Improving Biosecurity in Swine Transport
There are serious gaps in biosecurity, especially related to transportation. There is a need for easier to clean trailers and better sanitizing and cleaning procedures in order to reduce disease transmission. Issues that hinder the cleaning of trailers include downtime required between loads, a limited...
Assessing Cleanliness of Swine Transportation Trailers
A significant risk for transmission of swine diseases is pig transportation. This area needs to be researched to see what biosecurity measures can be taken to reduce risk of disease. Visual inspection as a means for assessing cleanliness is not consistent or reliable so an...
Zinc Oxide and Antimicrobial Resistance in Pigs
An essential nutrient in a pigs diet is zinc, with minimum levels need around 100 ppm. In early starter rations, zinc oxide is often used therapeutically to control post-weaning E. coli diarrhea in levels of 2000 to 3000 ppm. Zinc oxide used therapeutically may create...
The Importance of Nitrogen for Growth
Protein is the second most expensive nutrient after energy in swine rations. While essential amino acids have been looked at extensively regarding requirements needed, total dietary nitrogen and non-essential amino acids have not. Pigs can use non-protein nitrogen to correct essential amino acid deficiency, though...
Getting More Piglets Interested in Creep Feed
Many piglets do not eat before weaning, even though it helps ease the weaning dip if they do. Weaning is a stressful period for piglets; they are removed from the sow and put into an unfamiliar environment, mixed with unknown piglets and have an abrupt...
Research in Pigs Benefits Human Health
The pig is one of the most appropriate models for health science research as they have anatomical, developmental and physiological similarities to humans. The knowledge gained from this research will benefit both the human health sciences and the agricultural industry. The Prairie Swine Centre works...
Feeding Fusarium Contaminated Grain
Fusarium has been reported throughout western Canada. The principle toxin DON (deoxynivalenol or vomatoxin) contaminates the grain and impacts the feeding of pigs that ingest it. Average daily gain and feed intake are suppressed when fed DON levels over 1 to 2 ppm. Vomiting occurs...
Nutritional Management of Grow-Finish Pigs: Energy and Feed Efficiency
Feed efficiency depends on many feed composition factors such as amino acid concentration, energy, and nutrient balance. Environmental factors also have a large influence. Feeder space allowance impacts growth and feed intake, with more feeder space increasing final body weight and daily gain. More attention...
Novel Biocontainment Concept for Quarantine Facilities
Often the quarantine facility is located within 100 m of the breeding facility. This increases contamination risk as some viruses and diseases can spread further, such as PRRS virus which can be transmitted over 9.2 km in the air. Filters in the air inlet are...
Effectiveness of Sprinkling During Transport
Sprinkling pigs on-farm, before transport and unloading at the packing plant improve meat quality and pig comfort when it is over 20°C outside. There are no current guidelines on when to sprinkle pigs in hot temperatures. If temperatures are above 30°C, pigs can no longer...
Minimizing and Managing Ingredients Variability
Variation in nutrient composition of ingredients in livestock feeds needs to be understood to continue with efficient pork production. Ingredients are inconsistent, but feed manufacturers are still expected to produce consistent diets. Buyers and sellers affect the cost and risk associated with variation. If the...
Evaluation of a Biotrickling Filtration System for Treatment of Exhaust Air from a Swine Barn
Biotrickling filters are easier to manage and are smaller in size compared to other exhaust air filtration technologies. To ensure the best design is developed, further work is needed to see what performs best in swine production facilities. An air treatment unit with air cleaning...