December 15, 2008
This Month's Focus: 2008 Swine Research Review
Manure Management
Hydrogen Sulfide Detector Warns of Dangerous Gas Levels
Dec 15, 2008 12:36 PM
A research team at Iowa State University (ISU) has developed a wireless hydrogen sulfide (H2S) detector that successfully detects the potentially fatal gas......
Electrostatic Collection System Reduces Barn Dust
Dec 15, 2008 1:52 PM
Test results in a hog finishing barn demonstrate that the Electrostatic Space Discharge System (ESDS) maintained a significant level of dust reduction compared to the control group....
Gas-Phase Biofilters Reduce Odor, Emissions
Dec 15, 2008 2:06 PM
Alternative media are being tested for use in gas-phase biofilters in an effort to minimize pressure drop, lower operating costs and reduce the biofilter footprint....
Crop Residues + Swine Manure Enhance Methane Generation
Dec 15, 2008 2:09 PM
Co-digesting swine manure with crop residues shows great promise in boosting methane generation in anaerobic digesters....
Genetics
Organic Selenium Enhances Boar Fertility
Dec 15, 2008 2:13 PM
The resounding acceptance of artificial insemination (AI) by commercial pork producers necessitates the need to manage boars for maximum fertility and semen production....
Marker-Assisted Selection Could Boost Sow Performance
Dec 15, 2008 2:24 PM
The length of a sow's productive life (SPL) in a breeding herd is impacted by reproductive performance, locomotion and structural soundness....
Frozen Boar Semen Use Shows Promise
Dec 15, 2008 2:27 PM
The use of frozen boar semen technologies to preserve genetics, reduce risk when introducing new genetics into the breeding herd, allow......
Health
Supplementing Fall-Back Pigs Pays In the Nursery
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
A number of Michigan pork producers have questioned whether the “rescue decks” really pay off, according to Barbara Straw, Extension veterinarian at Michigan State University (MSU)....
Dam Parity Influences Litter Performance, Pig Health
Dec 15, 2008 2:38 PM
University of Nebraska researchers have confirmed earlier work indicating that sow parity affects the health status of her progeny....
Experimental Vaccine Is Effective Against PRRS
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
A modified-live-virus (MLV) vaccine, propagated in an innovative porcine alveolar macrophage cell line, designated ZMAC......
Animal Welfare
Group Size at Loading Is Insignificant | Prairie Swine Centre
Dec 15, 2008 12:23 PM
A study at the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatchewan, Canada compared handling attributes, stress responses and meat quality of pigs from conventional......
Sow Behavior Cited in Most Crushing Losses
Dec 15, 2008 12:32 PM
Variation in sow behavior may be more important than piglet behavior in trying to reduce crushing losses the first 72 hours of the piglet's life......
Maintaining Group Integrity Improves Sow Performance
Dec 15, 2008 12:34 PM
In group-housed sows, when similar groups of sows are maintained throughout the gestation period, aggression between groups is reduced......
Transport Space Allowances Studied for Weaned Pigs
Dec 15, 2008 12:37 PM
Because the optimum space allowance required for weaned pigs during transport is unknown, Texas Tech University scientists sought to establish......
Alternate Tail Docking Procedure Cuts Stress
Dec 15, 2008 12:39 PM
The use of the cautery iron rather than the conventional blunt trauma cutting method of tail docking can reduce the elevated stress response......
Waterer Bowl Location In Nursery Pens Tested
Dec 15, 2008 12:42 PM
Pigs' preference for the location of drinker bowls was tested in a commercial nursery barn near Jefferson City, MO. Twenty-five, 7-week-old......
Nutrition
Feeder Design Impacts Growth Performance, Carcass Traits
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Wet-dry feeders improved finishing pigs' feed intake by close to 9% and growth rate by 6-7% compared to conventional dry feeders in two recent Kansas State University research trials...
Corn and DDGS Diet Switching Do Not Affect Pig Performance
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Pork producers looking to optimize feed ingredients are including distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for grow-finish pigs when costs are in line...
Enhanced DDGS Offer Improved Swine Diets
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Enhanced distiller's dried grains with solubles (E-DDGS) provides greater energy concentration in swine diets, improving the nutritional value of DDGS for pigs...
Feed Additives Don't Resolve Mycotoxin Contamination
Dec 12, 2008 12:00 PM
Two related feed additives failed to resolve the impact of mycotoxin contamination in a nursery pig trial...
Adding Amino Acids Cuts Protein Costs, Boosts Net Energy
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Supplementing a low-protein diet with synthetic amino acids can provide a cost-effective way to avoid adding excess crude protein (CP)....
Research
No Behavioral Side Effects With Ethanol By-Product Use
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
New research at Iowa State University (ISU) tested whether the use of ethanol by-products in swine diets to reduce air emissions would have an impact on pig behavior...
Trim Boar Tusks With Care
Dec 17, 2008 5:15 PM
Boars continually grow tusks that pose a safety hazard to human handlers and other pigs...
Natural Bacteriophage May Lower Salmonella Incidence
Dec 17, 2008 5:20 PM
Bacteriophages, viruses that are found in nature that can kill bacteria, including salmonella, may hold the key to solving one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in humans and that can also affect swine production efficiency...
Farm, Plant Measures Guard Against Salmonella
Dec 17, 2008 5:24 PM
Food safety programs (Pork Quality Assurance-Plus) at the farm and at the packing plant (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) are effectively reducing salmonella levels in the food chain...
Swine Flu Virus Transmission Across Species Studied
Dec 18, 2008 10:20 AM
Why some influenza virus strains are capable of transmitting virus between species is being investigated using new molecular technology...
Products
Wireless Pregnancy Detector Introduced
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Virtual scan ultrasound system for sows is lightweight and cordless. ECM has developed a new ultrasound device to meet the specific needs of pork producers...
Plastic Flooring Option
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Farmweld introduces a new 24 in. × 24 in. plastic panel to complement its Farmweld Flooring System (FFS). With this new size...
Farm Management Accounting Guide
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
T. Murphy Associates announces publication of its farm accounting textbook entitled, “Farm Management Accounting in MIS Mode.”...
From My Perspective
Taking Stock
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM, By Dale Miller Editor
Checkoff's approval rating is sought in USDA survey. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is conducting a request for referendum survey on the Pork...
Veterinarians on Call
Clostridial Diseases Strike Piglets Early
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM, By Reed Leiting, DVM Worthington, MN
Three types of clostridial organisms commonly affect swine. There are many causes of diarrhea in newborn piglets. Each organism has a period of time when...
Wireless Pregnancy Detector Introduced
Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Virtual scan ultrasound system for sows is lightweight and cordless. ECM has developed a new ultrasound device to meet the specific needs of pork producers...
