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Pig Production (pig + production)
Selected AbstractsWeaning pig performance and faecal microbiota with and without in-feed addition of rare earth elementsJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 9-10 2006M. Kraatz Summary Two 6-week feeding trials were conducted on a total of 112 newly weaned piglets to examine the recently reported growth promoting effects of dietary rare earth elements (REE) in European pig production. Rare earth element-diets were supplemented with a REE-citrate premix of lanthanum and the light lanthanoides cerium, praseodymium and neodymium at 200 mg/kg for 6 weeks after weaning. Overall for both trials, growth performance of REE-citrate and control fed piglets did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). An early enhancive tendency for REE-citrate in trial 1 (feed conversion ratio, FCR ,3%, p = 0.15) proved irreproducible in trial 2. In the late period of trial 1, in-feed addition of REE-citrate significantly impaired piglet performance (FCR + 8%, p =0.01). A cultivation-independent molecular approach, polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was further applied to assess REE induced alterations in the predominant faecal microbiota from weaning pigs. Calculation of various ecological characteristics does not indicate (p > 0.05) an often discussed selective effect on local microbial composition of dietary REE. [source] Evaluating animal welfare with choice experiments: an application to Swedish pig productionAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2008Carolina Liljenstolpe In this study, the demand for animal welfare attributes when buying pork fillet is investigated among Swedish respondents. The issue is of importance in order to ensure an economically viable pig industry while applying an increasing number of animal friendly practices. In order to obtain information about consumer demand, an indirect utility function and willingness to pay (WTP) for animal welfare attributes are estimated. The attributes are solely associated with animal friendly practices. An investigation of numerous housing and managerial practices of pig production has not yet been performed. The indirect utility function is estimated using a random parameter logit model. A realistic approach when modeling consumer choice is to allow for heterogeneity in preferences. The relevance of assuming randomness of some of the parameters is evaluated by using a specification test developed by McFadden and Train (2000). The WTP is also estimated at the individual level. The results indicate that WTP for animal welfare attributes may be negative or positive. The preferences are also heterogeneous among respondents, which may be explained by a segmentation of preferences. Finally, the WTP estimates for animal welfare practices are compared with cost estimates for such production systems. [Econlit subject codes: C010, C500, Q100] © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Prevalence of Salmonella infecting bacteriophages associated with Ontario pig farms and the holding area of a high capacity pork processing facilityJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 13 2010Sunan Wang Abstract BACKGROUND: There is interest in applying bacteriophages to control Salmonella in pig production and pork processing. The following reports on the prevalence of Salmonella infecting bacteriophages within Ontario pig farms and associated with the holding area of a pork slaughterhouse. RESULTS:Salmonella infecting bacteriophages were present in 30 and 28 of the effluent manure samples collected from 36 farms using S. Typhimurium DT104 or S. Heidelberg as host cell respectively. Bacteriophages were recovered in 95,100% of the 48 samples taken from holding pens within a high capacity slaughterhouse over a 12 month period. Bacteriophages isolated from farms exhibited similar host ranges which differed to that of slaughterhouse isolates. Salmonella (n = 21) from the slaughterhouse were susceptible to the endogenous bacteriophages. Despite being susceptible to the resident phages, the Salmonella populations were found to be genetically stable with the same genotypes being recovered over successive visits. Salmonella isolated from the farms were frequently resistant to the endogenous phages. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteriophages are prevalent in the pig slaughterhouse environment although they do not have a significant impact on the genetic structure of Salmonella populations. However, there was evidence that the Salmonella population structure on farms is influenced by the presence of infecting phages. