Effects of Stall Width and Sow Size on Behaviour of Gestating Sows
In North America, gestation stalls are usually the same size within a farm even though body weights in gestating sows vary (150 kg to 350 kg). Different sizes of stalls are recommended by the Code of Practice to accommodate the...
Crowding Effects on Performance on Fully and Partially Slatted Floors
A major issue for animal welfare is floor space allowance. Space requirements may vary with housing conditions for maximum growth. More total floor area is needed for pigs on partially slatted floors compared to fully slatted floors according to the...
The Dose Response to Phytase Inclusion in Diets for Growing Swine
Phytic acid is the main source of phosphorus in oilseeds and grains in swine diets but is unavailable to pigs and is therefore excreted. Diet cost is increased by adding inorganic phosphorus to pig diets to meet the dietary requirements....
Pre-Planned Segregation: The Effect of Grouping by Weight at Weaning on Variability in Body Weight at Nursery Exit
A critical issue for pork farmers is variability as it has been estimated to cost $3.41 per pig at market due to sort losses and an extra $1.25 per pig sold due to reduced barn utilization. Pre-planned segregation (PPS) is...
Variation in Pig Performance: Can We Do Anything About It?
Loss of revenue at market and reduced barn utilization can be attributed largely to variation. Variation has two major categories: genetic and environmental. Environmental effects may be exposure to pathogens, access to resources such as water and food, as well...
Starch Content and in Vitro Digestibility of Barley and Wheat Samples Differing in Fibre Content
Wheat and barley have a large variation of DE content in Western Canada. This is caused by digestibility of energy changes. Cereal grains’ main source of energy is starch, though the content differs among different samples. Fibre has the largest...
Voluntary Feed Intake and Growth Performance between Grower Pig Diets Containing Mustard Meal or Canola Meal
A valuable ingredient for the swine industry may be mustard meal, though concern exists regarding voluntary feed intake of this diet. Canola meal and mustard meal diets with a 15% inclusion rate were studied for 28 days. A 5% better...
Effect of Wheat Sample, Particle Size and Xylanase Supplementation on Energy Digestibility of Wheat Fed to Grower Pigs
Changes in energy digestibility cause a wide variation in DE content of wheat in western Canada. This variability can affect pig performance. Supplementing enzymes with xylanase and reducing particle size may increase energy digestibility and reduce variation. Both of these...
Effect of Barley Sample, Particle Size and Enzyme Supplementation on Energy Digestibility of Barley Fed Grower Pigs
Variation in nutritional values of barley may lead to alterations of pig performance. Changes in energy digestibility cause variation in the DE content of barley. Some processing procedures may reduce this variation, including reduced particle size and enzyme supplementation. Enzyme...
Digestible Energy Content of Low Quality Barley Fed to Pigs
Western Canadian barley has a large range regarding DE content. DE content should be known in order to accurately formulate diets, minimize feed costs and reach a predictable swine performance. Equations were developed to predict the DE content of low...
Soluble and Insoluble Non-Starch Polysaccharides on Nutrient Digestibility and Ileal Bacteria Populations in Grower Pigs
Fermentation of material in the gut may change from soluble (guar gum) and insoluble (cellulose) non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) influencing gut bacteria populations. Available nutrients and energy for the pig are reduced when fibre in their diet increases. Ileal bacterial populations...
Soluble and Insoluble Non-Starch Polysaccharides on Digesta Passage Rate and Voluntary Feed Intake of Grower Pigs
Economically, supplementing or substituting alternative non-conventional feed ingredients to conventional feed ingredients in pig rations may be attractive, but feed utilization and voluntary feed intake may be compromised due to non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) fractions. These are not digestible and may...
