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Trytophan requirement of pregnant sows

Posted in: Uncategorized by admin on June 5, 2012 | No Comments

The abstract for a study looking at the changing trytophan requirement in sows from early to late gestation. It was found the requirement increased by 52%, and a single phase diet would not be sufficient to provide the needed trytophan.

Diet Formulations Using Lower Energy Feeds

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The use of lower energy ingredients in diets has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and nutritional and carcass impacts have become necessary to consider as well. Determining the nutritional value of ingredients can be done through literature reviews, laboratory analysis, or estimated from analysis of other ingredients and standard equations. These methods can all give different values, so it is important to be consistent in the method used. The impact on average daily gain varies, as a pig can compensate for lower dietary energy by eating a greater quantity of food. When the fibre increases as well, the pig may not be able to eat enough to keep dietary energy the same and average daily gain may drop. The cost of reduced ADG can be small if excess space is available, but when there is no excess space it may cause a loss greater than the savings on feed. Other impacts of alternate ingredients include decreased carcass weight because of enlarged intestines from fibre, and increased space and transport costs from a lower density feed. As well, low energy diets can increase the iodine value, and result in softer fat. Ways in which to decrease the negative impact of low energy feeds are to switch to a higher energy diet three weeks before market, and the use of enzymes to increase digestibility is still under study. The use of lower energy diets is popular because of the lowered feed costs, but the overall impact and possible areas of increased costs should be considered before incorporating one into a diet.

Research and Education Goals for the Pork Industry

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Research and development in the pork industry can come through a variety of means. Institutions are the classic researchers, but companies like PigGEn are private, yet invest in companies like Livestock Genetec who have government funding. As well, they have invested in the Canadian Swine Research and Development Cluster (CSDRC). Other companies such as suppliers have also invested, but not necessarily on behalf of the pork industry. Other livestock companies are in competition for funding, so cooperation between research providers will help secure funding. This can be aided by provincial producer organizations, and if funding can be pooled it could benefit more research. Postgraduate training funding, like through NSERC, remain key to keeping industry trained students coming into pork research. Commercial and corporate recruiting of postgraduate students helps provide education funding, and helps to ensure loyalty to the company. Finally, the need to link the industry to institutional research remains important to provide specific education, and also open more career options for postgraduates specialized in the pork industry. The current need in research is for collaboration between institutions, private research companies, corporations, and producers on a large scale.

Creep Feed Provision in the Farrowing Room Provides Benefi ts to Piglets Showing Evidence of Intake

Posted in: Uncategorized by admin on May 19, 2012 | No Comments

Previous studies done by the PSC found that creep feeding had no effect on litter performance. Although a new study looked at creep feed disappearance and found that only about half of piglets in a farrowing crate were eating creep feed. A non-toxic dye was put into feed offered to piglets, who were then anal swab after several days to determine who was and was not eating the creep feed. Looking at piglet growth it was found that pigs who were eating the creep feed had higher weights when weaned from farrowing versus pigs who didn’t eat the creep feed. As the pigs were tracked through the nursery it was found that pigs who ate creep feed had higher weights when leaving the nursery. More studies are required to find why only some pigs chose to eat the feed.

Tools Under Development to Identify Group Housing Systems for Individual Management Systems

Posted in: Uncategorized by admin on February 29, 2012 | No Comments

On February 29th 2012, on farmscape.ca radio, Dr. Laurie Conner of the University of Manitoba discussed New tools being developed for coverting to group housing systems

A large issue facing the pig industry these days is sow housing. There is pressure being applied on pork producers to phase out gestation housing. This will require considerable barn renovations to adjust old barns to barns more in line with acceptable animal welfare practices. Tools are being developed to help producers decide what new system would be best for there operation based on things like there current feed system, and operation size. The tools require producers to input their current barn design and the system will come up the best new model for that barn, based on things like engineering and costs.

To listen to the interview click here: Tools Under Development to Identify Group Housing Systems for Individual Management Systems

New Tools Under Development for Early Detection of Lameness

Posted in: Uncategorized by admin on February 16, 2012 | No Comments

On February 16th 2012, on farmscape radio, Dr. Laurie Conner of the University of Manitoba, discussed new tools being developed for early detection of lameness.

Researchers from various institutes are collaborating to develop new tools to assess the risk factors for sow lameness in different housing systems. Lameness is a large reason for culling animals, it increases costs as a new animal is brought into the breeding cycle. Also lameness causes discomfort, which increases stress and decreases productivity.

To listen to the interview please click here: New Tools Under Development for Early Detection of Lameness

Development of sustainable precision farming systems for swine: Estimating real-time individual energy and nutrient requirements in growing-finishing pigs

Posted in: Uncategorized by admin on January 27, 2012 | No Comments

Precision feeding is a process that attempts to determine feed requirements for individual pigs. This paper creates a mathematical model to determine individual pig diet needs based on nutrient requirements and daily energy requirements. This model used an empirical method to determine body weight, daily feed intake and daily growth. The body weight, daily feed intake and daily gain were then used in a mechanical model to determine current-day nutrient requirements, optimal dietary energy and nutrient concentrations for each pig. The model was evaluated by comparing it to data acquired from a previous study done on a pig population. The model was compared with InraPorc and both models had similar estimates of DFI with the average mean absolute errors being 12.45% and 14.76% respectfully. They varied somewhat between body weight estimations, the proposed model being 1.8% and the InraPorc being 5.38%. The proposed model was accurate in estimating change in body weight and daily feed intake. The model estimated energy and nutrient requirements that are animal and time dependent and follow the individual DFI and BW growth patterns in real time. The model was able to accurately follow average feed intake and average growth trajectory of growing pigs in real time. Based on these trajectories and the use of classical factorial equations the model is able to predict each individual pigs nutrient and energy requirements taking into account each pigs growth and feed intake changes.

To read this complete article please visit: http://jas.fass.org/content/early/2012/01/27/jas.2011-4252

Skinny cows – A source of sore feet

Posted in: Research Watch, Uncategorized by admin on January 3, 2012 | No Comments

It has long been assumed that skinny cows are a result of lameness. This article argues that in fact lameness is a result of skinny cows. When a cow reduces its body size, especially after calving when its fat reserves are used to produce milk, a shock absorber in the cows hoof called the ‘digital cushion’ becomes smaller. A smaller ‘digital cushion’ in a cows hoof can’t absorb shock like it should when it is normal sized, therefore more pain is caused in the cows feet and there is an increased chance of lameness.

Piglets Overcoming Post-Weaning Stress

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Research Watch, Uncategorized, Welfare by admin on November 28, 2011 | No Comments

After weaning there are several factors that contribute to piglets post weaning stress. Post-weaning stress can influence when a pig goes to market and how it converts feed. Being separated from other piglets, switching from wet to dry feed and being in a new environment, all put stress on the piglet which effects its eating habits and requires two to three weeks for the piglet to achieve an optimal feed intake. Organic acids have done a good job to limit the growth and spreading of pathogens in feed but pathogens still effect pigs in all phases of production. Combining organic acids, cinnamaldehyde and a permeabilising substance are some of the ways researchs are trying reduce the effects of pathogens.