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] The effect of reduced amino acid level and increasing levels of lupin on growth performance and meat content in organic reared pigsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 3 2009Jan Værum Nørgaard Abstract BACKGROUND: Suitable protein sources for organic pig production are scarce. This project was aimed at studying the effect of a reduced amino acid level and thus crude protein level, and the inclusion of lupin in diets for grower-finisher pigs fed under organic conditions. Two hundred pigs (females:male castrates, 1:1) were fed either 100% or 85% of amino acid recommendations and lupin inclusions levels of 0%, 12.5% or 25% from 30 to 105 kg. RESULTS: Feed intake, daily gain and feed efficiency were not significantly affected by the amino acid level. Carcass meat percentage was 59.2% for females and 57.2% for castrates when fed low amino acid level and 0% lupin, and this was an effect of higher feed intake of castrates compared with females. The inclusion of 25% lupin reduced feed intake and daily gain, lowered feed efficiency and increased slaughter loss and carcass meat percentage. CONCLUSION: It is possible to reduce amino acid levels and thus crude protein levels without adverse effects on animal performance. It is, however, recommended to feed castrates restrictively to avoid low carcass meat percentage. Inclusion of up to 12.5% of lupin can be used in organic diets for pigs without negative effects on animal performance. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditionsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 15 2007Hilary RC Kelly Abstract BACKGROUND: There is a need for information on the performance and carcass quality of pigs under different organic management systems. This study compared Duroc-sired progeny from three maternal breed types when kept either at pasture or in housing with an outdoor run and offered ad libitum concentrate either alone or with fodder beet or grass/clover silage as additional forage. RESULTS: Liveweight gain, feed intake and the proportion of forages consumed did not differ between genotypes. Carcass fatness of progeny was lowest for a ,modern' genotype (Camborough 12) and highest for a ,traditional' purebred genotype (Saddleback), with a ,crossbred traditional' genotype (Saddleback × Duroc) being intermediate (11.4, 14.3 and 13.4 mm P2 respectively, standard error of mean (SEM) 0.27, P < 0.001). With a cereal-based concentrate available ad libitum, intake of forages was low (<2% of dry matter intake). Although growth rate did not differ between housing systems, daily feed intake was greater at pasture (2.47 vs 2.22 kg meal equivalent, SEM 0.05, P < 0.001), giving poorer feed efficiency (P < 0.01). Pastured animals consumed less additional forage and had a higher killing-out % but similar carcass fatness. CONCLUSION: For organic pig production to be financially sustainable, disadvantages arising from the genotype and/or rearing system chosen need to be offset by a market premium for the pigs produced. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Welfare, performance and meat quality of fattening pigs in alternative housing and management systems: a reviewJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 5 2005Sam Millet Abstract Conventional husbandry systems for pork production are scrutinized by members of the general public as well as the scientific community. As a response, alternative forms of pig production, such as outdoor housing, organic farming and environmental enrichment are gaining interest. The question arises whether these production systems are indeed able to improve the welfare and health status of the animals, and whether these production systems alter production characteristics and meat or carcass traits. Measures of poor welfare have been described, but evaluating overall welfare is difficult. Certain parameters of alternative housing will improve welfare in some ways but, simultaneously, other welfare problems are inflated, and the weighting of each of these problems is very subjective. Alternative housing systems allow pigs to display species-specific behaviour and decrease the occurrence of abnormal behaviours by acting on several parameters: indoor versus outdoor housing, floor space/density, floor type, and provision of bedding or other types of environmental enrichment. Evaluating alternative housing systems should be done by looking at all the welfare-improving factors and the cost of alleviating welfare-decreasing problems in a given production system. Data in the literature on growth, meat and carcass traits in alternative production systems, are inconsistent, indicating that other factors can play an important role. However, as equal, or in some cases even better, performance can be attained in certain production systems that meet concerns of animal welfare scientists and members of the general public, alternative production forms may be considered preferable. