Modification of the Prototype Air-Filtered Trailer to Enhance Biosecurity and Welfare of Pigs During Transport
The development of a prototype trailer was aimed to address emerging biosecurity risks and enhance animal welfare during transport through the optimization of a current prototype trailer design. Trailer improvements were focused on enhancement of environmental control and data logging systems as well the addition...
by
Miranda Smit
Long-term feeding of graded levels of deoxynivalenol in grower-finisher pigs
Mycotoxin-contaminated grains are commonly downgraded for use in livestock feed and, while the best strategy for livestock producers is to avoid feeding mycotoxin-contaminated grain altogether, with the increased incidence and level of contamination this is no longer a viable option. Therefore, strategies that allow the...
by
Miranda Smit
Investigation of enhanced sanitization and disinfection measures applicable for antibiotic-free pig production system
This project aims to develop enhanced biosecurity measures that can eliminate or reduce the proliferation of disease-causing pathogens in antibiotic-free pig production as well as in conventional barns for all-inclusive disease prevention. Specifically, this will investigate alternative sanitization and disinfection measures that are effective for...
by
Miranda Smit
Identification of risk factors for sow mortality in Canadian herds
Recent years have seen a trend towards increasing sow mortality figures around the world. In order to understand the underlying causes influencing sow mortality and culling on Canadian farms a project is under way to answer these questions using an integrated approach. Specifically by: 1)...
by
Miranda Smit
Feed processing to reduce ergot toxicity
Wheat and rye screenings heavily contaminated with ergot (400 to 500 ppm) were subjected to either steam explosion (200 psi) or pelleting to evaluate the impact on toxicity. Total ergot content decreased 40 to 60% with processing, with a greater decrease associated with more drastic...
by
Miranda Smit
Evaluation of impact of antibiotic-use reduction measures on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and pathogen abundance in pig production barns
The goal of this project is to compare the effect of the adoption of a RWA (raised without antibiotics) approach with non-RWA operations on the overall prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and pathogen abundance in pig production facilities. We conducted surveillance of AMR and pathogens...
by
Miranda Smit
Effects of long distance transport on the health and welfare of early weaned pigs
During transport, piglets can experience numerous stressors, including feed and water deprivation, handling at loading and unloading, extreme temperatures, vibrations and noise. However, it is not known whether the combined impacts of weaning and transport overlap, are additive, or synergistic. The effects of long duration...
by
Miranda Smit
Long-Term Feeding of Graded Levels of Deoxynivalenol in Finisher Pigs
Grains that are contaminated with mycotoxins are often downgraded for use in livestock feed. The incidence of contaminated grain is increasing, so avoiding contamination continues to become more difficult. Strategies to reduce or eliminate mycotoxins have been proposed with many that deactivate the mycotoxin through...
High-Fibre Diets & Immune Stimulation Increase Threonine Requirements
Reduced growth and less efficient use of nutrients is found in sub-clinical disease. Health and nutrient requirements need to be better understood now that in-feed antibiotics have been eliminated. The efficiency of utilization of dietary threonine for growth in pigs decreases when feedstuffs have high-fibre....
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 of Pigs requires that barns...