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Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences
Pork Quality Assurance...Dollars And Sense, Angela Baysinger
Pork Quality Assurance...Dollars And Sense, Angela Baysinger
Nebraska Swine Reports
Is there any reason a pork producer would not want to reduce production cost or improve management skills? With the pork industry becoming more consumer driven, should producers take an active role in producing a quality pork product? The Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Program, developed by the National Pork Producers Council on behalf of the pork industry, is available to help pork producers answer these questions and ensure future success.
The Effects Of Reducing Dietary Crude Protein Concentration On Odor In Swine Facilities, Claudia Obrock H.
The Effects Of Reducing Dietary Crude Protein Concentration On Odor In Swine Facilities, Claudia Obrock H.
Nebraska Swine Reports
The effect of dietary manipulation on odor emission in a research pig facility was evaluated with 26 finishing gilts (initial weight 161 lb). The two diets were formulated to contain 13% crude protein or 9% crude protein supplemented with crystalline amino acids. Two environmental chambers were used and each housed a group of four or five gilts for 21 days. Relative humidity, temperature and air exchange were maintained throughout the experiment. Samples of feces and air were taken on days 4, 7, 11, 14, 18 and 21 of the experiment. Aerial ammonia and hydrogen sulphide concentrations were measured using detector …
Segregated Early Weaning Of Pigs: Dietary Challenges And Opportunities, Stacy Norin, Duane Reese, Austin Lewis
Segregated Early Weaning Of Pigs: Dietary Challenges And Opportunities, Stacy Norin, Duane Reese, Austin Lewis
Nebraska Swine Reports
Segregated early weaning (SEW) technology is being adopted by many producers in the pork industry. With the implementation of this technology come many challenges and opportunities to exploit the lean-growth potential and health status of the SEW pig. This review provides insight into some of the reasons for these challenges and discusses some possible ways of utilizing the unique characteristics of the SEW pig to reduce production costs.
Purple Sulfur Bacteria In Anaerobic Treatment Lagoons, Richard K. Koelsch, Tong Tong Chen, Dennis D. Schulte
Purple Sulfur Bacteria In Anaerobic Treatment Lagoons, Richard K. Koelsch, Tong Tong Chen, Dennis D. Schulte
Nebraska Swine Reports
Purple or pink colored lagoons, indicating the presence of purple sulfur bacteria, are less likely to be considered an odor nuisance than a more typical non-purple lagoon. The design and management factors that encourage the growth of purple sulfur bacteria are poorly understood. A study of eight purple and non-purple lagoons was initiated during the spring and summer of 1996. The intent of this effort was to identify critical factors that would allow purple lagoons to become a more predictable odor control alternative. A preliminary comparison of design and management factors assumed to be critical suggests more similarities between these …
Dietary Fiber In Sow Gestation Diets — A Review, Duane Reese
Dietary Fiber In Sow Gestation Diets — A Review, Duane Reese
Nebraska Swine Reports
Gestation sows are well suited to utilize high-fiber, low-density diets. They utilize fiber better than growing pigs and during gestation have a high feed intake capacity relative to their energy requirement. When research results from several studies were pooled and weighted according to the number of litters produced, sows fed additional fiber during gestation farrowed and weaned more pigs/litter than sows fed control diets. Feeding fiber during gestation also improved lactation feed intake, but reduced sow weight gain during pregnancy and pig birth weight. Sows fed fibrous diets also exhibit less stereotypic behavior (i.e., bar-biting), which may be an indication …
Space Allocation Decisions For Barrows And Gilts, Mike Brumm, Jim Dahlquist
Space Allocation Decisions For Barrows And Gilts, Mike Brumm, Jim Dahlquist
Nebraska Swine Reports
An experiment was conducted to determine if barrow and gilt performance could be modified by varying pen space allocation for each sex and whether performance of barrows given less space per pig could be enhanced with a more nutrient-dense diet. Barrows given 6 ft2 of pen space per pig consumed less feed and grew slower with no effect on lean gain compared to barrows provided 7 ft2 of pen space per pig. Increasing diet nutrient density by feeding the diet sequence recommended for gilts to barrows had no effect on performance for barrows at 6 ft2 per …
Retention Of Selected Nutrients In Grilled Boneless Pork Chops, Judy A. Driskell, Fayrene Hamouz, Sharon Davis, David Giraud, Jidong Sun
Retention Of Selected Nutrients In Grilled Boneless Pork Chops, Judy A. Driskell, Fayrene Hamouz, Sharon Davis, David Giraud, Jidong Sun
Nebraska Swine Reports
Fresh pork Canadian Backs, cut into boneless pork chops, were cooked to 160°F internal temperature by grilling at one of the following temperatures: 200, 250, 300, 350, or 400°F. Significantly longer cooking times were observed for chops grilled at 200°F than for those grilled at the higher temperatures. The yields, as well as the moisture and crude fat content of the chops in the different treatments, were similar. Retention values for selenium were similar for all treatment groups. Chops grilled at 400°F had significantly lower retention values for vitamin E and thiamin and a tendency for lower retention values for …