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Changes in lymphocyte populations in suckling piglets during primary infections with Isospora suisPARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2010H. L. WORLICZEK Summary Isospora suis, a common intestinal parasite of piglets, causes neonatal porcine coccidiosis, which results in reduced and uneven weaning weights and economic losses in pig production. Nevertheless, there are no detailed studies available on the immune response to I. suis. The aim of this study was to carry out phenotypical characterization of lymphocytes during primary infections on day 3 after birth. Infected and noninfected piglets were investigated between days 7 and 16 after birth. Lymphocytes from the blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (flow cytometry) and of the jejunal mucosa (immunohistochemistry) were analysed. A decrease in T cells, especially with the phenotype of resting T-helper cells, T-cell receptor-,,-T cells, and regulatory T cells in the blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes was noticeable. An increase in cells with the phenotype of natural killer cells in the spleen of infected animals was found, and the subset of TcR-,,-T cells was strongly increased in the gut mucosa. Our findings suggest an accelerated migration of those cells into the gut. This study provides a strong indication for the involvement of adaptive and innate immune response mechanisms in the primary immune response to I. suis, especially of TcR-,,-T cells as a linkage between innate and adaptive immunity. [source] Welfare Index and Reproductive Performance in the SowREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 6 2006C Munsterhjelm Contents To study the relationship between on-farm welfare and reproductive performance in the sow, the TGI 35L Animal Needs Index was modified for use in Finnish pig production. The modified index had a maximal total score of 100. It was comprised of six categories: ,locomotion' (maximal score 21 for dry sows and 11 for lactating sows), ,social interaction' (12/8), ,floor quality' (16/9), ,stable climate' (16/21), ,feeding' (16/23) and ,health and stockmanship' (19/29). Index scorings were performed separately in farrowing, breeding and gestation units on 28 representative Finnish sow farms. One-year production parameters were collected. Multiple linear regression was used for statistical analysis. Total ANI-points varied between 36.5,68.0 for lactating and 39.5,86.0 for dry sows. Litter size increased with increasing scores for ,feeding' in the dry sow unit. Controlling for breed, high scores for ,health and stockmanship' and ,floor quality' shortened the reproductive cycle, probably because of good leg health. The number of weaned piglets per sow per year (PSY) increased with increasing scores for dry sow ,health and stockmanship', ,floor quality' and an interaction of ,feeding' in the farrowing and mating units. PSY increased with decreasing scores for farrowing pen ,climate'. High-quality floors and stockmanship appear to correlate positively with reproductive performance in the sow. Effects of a welfare-promoting feeding strategy on reproduction are contradictory. [source] Identification of QTL for dorso-caudal chronic pleuritis in 12 crossbred porcine familiesANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 5 2010V. R. Gregersen Summary Pleuropneumonia is a major problem in pig production. At the time of slaughter, chronic pleuritis (CP) developed from pleuropneumonia is a common finding, and breeding for a reduced incidence of CP using marker-assisted selection (MAS) would be advantageous. Before applying MAS, quantitative trait loci (QTL) or markers associated with the prevalence of CP should be identified. In this study, 7470 pigs from crosses between 12 Danish Duroc boars and 604 sows (Danish Landrace × Danish Large White) were evaluated for CP located on the dorso-caudal part of the lungs. Quantitative trait loci were identified within boar families using both a Binomial logistic regression method and a chi-square test of association. Significant QTL for CP were detected on Sus scrofa chromosomes (SSC) 2, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 18 using both methods. One QTL on SSC 8 was also detected across families. For the QTL identified within families, the odds-ratio of having CP was approximately twice as high for the unfavourable allele compared to the favourable one. These QTL and closely linked markers show promise for the development of gene-specific markers associated with a reduced incidence of CP located on the dorso-caudal part of the lungs. [source] Refined localization of the Escherichia coli F4ab/F4ac receptor locus on pig chromosome 13ANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 5 2009D. Joller Summary Diarrhoea in newborn and weaned pigs caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) expressing F4 fimbriae leads to considerable losses in pig production. In this study, we refined the mapping of the receptor locus for ETEC F4ab/F4ac adhesion (F4bcR) by joint analysis of Nordic and Swiss data. A total of 236 pigs from a Nordic experimental herd, 331 pigs from a Swiss experimental herd and 143 pigs from the Swiss performing station were used for linkage analysis. Genotyping data of six known microsatellite markers, two newly developed markers (MUC4gt and HSA125gt) and an intronic SNP in MUC4 (MUC4-8227) were used to create the linkage map. The region for F4bcR was refined to the interval SW207,S0075 on pig chromosome 13. The most probable position of F4bcR was in the SW207,MUC4 region. The order of six markers was supported by physical mapping on the BAC fingerprint contig from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Thus, the region for F4bcR could be reduced from 26 to 14 Mb. [source] | |||||||||||||