Finding Effective Enrichments for Group Housed Sows
Group housing is a socially enriched environment, but aggression is still a risk due to competition for resources like territory and food. Providing enrichment can reduce aggression and stereotypic behaviours. The Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling...
Ventilation System Requirements for Conversion to Group Sow Housing
The animal environment and energy costs all are impacted by ventilation. When converting to a group-housed sow barn, retaining the existing ventilation system leads to over-ventilation in winter as they are designed for a higher animal density. This can chill...
Determining Effective Enrichments for Group Housed Sows
Providing enrichment improves biological functioning and the well-being of animals. For pigs reared in Canada, this is now a requirement. It promotes positive social behaviour and is an outlet for their highly motivated exploratory behaviour. Adverse behaviours, stereotypic behaviours and...
Stimulating Exploratory Behavior in Piglets: Effects on Pre-Weaning Creep Consumption
Weaning is a very stressful experience for piglets due to removal of the sow, diet changes, mixing with other litters and a change of pen environment. They often fail to consume feed so growth reductions are often seen. This can...
Reducing Energy Use in Group Sow Housing Systems
Sows in groups may have a lower critical temperature that is lower than sows housed in individual stalls as they can use thermoregulatory behaviour. If productivity does not changes, reducing energy costs for ventilation and heating may be an option....
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...
Compounding Iron Dextran with NSAIDs for Use in Piglets at Time of Processing
NSAIDs are often given at processing along with iron dextran and it is tempting to given them together to reduce the number of injections to the piglet. Mixing these products is not allowed under the Canadian Assurance program, though it...
Treating Swine and Municipal Wastewater with Microbial Fuel Cell Technology
Land application of livestock wastewater is creating challenges for producers due to costs and environmental impacts. Finding alternatives is of great interest in order to have safe disposal with reduced costs. Wastewater contains nitrogenous and organic compounds that can be...
Increasing Creep Feed Intake by Stimulating Exploratory Behaviour using Enrichment
Multiple significant changes occur simultaneously during weaning making it a highly stressful time for piglets. Increased cortisol levels and weight loss are often noted after weaning, resulting in increased disease risk and mortality. Providing creep feed before weaning promotes solid...
Impact of Calcium and Phosphorus on Sow Lameness and Sow Longevity
As sow productivity continues to improve, dietary mineral recommendations are evolving. Physiological and anatomical demands on the skeletal system are increasing so higher dietary levels of minerals like phosphorus and calcium are recommended. The modern, highly prolific sow has not...
The Efficiency of Energy Utilization by Growing Pigs Selected for Potential Growth Rate
Growth rate variability within a group of pigs leads to variation in carcass composition and inefficiencies in nutrient utilization. Variability is a significant challenge for the pork industry. Cost-effective feeding regimes are being developed to minimize the negative effects of...
Effects of Altering the Omega-6 to Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio in Starter Diets on Piglet Inflammatory Response
Many new stressors are present at weaning, including immune challenges. These stressors can result in an inflammatory response as well as reduced feed intake and growth. An over-production of immune cells can result in increased muscle degradation and reduced protein...