The Effect Of Infusion Of Urea Into The Jugular Vein On Feed Intake Of Finishing Gilts, Hsin-Yi Chen, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller
The Effect Of Infusion Of Urea Into The Jugular Vein On Feed Intake Of Finishing Gilts, Hsin-Yi Chen, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller
Nebraska Swine Reports
Previous research suggested feed intake was reduced in growing-finishing pigs consuming corn-soybean meal diets high in crude protein. Because urea is the primary end product of the breakdown of excess dietary protein intake, the effect of intravenous infusion of urea solution on feed intake was evaluated. Daily infusions of 24 and 30 g of urea were used to mimic plasma urea concentration of pigs receiving a 25% crude protein (CP) diet. Blood samples were obtained and feed intakes were measured daily to determine plasma urea concentration and average daily feed intake (ADFI). Average daily feed intake was reduced 4% as …
Growth Performance And Digestive And Metabolic Responses Of Finishing Gilts Penned Individually Or In Groups, Sergio Gómez-Rosales, Phillip S. Miller, Austin Lewis
Growth Performance And Digestive And Metabolic Responses Of Finishing Gilts Penned Individually Or In Groups, Sergio Gómez-Rosales, Phillip S. Miller, Austin Lewis
Nebraska Swine Reports
An experiment was conducted using one or four finishing gilts/pen to identify factors related to the lower performance of pigs penned in groups. Feed intake, daily gain and final weight were greater in pigs penned individually. There was a trend for greater loin weight and primal cut percentage for pigs penned individually. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy and the plasma concentrations of urea, glucose and nonesterified fatty acids were similar for both individually and group-penned pigs. These results suggest the lower performance of group-penned pigs is related neither to changes in digestive processes nor plasma …
Addition Of Fat To Diets Of Lactating Sows: I. Effects On Lactation Performance And Pig Composition, Scott Tilton, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller, Paul Ermer
Addition Of Fat To Diets Of Lactating Sows: I. Effects On Lactation Performance And Pig Composition, Scott Tilton, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller, Paul Ermer
Nebraska Swine Reports
An experiment was conducted with 30 lactating sows to determine the effects of high fat lactation diets on the body composition of suckling pigs and sow backfat composition. Sows were provided a lactation diet containing either zero or 10% tallow on an ad libitum basis for a 21-day lactation. No differences in feed intake during lactation were observed, although sows fed tallow consumed more metabolizable energy per day than control sows. Composition of backfat samples taken at weaning from sows suggested an increase in the amount of fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue of control sows. Sows fed tallow weaned …
Addition Of Fat To Diets Of Lactating Sows: Ii. Effects On Energy Mobilization And Hormone-Sensitive Lipase Activity, Scott Tilton, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller, Paul Ermer
Addition Of Fat To Diets Of Lactating Sows: Ii. Effects On Energy Mobilization And Hormone-Sensitive Lipase Activity, Scott Tilton, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller, Paul Ermer
Nebraska Swine Reports
The effect of dietary fat intake on the ability of the lactating sow to mobilize energy from adipose tissue fat was examined. Sows had ad libitum access to diets formulated to contained 1% lysine and either zero or 10% tallow. Data from two epinephrine challenges indicated sows fed tallow tended to have higher baseline concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and lower stimulated release of NEFA in response to epinephrine than did control sows. Because baseline glycerol values did not differ between treatments, we interpreted this to suggest control sows tended to re-esterify (recycle) a greater portion of the fatty …
Boar Libido Affects Pubertal Development Of Gilts, Dwane Zimmerman, Thomas Mcgargill, Norm Rohda, Matthew Anderson
Boar Libido Affects Pubertal Development Of Gilts, Dwane Zimmerman, Thomas Mcgargill, Norm Rohda, Matthew Anderson
Nebraska Swine Reports
Young boars (10 months) expressing either high (HLB) or low (LLB) libido in standardized mating tests were compared for their ability to stimulate earlier puberty in gilts. Boar exposure was initiated when gilts were either 140 or 160 days old to determine whether the effect of boar libido on attainment of puberty in gilts is influenced by sexual maturation (age) of the gilts. Another group of gilts was isolated from boars (NBE, not boar exposed) and served as controls. Gilts exposed to HLB (10 min/day) reached puberty 8.9 days earlier (P < .06) than gilts exposed to LLB. Gilts exposed to boars, regardless of libido level, reached puberty 21 days earlier (P < .01) than the control gilts. Boar exposure initiated at 140 days induced puberty 11.3 days earlier (P < .06) than when initiated at 160 days. Differences in pubertal responses between HLB and LLB were similar when exposure was initiated at 140 or 160 days. Boar libido is an important component of the boar-stimulating effect on puberty in gilts. Therefore, gilts should be exposed to boars with relatively high libido to achieve optimal pubertal development.
