Dietary Phytase Reduces Phosphorus Excretion in Weanling Pigs
Phytase use in pig diets is increasing as it is effective in improving the digestibility of phosphorus in cereal grains. Less total phosphorus is needed and phosphorus output is decreased along with feeding costs. The calcium to phosphorus ratio needs to be clarified as the...
Greenhouse Gas Emission from NAP-Covered Earthen Manure Storage Basin
The agriculture sector contributes to Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock operations and manure storage having a large part. A negative air pressure (NAP) cover may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from earthen storage basins. The NAP-cover had a minor improvement on greenhouse gas emissions...
Manure Handling Systems Reduce Air Contaminants in Swine Barns
Various factors were studied to understand the sources of air contamination in intensive swine operations. Once the factors effect is decreased, the overall effect on air quality should be illustrated. Two manure-handling systems were tested to see which eliminates all manure contamination best; one was...
Social Factors Affecting Injury Levels and Behaviour of Sows in a ESF System
Stress after regrouping may alter behaviours and decrease the farrowing rate in sows. Resting locations, eating order and injuries reflect the severity of stress experienced. Behaviour was studied too see the impact stage of implantation, parity and familiarity with penmates had. Post-implantation, unfamiliar and younger...
Effects of Stall Width and Sow Size on Behaviour of Gestating Sows
In North America, gestation stalls are usually the same size within a farm even though body weights in gestating sows vary (150 kg to 350 kg). Different sizes of stalls are recommended by the Code of Practice to accommodate the different sized sows but proper...
Crowding Effects on Performance on Fully and Partially Slatted Floors
A major issue for animal welfare is floor space allowance. Space requirements may vary with housing conditions for maximum growth. More total floor area is needed for pigs on partially slatted floors compared to fully slatted floors according to the Code of Practice though research...
The Dose Response to Phytase Inclusion in Diets for Growing Swine
Phytic acid is the main source of phosphorus in oilseeds and grains in swine diets but is unavailable to pigs and is therefore excreted. Diet cost is increased by adding inorganic phosphorus to pig diets to meet the dietary requirements. The amount of available phosphorus...
Pre-Planned Segregation: The Effect of Grouping by Weight at Weaning on Variability in Body Weight at Nursery Exit
A critical issue for pork farmers is variability as it has been estimated to cost $3.41 per pig at market due to sort losses and an extra $1.25 per pig sold due to reduced barn utilization. Pre-planned segregation (PPS) is an option for managing variability....
Variation in Pig Performance: Can We Do Anything About It?
Loss of revenue at market and reduced barn utilization can be attributed largely to variation. Variation has two major categories: genetic and environmental. Environmental effects may be exposure to pathogens, access to resources such as water and food, as well as behavioural challenges. Some approaches...
Starch Content and in Vitro Digestibility of Barley and Wheat Samples Differing in Fibre Content
Wheat and barley have a large variation of DE content in Western Canada. This is caused by digestibility of energy changes. Cereal grains' main source of energy is starch, though the content differs among different samples. Fibre has the largest impact on changes in energy...
Voluntary Feed Intake and Growth Performance between Grower Pig Diets Containing Mustard Meal or Canola Meal
A valuable ingredient for the swine industry may be mustard meal, though concern exists regarding voluntary feed intake of this diet. Canola meal and mustard meal diets with a 15% inclusion rate were studied for 28 days. A 5% better growth performance and a 2.5%...
Effect of Wheat Sample, Particle Size and Xylanase Supplementation on Energy Digestibility of Wheat Fed to Grower Pigs
Changes in energy digestibility cause a wide variation in DE content of wheat in western Canada. This variability can affect pig performance. Supplementing enzymes with xylanase and reducing particle size may increase energy digestibility and reduce variation. Both of these procedures resulted in a partially...