowest levels were from Listeria spp. And Salmonella spp. (≤1.3 × 102 most probable number [MPN] 100 mL−1), detected in 81 and 89% of lagoons and 68 and 64% of samples, respectively. Sow farm levels were higher for all except Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp., which were lower (1.4 × 101 and 2.8 × 101 MPN 100 mL−1, respectively) and only slightly below their respective levels from nursery farms (1.1 × 102 and 3.4 × 101 MPN 100 mL−1). Shifting from finisher to nursery farm would not affect bacterial levels, but shifting to sows would. Either shift would reduce NPK and N:P and suggest modification of nutrient management plans.

Characterization and Dispersion Modeling of Odors from a Piggery Facility

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Piggeries are known for their nuisance odors, creating problems for workers and nearby residents. Chemical substances that contribute to these odors include sulfurous organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, phenols and indoles, ammonia, volatile amines, and volatile fatty acids. In this work, daily mean concentrations of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were measured by hand-held devices. Measurements were taken in several places within the facility (farrowing to finishing rooms). Hydrogen sulfide concentration was found to be 40 to 50 times higher than the human odor threshold value in the nursery and fattening room, resulting in strong nuisance odors. Ammonia concentrations ranged from 2 to 18 mL m−3 and also contributed to the total odor nuisance. Emission data from various chambers of the pig farm were used with the dispersion model AERMOD to determine the odor nuisance caused due to the presence of H2S and NH3 to receptors at various distances from the facility. Because just a few seconds of exposure can cause an odor nuisance, a “peak-to-mean” ratio was used to predict the maximum odor concentrations. Several scenarios were examined using the modified AERMOD program, taking into account the complex terrain around the pig farm.

The Effect of Biofuel Production on Swine Farm Methane and Ammonia Emissions

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Methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) are emitted to the atmosphere during anaerobic processing of organic matter, and both gases have detrimental environmental effects. Methane conversion to biofuel production has been suggested to reduce CH4 emissions from animal manure processing systems. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the change in CH4 and NH3 emissions in an animal feeding operation due to biofuel production from the animal manure. Gas emissions were measured from swine farms differing only in their manure management treatment systems (conventional vs. biofuel). By removing organic matter (i.e., carbon) from the biofuel farms’ manure-processing lagoons, average annual CH4 emissions were decreased by 47% compared with the conventional farm. This represents a net 44% decrease in global warming potential (CO2 equivalent) by gases emitted from the biofuel farms compared with conventional farms. However, because of the reduction of methanogenesis and its reduced effect on the chemical conversion of ammonium (NH4 +) to dinitrogen (N2) gas, NH3 emissions in the biofuel farms increased by 46% over the conventional farms. These studies show that what is considered an environmentally friendly technology had mixed results and that all components of a system should be studied when making changes to existing systems.

Nitrification and Denitrification Gene Abundances in Swine Wastewater Anaerobic Lagoons

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Although anaerobic lagoons are used globally for livestock waste treatment, their detailed microbial cycling of N is only beginning to become understood. Within this cycling, nitrification can be performed by organisms that produce the enzyme ammonia monooxygenase. For denitrification, the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide can be catalyzed by two forms of nitrite reductases, and N2O can be reduced by nitrous oxide reductase encoded by the gene nosZ. The objectives of this investigation were to (i) quantify the abundance of the amoA, nirK, nirS, and nosZ genes; (ii) evaluate the influence of environmental conditions on their abundances; and (iii) evaluate their abundance relative to denitrification enzyme activity (DEA). Samples were analyzed via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and collected from eight typical, commercial anaerobic, swine wastewater lagoons located in the Carolinas. The four genes assayed in this study were present in all eight lagoons. Their abundances relative to total bacterial populations were 0.04% (amoA), 1.33% (nirS), 5.29% (nirK), and 0.27% (nosZ). When compared with lagoon chemical characteristics, amoA and nirK correlated with several measured variables. Neither nirS nor nosZ correlated with any measured environmental variables. Although no gene measured in this study correlated with actual or potential DEA, nosZ copy numbers did correlate with the disparity between actual and potential DEA. Phylogenetic analysis of nosZ did not reveal any correlations to DEA rates. As with other investigations, analyses of these genes provide useful insight while revealing the underlying greater complexity of N cycling within swine waste lagoons.

For more information the full article can be found at https://www.agronomy.org/publications/jeq

The Effect of Environmental Manipulation on Behavior, Salivary Cortisol, and Growth of Piglets Weaned at 14 Days of Age

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Environmental enrichment can be a useful tool to reduce belly nosing behaviors in early weaned piglets. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of environmental enrichment on behavior, salivary cortisol, and productivity of piglets weaned at 14 days of age. The study assigned 112 piglets (line Camborough 22 of PIC™) into 2 treatments, control and enriched, and observed them for 192 hr in 3 periods: 14 to 28 days of age (Phase 1), 28 to 42 days of age (Phase 2), and 42 to 54 days of age (Phase 3). The study obtained saliva samples in each phase from 56 piglets selected randomly from each group for cortisol determination. Comparisons between both treatments and phases included the following: proportion of time belly nosing, latency of approaching a person, average levels of salivary cortisol, and daily weight gain. Belly nosing was higher and latency of approaching a person lower in the control group than in the enriched one. Belly nosing was lower in Phase 3; latency of approaching a person was higher in Phase 1 with respect to Phase 2, and this was higher with respect to Phase 3. There were no differences in salivary cortisol levels between treatments or phases. Weight gain was higher in the enriched group. Environmental enrichment in piglets weaned at 14 days of age resulted in a reduced proportion of time nosing, reduced latency of response to humans, and better growth than piglets in barren environments.

To view this complete article please visit: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/503301/description#description

A Combination of Behavioral and Physiological Indicators for Assessing Pig Welfare on the Farm

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The purpose of this research was to identify pig welfare indicators that could help in recognizing stressful practices on farm. The study evaluated behavioral and physiological indicators (cortisol and negative acute phase proteins) in 2 groups of 20 female pigs 4 months old after a 48-hr transport. The first group (A) was transported at the end of May, the second (B) in June. Behavioral observations and blood collection occurred at arrival (D1) and 28 days later (D28). Compared with within-animal control samples obtained 28 days later, pigs of Group A had increased cortisol levels and decreased albumin concentrations after arrival. As demonstrated by lesion and behavior observations, the effect on cortisol and albumin was higher in Group B pigs after a tail-biting episode occurred. The study has reported no evidence of Retinol Binding Protein (RBP) in pigs. A method developed for swine RBP quantification found RBP strongly reduced in D28 samples of Group B, confirming it to be a negative protein in pigs. The suggested combination of physiological and behavioral indicators could provide useful information on the welfare state of an animal

To view this complete article please visit: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/503301/description#description

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination of retail pork

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Recent reports of isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from food animals have raised concern about the potential for foodborne transmission. This study evaluated the prevalence of MRSA contamination of retail pork from 4 Canadian provinces. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 31/402 [7.7%] of samples. Adjusted for clustering at the provincial level, the prevalence was 5.8%. The most common clone was Canadian epidemic MRSA (CMRSA)-5 (12/31, 39%), which has been widely identified in horses and horse personnel, but not in pigs. Ten of the 31 (32%) isolates were nontypable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and belonged to spa 539/t034, a clone that is associated with food animals internationally. Nine (29%) isolates were CMRSA-2, a common human epidemic clone that has been found in pigs in Canada. While the relevance of contamination of retail meat is currently unclear, further study is required to determine if food may be a source of infection.