Synergism Between Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus (Prrsv) And Salmonella Choleraesuis, Robert Wills, Paula Fedorka-Cray, K.-J. Yoon, Jeffrey Gray, Tom Stabel, J. J. Zimmerman
Synergism Between Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus (Prrsv) And Salmonella Choleraesuis, Robert Wills, Paula Fedorka-Cray, K.-J. Yoon, Jeffrey Gray, Tom Stabel, J. J. Zimmerman
Nebraska Swine Reports
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of exposure to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, Salmonella choleraesuis and stress on young swine. Five week- old segregated early weaned pigs were randomly assigned to one of eight treatments consisting of all possible combinations of three factors: S. choleraesuis (SC) on day zero, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on day three, and dexamethasone (DEX) on days three to seven. DEX was used as a proxy for stress. Treatment differences were seen in performance parameters, levels and duration of SC shedding, level and distribution of SC in tissues, clinical …
Impact Of Feeder And Drinker Designs On Pig Performance, Water Use And Manure Production, Mike Brumm, Jim Dahlquist
Impact Of Feeder And Drinker Designs On Pig Performance, Water Use And Manure Production, Mike Brumm, Jim Dahlquist
Nebraska Swine Reports
Two experiments were conducted to examine the impact of feeder and drinker designs on pig performance, water use and manure volume. In the first experiment, pigs with access to a Crystal Springs® wet/dry feeder grew faster, but had a poorer feed conversion and similar carcass merit as pigs using dry feeders with wall-mounted nipple drinkers. Water use was reduced 25.6% in the combined winter and summer trials and manure volume reduced 28.9% in the summer trial for the wet/dry feeder system versus the dry feeder and wall-mounted nipple drinker system. In the second experiment, there was no difference in pig …
Environmental Assurance Program, Jill Lorenz-Goodrich, Richard K. Koelsch
Environmental Assurance Program, Jill Lorenz-Goodrich, Richard K. Koelsch
Nebraska Swine Reports
The popular press has brought environmental challenges in the pork industry to the forefront, making the pork industry a key political issue in several states. In Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Nebraska Pork Producers Association have been cooperators in providing educational opportunities to producers on how they can meeting the state’s regulations and ensuring production in an environmentally safe manner. The National Pork Producers Council is a partner is this effort through the development of a national curriculum called the Environmental Assurance Program. This educational program stresses the fundamentals of protecting natural resources as well as …
Effect Of Early Weaning On Sow Reproductive Performance — A Review, Donald G. Levis
Effect Of Early Weaning On Sow Reproductive Performance — A Review, Donald G. Levis
Nebraska Swine Reports
A review of literature was conducted to evaluate the effects of lactation length on reproductive performance of sows. As lactation length decreases there is an increase in the weaning-to-estrus interval, a decrease in farrowing rate, a decrease in subsequent litter size and an increase in pigs weaned per sow per year. Because of herd-to-herd differences in the influence of lactation length on reproductive performance, it is advised that each farm conduct a preliminary study to evaluate the effect of the considered lactation length before implementing the “new” weaning age of piglets.
Explanation Of Statistics Used In This Report
Explanation Of Statistics Used In This Report
Nebraska Swine Reports
Pigs treated alike vary in performance due to their different genetic makeup and to environmental effects we cannot completely control. When a group of pigs is randomly allotted to treatments, it is nearly impossible to get an “equal” group of pigs on each treatment. The natural variability among pigs and the number of pigs per treatment determine the expected variation among treatment groups due to random sampling.
Method Of Detection, Not Type Of Housing, Affects Accuracy And Rapidity Of Estrus Detection In Gilts, Dwane Zimmerman, Denny Aherin
Method Of Detection, Not Type Of Housing, Affects Accuracy And Rapidity Of Estrus Detection In Gilts, Dwane Zimmerman, Denny Aherin
Nebraska Swine Reports
The effects of type of housing (stalls versus pens) and method of heat detection (fence-line boar exposure conducted in-place versus after relocation of gilts to the boar room) on the accuracy and rapidity of estrus detection were evaluated in 24 gilts during two successive estrous periods. Gilts relocated to the boar room showed a higher rate of estrus detection and a more rapid estrous response (P < .05) to fence-line boar exposure (81% and 1.7 min, respectively) than gilts provided fence-line boar exposure in-place (67.5% and 2.3 min, respectively). Gilts housed in stalls and pens showed similar rates of estrus detection (68% and 67%, respectively) but the estrous response to fence-line boar exposure tended to occur more rapidly in gilts housed in pens than in stalls (2.0 versus 2.5 min, P < .1). Gilts not detected in estrus with fence-line boar exposure were slow to respond to a later heat check with physical boar exposure (3.8 min). Physical boar exposure is required for highly accurate heat detection in gilts. For optimal results, boar stimulation should be provided in an environment removed from the residence of the gilts.