Force Plates Assessment
Up to 25% of culling reasons for gilts involve lameness. It is one of the most important welfare issues. More objective quantitative methods are needed to assess lameness in pigs. Force plates analyze weight distribution on limbs in cows and...
DON in Swine Diets
Fusarium mould contaminated grain has been on the rise due to cool wet summer weather. The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON or vomitoxin) can be produced when fusarium moulds contaminate cereal grains. Other livestock are not as sensitive to DON as pigs...
Canola Oil Sprinkling and Low Crude Protein Diet Reduce Respirable Dust and Ammonia Concentrations From Swine Production
Dust and ammonia levels are often high in swine facilities and pose a risk for workers. Methods for reducing these levels are needed in order to keep the workers and animals safe. High levels of nitrogen in the pigs diet...
Behaviour of Pigs in Large Group Auto-Sort
A concern for having larger groups of pigs together is a possible rise in aggressive behaviours, however previous research shows the aggression levels are similar in small and large groups. Eating behaviour may change, especially as new technology such as...
Setting Up an Effective Farm Trial
On farm tests are used as managers want to prove the technology works on their farm, they are unaware of other barns with the technology, or the technology is from a different country which has different conditions than theirs. Looking...
Free Space Utilization of Sows in Free Access Stalls
Group housing systems can produce more active and social sows, leading to a healthier pigs. It will increase muscle strength and decrease lameness with stronger bones from the ability to move around. An example of a group housing system is...
Comparative Evaluation of Infrared Radiant and Forced-air Convection Heating Systems for Hog Barns
Heating costs in pig production rooms can be expensive. A gas-fired infrared radiant heating system was compared to a conventional forced-air convection heater, which heats the air by the ceiling that is then moved with fans. Heat is transmitted to...
Nutritional Value Of Flaxseed For Swine and Its Effects On Carcass Fatty Acid Profile
Western Canada is the worlds largest producer of flaxseed. Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Using flaxseed in swine diets could be a low-cost feeding protocol that enriches the carcass with omega-3. It is comparable to canola meal...
The Plant Extract Micro-Aid‚ has Unexpected Effects on Litter Size
Micro-Aid® helps reduce ammonia emission and odours from livestock production facilities and is a natural plant extract. When sows are fed Micro-Aid®, their colostrum has increased levels of immunoglobulins. This may help piglets gain weight. The impact on their piglets...
Feeding the 2009 Crop
Western Canadian Prairies had a late harvest due to a wet and cold spring delaying sprouting and seeding. A prediction of immature, sprouted or frozen grain is expected which may lower the overall cost for swine producers feed. Grain provide...
Ractopamine Hydrochloride and the Environmental Sustainability of Pork Production
Ammonia has odour and environmental implications so the excretion of nitrogen is problematic as this is the main form. Paylean® with ractopamine hydrochloride as its active ingredient improves average daily gain, carcass lean growth and feed efficiency when added to...
Transportation of Pigs in Western Canada: Temperatures Within Trucks During Winter and Summer Months
One of the major stressors to pigs is transportation as it involves physical exertion, an unfamiliar environment and psychological and social stress. Death losses occur and are of higher incidence in the summer months. Temperatures vary in seasons and also...
