Farrowing and Savaging in Wild Boar Sows
Behaviours such as savaging have sometimes been attributed to the domestication process. In order to decrease loss of piglets due to aggression, savaging behaviours should be further understood. Farmed wild boar sows of three genetic lines were videotaped during farrowing....
Effect of Increasing Group Size on Grower-Finisher Pigs
Housing grower-finisher pigs in larger pens while increasing group size has been increasingly of interest. Group sizes of 10, 20, 40 and 80 per pen were observed in the aspects of health and production. Group size does not significantly differ...
Factors that Influence Voluntary Feed Intake
Feed intake varies widely on commercial farms. Variations in feed intake lead to variations in nutrient intake levels which impacts pork production efficiency and productivity. Factors involved include social, environmental and immunological stressors as well as dietary factors. In grower-finisher...
The Threonine Requirement of the Sow in Lactation
The threonine requirement of a high-producing sow in lactation was determined as threonine is the second limiting amino acid in most swine diets. Tissue breakdown was minimized in sows by having a threonine requirement of 37.3, 40.0 and 38.9 g...
Field Pea DE Content and Chemical Characteristics
In Western Canada, field peas are a source of amino acids and energy in swine rations. Specific Canadian field pea samples have not been examined for nutritional value or quality previously. Physical and chemical characteristics were analyzed in relation to...
The DE Content of Hull-less Barley
In Western Canada, hull-less barley is important for grower-finisher pigs as it is a source of amino acids and energy. The nutritional value of hull-less barley DE content has been unclear in previous reports. The hull-less barley DE content was...
Motivated for Movement – What is the cost of sow exercise?
Preliminary sow performance measures suggest exercising stall-housed gestating sows for 10 minutes, once per week has minimal effects on the productivity of younger sows, but may have a positive effect on older parity sows – increasing the number of live...
PSC Producer Meetings – Day 1
Feeding for Health – Can we Adjust Diets to Create a More Robust Pig?, Dan Columbus, Prairie Swine Centre Vaccines in Practice – Understanding and Optimizing Your Vaccines, Jessica Law, Prairie Swine Health Services
PSC Producer Meetings – Day 2
The Role of Diet in GHG Output from Swine Facilities – Denise Beaulieu, University of Saskatchewan Breeding for Pig Robustness – Saskia Bloemhof-Abma, PIC How Does Transport Influence the Welfare and Productivity of Weaned Piglets? – Yolande Seddon, University of...
Ideas to Fine Tune Your Operation
During these unprecedented times producers are challenged with maintaining operational efficiency and assessing external factors that directly impact their operations. By taking a inward approach we may be able to find little things that can positively impact the bottom line. ...
Water Intake and Wastage from Nipple Drinkers
Among nutrients, water is required in the greatest amount but has received the least attention. Water intake of grower/finisher pigs has been reported to range from 1.9 to 6.8 l/d, depending on body weight and feed intake. However, most ‘water intake’ reported in...
Considerations for Large Group Housing of Finishing Pigs
Many questions have been asked about facility design and management of grower/finisher hogs in large groups. This document provides a practical evaluation of the raising of finisher hogs in large groups and encourages further evaluation of the appropriateness of this housing and management...
