Reducing Energy Use in Group Housing Systems
In this study, controlled-chamber experiments were carried out to develop an operant mechanism that allowed the sows to demonstrate their preferred environmental temperature and to study the effects of fibre addition on growth performance and physiological response. Results showed that sows fed with high...
Ensiled High Moisture Barley and Wheat in Nursery Pig Diets
The primary objective of this research was to investigate the nutritional value of high moisture (HM) barley and wheat ensiled with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with or without the addition of feed enzymes for nursery pigs. Overall, the results showed that HM...
Can Nanoparticles Control PEDv?
This project set out to evaluate the efficacy of novel metal nanoparticles (with previously demonstrated antimicrobial properties), either alone or in combination with alternative disinfecting strategies for inactivation of PED. Conducting the work under Biosafety Level 3 containment, experiments that simulated hog...
Evaluating Novel Technologies
Two novel technologies consisting of an individual water consumption system (IWCS) and infrared thermography system (ITHS) were installed in a finishing room. The individual water consumption system (installed in each pen) was composed of a nipple drinker attached to a water fl...
Practical Alternatives for Castration
The Canadian Code of Practice requires that swine producers provide analgesics to piglets at castration to help control post-procedural pain. However, complete information on the different analgesics available to control post-procedural pain, their effectiveness and optimized procedures for delivering pain control have...
Determining Optimum Space Allowance for Nursery Pigs
Studies were conducted in 2 phases to determine the eff ects of six diff erent space allowances (k= 0.0230, 0.0265, 0.0300, 0.0335, 0.0370, and 0.0390) on nursery pig behavior, growth and welfare from 3 to 8 weeks of age. Phase 1...
High Fibre Diets for Swine
Feed cost represents more than 60% of the variable cost of swine production and a major part of the feed cost is to ensure that pigs have adequate energy and protein supply to reach their optimum potential in terms of the production goals. Corn, wheat,...
Alternatives for control & detection of boar taint in market hogs
Castration of piglets is a common practice in Canada, as in many other countries, to avoid boar taint in pork meat. There is, however, a growing interest in raising non-castrated males for animal welfare reasons and because intact males are more growth efficient than castrates....
Ventilation System Requirements for Converted Gestation Barns
Computer simulation was utilized to assess the performance of different ventilation system configurations needed for a sow gestation barn newly converted to group housing. Various configurations of the ventilation system involving varying capacities and locations of exhaust fans as well as size, design and...
Are Sows Motivated for Movement?
The Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs requires that as of July 1, 2024, all mated gilts and sows must be housed in groups, or individual pens. Mated gilts and sows may also be housed...
Feeder Design Considerations
The minimum width of a feeding space is based on the shoulder width of the largest pig in the pen, plus 10 % to accommodate variation in body shape. The formula used to calculate the width of a feeding space...
Feeding Mycotoxin Contaminated Grain
Mycotoxins are chemicals (secondary metabolites) produced by moulds or fungi infecting grains. There are over 400 known mycotoxins; however only a small number of these probably affect pig performance on a regular basis. It is important to note that the presence of the mould...
