Effect of Dietary Crude Protein Content and Phase Feeding on Performance and Urinary Nitrogen Excretion of Grower Pigs
Urinary nitrogen is emitted as volatile ammonia which impacts the environment inside and outside the barn. A way to directly reduce urinary nitrogen excretion is by reducing dietary protein while still balancing for amino acids. Phase feeding may also be beneficial to match the amino...
Moisture Production of Grower-Finisher Pigs: Field Measurements Compared with Theoretical Values
To select the optimal minimum ventilation rate, moisture production equations have to be verified for intensive swine operations for Canadian climates. Under-ventilation leads to high humidity levels and bacterial growth, while over-ventilation increases the cost of heating in the winter. Moisture production levels were measured...
Can We Alter Water Utilization in Growing Pigs by Diet Manipulation?
Precisely defining the water needs of pigs is of interest as concerns regarding water use of livestock increase along with manure management having rising costs. Diet consumption may impact voluntary water intake in swine. Increased water intake was noted when excessive dietary protein was fed,...
The Net Energy System and Diet Formulation: An Overview
Ingested feed breakdown produces available energy which is often reduced as heat or used for metabolic processes. 50 to 60% of the total energy in common feed ingredients is available for use by the pig. Digestible energy (DE) is not lost in the feces, while...
Comparison of Urination Frequency of Grower-Finisher Pigs to Ammonia Emmsion
Ammonia emissions have negative consequences on the environment, animals and workers in the swine industry. Urine breakdown produces ammonia in puddles and slurry. If urine puddle numbers are known, ammonia emission predictions can be made using a computer model. Puddles were calculated by number of...
The Methionine Requirement of Pigs from 25 to 50 kg
Dietary balance is crucial in swine operations in order to ensure pig performance is optimal. In most commercial swine diets, methionine is not a limiting amino acid so there have been less studies completed on it. In Canadian diets, protein sources are often peas and...
The Performance of Growing-Finishing Pigs Fed Diets with Reduced Crude Protein
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering nitrogen output in the slurry, formulating practical diets is more flexible in regard to low protein diets. In the past, lower crude protein was associated with fatter carcasses and reduced growth performance. Pigs were compared in three categories:...
The Effect of Dietary Energy Concentration and Lysine: Energy Ratio on the Growth Performance of Weaned Pigs
Expected pig performance has been increased with improvements in lean growth potential and health status so reevaluation on amino acid requirements is needed. Specifically on the lysine requirement and the ratio of DE to lysine for weaned pigs. Current ratios vary from 2.8 to 5.0...
Water Usage by Grower-Finisher Pigs Using Dry and Wet/Dry Feeders
For environmental and financial reasons, water conservation is a concern for intensive swine operations. Wet/dry feeders may provide potential water savings by replacing dry feeders. Water usage of both feeders was recorded for grower-finisher swine. Wet/dry feeders reduced volume of slurry by 29% and water...
Reducing Water Waste from Nipple Drinkers by Growing-Finishing Pigs
In order to reduce costs in he swine industry, wastage must be known, such as water wastage. Water waste from drinkers are very different depending on the management and drinker type. If the drinker is not at the recommended level, 40% more water disappearance from...
Feed Processing and Nutritional Quality Among Wheat Classes Fed to Weaned Pigs
Wheat processing and nutritional quality varies among classes such as CPS, durum and High Red Spring wheat. Nutritional quality versus wheat class was examined for their effect on feed processing. Weaned pigs performance was compared across six wheat classes with considerations of diet pellet quality...
Growth Rate and Age at First Estrus: Impact on Managing the Gilt Pool
An effective gilt management system involves identifying select gilts below market weight and having appropriate weights at first breeding. An important tool to achieve these is to induce first estrus with early stimulation from boars. Producers often delay inducing the first estrus until 180 to 240...