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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:
New Tools Under Development For Early Detection Of Lameness
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 16, 2012 | No Comments
There are new tools being worked on to help identify sow lameness. Lameness is a major reason for culling sows out of a herd. Also lameness leads to discomfort and stress in sows which may effect productivity. Tools that can detect lameness can help in the selection of gilts and help minimize the risks of lameness. These tools could have large economic implications for producers.
Achieving lower piglet mortality
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 10, 2012 | No Comments
In Denmark studies have been done to try and reduce mortality rate in piglets. In Denmark statistics state that 25% of piglets die before being weaned. Traditionally producers have tried to increase the amount pigs born per sow, this could be the reason for high mortality rates in recent decades. It was found that by changing the goals of producers from litter size to piglets surviving after five days, mortality rates can be improved.
Performance During the First Cycle in Enriched Cage Modules
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 9, 2012 | No Comments
In a study over 90 weeks of 150 000 hens kept in a Big Dutchmen enriched system, researchers found better performances than in a Hy‐Line standard system. Hens in the enriched system performed better in mortality rates, egg production, and average weight. There was no noted improvement in feed intake or feed conversion in the enriched system.
Loose farrowing sows require different routines
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 8, 2012 | No Comments
Research in Denmark found that sows in loose housing can benefit from getting familiar with the person treating them. Repeated visits leading up to farrowing, giving feed or straw to the sow and letting the sow get to know a persons voice, will help in post farrowing visits. A problem in loose housing systems is when a sow lies down or rolls over piglets are crushed and killed. Restlessness causes sows to roll unnecessarily increasing piglet mortality.
Welfare–Friendly Husbandry through Genetics: Animal Well‐Being
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 6, 2012 | No Comments
Studies done in Europe stress that breeding should try to include behavior, to improve welfare, as well as meat production. The researchers found a very wide range of stress responses between individual pigs. They suggest that if pigs are bread to be more robust that it will improve herd well being.
Danish stop research on gender‐selected pig semen
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 3, 2012 | No Comments
Danish researchers have given up attempts to breed more female pigs. Female pigs do not have boar taint, which is an affliction of non-castrated male pigs. As the EU move towards no-castration regulations, breeding females was seen as a way to avoid boar taint and castration. Some results were achieved but not successfully enough to be considered efficient. Researchers will still try to breed out boar taint.
Can Omega‐3 fatty acids improve piglet health?
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on February 1, 2012 | No Comments
Studies were undertaken looking at effects of omega 6 and omega 3 ratios on pigs post weaning. When a pig is weaned it is a very stressful time in its life, this stress triggers an immune response. By altering the omega 6:omega 3 ratio researchers found there was varying immune responses from pigs on different diets. It is recommended that a feed ratio of no less than 5:1 (omega6:omega3) be used. Pigs given a ratio of 1:1 experienced a heightened immune response and higher body temperature which can be interpreted as a heightened occurrence of fever and stress.
Vair Pig House: Combining Animal Welfare, Housing And A Better Climate
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments
A Vair pig house is a Dutch designed modern facility incorporating animal welfare, housing and climate. Some of the main features include more freedom, fresh air and daylight, straw‐bedded flooring as well as an outdoor area. Even a pig toilet is being used which takes advantage of a pigs natural neatness quality. Single aspects of the Vair house can be applied to a wider range of pig operations.
Evaluation of Methods of Rapid Mass Killing of Segregated Early Weaned Piglets
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments
Previous studies have found that blunt force was the most satisfactory method of euthanizing young pigs. The researchers tested four different methods and made decisions based on speed of application, human resource and input cost, animal restraint required, and failure rate. Although based on subjective aesthetics and physical application, manual blunt force trauma was found to be unacceptable. The researchers concluded by saying ” Considering animal welfare metrics in isolation, controlled blunt force trauma was superior to all other techniques attempted.”
Mycoplasma Ear Infection in Calves
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch by admin on | No Comments
Mycoplasma bovis has been a problem for dairy farmers in the past few years. Affected calves may have facial paralysis shown by ear droop, head tilt and excessive tearing. Cows become infected as early as four days old. Outbreaks can infect large portions of herds with high death rates among the infected animals. Pasteurization of colostrum milk was seen to lower the chance of infections.