When Quality Counts, Count on Technology
Pork quality may be predicted by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on the pig's ears. This technique can provide information on meat quality traits like lean and fat content, fatty acid profile and fat depth. It can categorize each of these categories as "high" or "low"...
Gut Check: Why the Microbiome Matters
While a small portion of microbes are harmful, the majority may be beneficial to humans and animals. Antibiotic use alters the gut microbiome so that its population is decreased. If taken during pregnancy, antibiotic use can lead to the offspring having a higher chance of...
Microbiome Talk Offers Lots to Digest
The gut microbiome has implications for both pig and human health. Microbes form communities in the gut, with different behaviours noted when in the community or isolated. A more diverse gut microbiome leads to a more robust ecosystem of microbes. Removing too many species results...
Handled with Care: Research Targets Pig Comfort
Economics often limit the amount of comfort pigs have access to. Space allowance is a big issue for pigs since performance and behaviour are largely affected when there is not enough. Often nursery pigs are given less room due to smaller body size, but this...
Phase Feeding Research Offers Food for Thought
Parity-segregated phase feeding is an option to help reduce feed costs by reducing overfeeding of gestating sows while ensuring their energy and amino acid needs are met. Sows each have different nutritional needs during gestation and parity, so two separate diets are used and blended...
Science Eyes Success with High-Tech Imagery
High-tech imaging may have a huge impact in many areas of the pork industry. This includes assessing carcass and meat quality along with providing information on live animals. The current method for assessing pork quality is very subjective and is based on colour and water...
On the Road Again: Health Research Targets Transport
Transportation is one of the major biosecurity risks for spreading swine diseases. Proper truck washing is time-consuming, expensive and still not completely thorough enough to eradicate disease. A high pressure hydrovac system may be more efficient in washing thoroughly. Dry heating is also very effective...
Finisher Nutrition a Growth Industry
Grower-finisher pigs need to be fed well to ensure success, but with feed costs increasing different options for ingredients are needed. Pulse crops are an option since they are grown in abundance in Western Canada. This includes field peas, faba beans and lentils. The starch...
Health Studies Proceeding at Fever Pitch
Genomics can have a major impact on the pork industry since it can help improve disease resilience. This will help pigs cope with disease, leading to a faster recovery. Serologic testing, the study of blood serum is also important in the pork industry, specifically in...
Move Over Multi-Vitamins and Supplements: Here Comes Carnosine
Carnosine is naturally made in the body, contains two amino acids and acts as an antioxidant. It can improve meat quality by reducing the effects of acidity in the muscles, but it can also reduce muscle fatigue and improve muscle contraction efficiency. It is also...