December 15, 2007

This Month's Focus: 2007 Swine Research Review

Reproduction & Genetics

‘Skip-a-Heat’ Plan Helps Avoid Second-Parity Slump

Dec 17, 2007 11:55 AM

Breeding Parity 1 sows at their second postweaning estrus has been shown to increase the number of live embryos detected at Day 30 of gestation. This increase in embryo viability may negate the effects of the second-parity dip in reproductive performance...

Management Tools Help Improve Reproductive Efficiencies

Dec 17, 2007 12:14 PM

This study provides “proof-of-principle” that use of a purpose-built boar exposure area (BEAR) to induce a natural first heat in “select” gilts, and the use of low-dose exogenous gonadotropins to induce first heat in non-cyclic “opportunity” gilts,...

Test Tube Pigs are Now a Reality

Dec 17, 2007 12:31 PM

The ability to produce pig embryos in vitro (in the laboratory environment) has been mastered at Mississippi State University...

Don't Mix Sows 10-14 Days after Breeding

Dec 17, 2007 12:36 PM

As pork producers take up the challenge to house gestating sows in groups vs. individual stalls...

Additional web-exclusive reproduction & genetics research articles:

Litter Size Impact on Growth Rate Studied

Dec 14, 2007 11:00 AM

Gains in sow productivity are one of the most impressive areas in pork production. Currently, some units are exceeding 30 pigs weaned/sow/year (p/s/y); 28 or 29 p/s/y are no longer considered unusual...

Structural Soundness in Commercial Gilts Studied

Dec 14, 2007 10:48 AM

The objective of this study was to estimate leg soundness and body conformation trait variance using 1,449 gilts in a commercial sow unit. The gilts were from two commercial lines...

Health

Dam Parity May Impact Pigs' Immunity Levels

Dec 17, 2007 1:12 PM

Preliminary results of research at the University of Nebraska suggest that health status, as indicated by circulating immunoglobulin concentrations in baby pigs...

Circovirus Spread Via Semen Studied

Dec 17, 2007 1:29 PM

Because porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD) has spread rapidly across North America, boar semen has been implicated as a possible source for dissemination of the virus...

Immune Parameters May Signal Why Some Pigs Clear PRRS Virus

Dec 17, 2007 1:37 PM

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus is difficult to rid from herds because infection elicits a weak immune response that is not fully protective...

Serum Sampling is Best PRRS Diagnostic Tool

Dec 17, 2007 1:45 PM

Serum samples provide the best sample to detect porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus during acute infection...

Seeking Answers for Postweaning Diarrhea

Dec 17, 2007 1:49 PM

Porcine postweaning diarrhea (PWD), caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), is one of the most economically significant swine diseases...

Additional web-exclusive health research articles:

Research Cautions Against Blaming Aerosol Spread of PRRS

Dec 14, 2007 10:53 AM

Even when meteorological conditions are considered ideal for airborne transfer of PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) virus, other factors are just as likely to produce lateral transmission...

Animal Welfare

Management Effects on Group Sow Housing

Dec 15, 2007 11:43 AM

Canadian researchers have learned that the productivity in electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems is comparable to sows housed in stalls, provided proper management practices are followed...

Curing Water Wastage In Postweaning Pigs

Dec 15, 2007 12:46 PM

It is often thought that pigs at weaning are substituting water for feed consumption, resulting in a temporary weight loss, as they adapt to eating solid food. But researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have discovered that most water usage after weaning is actually water wastage...

‘Pig-Friendly’ Loading Chute Minimizes Loading Stressors

Dec 15, 2007 1:02 PM

Pigs marketed on a prototype loading gantry were exposed to fewer stressors, including electric prods and incidence of slips, falls, vocalizations and piling. Pig mortalities from farm to harvest are estimated to cost the U.S. swine industry over...

Electric Prod Use Can Be Costly

Dec 17, 2007 1:31 PM

Research at Canada's Prairie Swine Centre (PSC) confirms that use of an electric prod to move market hogs elevates stress levels in the animals vs. other means of handling...

Manure

Lab Microtunnel Measures Emissions More Accurately

Dec 15, 2007 1:43 PM

University of Minnesota researchers have built a laboratory microtunnel they say will provide a more accurate picture of hog manure emission reduction technologies...

Surface Aerator Makes Lagoon Odor Reduction Affordable

Dec 15, 2007 1:49 PM

Preliminary results of a new surface aeration system pilot-tested at a 4,800-head, grow-finish operation show it provides an effective and affordable means of handling odors in lagoons...

Nutrition

Effects of Dietary Ingredients On Carcass Quality Measures

Dec 17, 2007 4:02 PM

Three separate Kansas State University (KSU) research trials confirm that adding fat to swine diets increases carcass iodine values. The exact impact on the carcass depends on the fat source...

Larger Litters Don't Result in Increased Weight Variability

Dec 15, 2007 4:24 PM

Increased litter size results in decreased average birth weights. But larger litters do not increase variability in body weight of the pigs in the litter at birth. Carcass quality is also unaffected by litter size...

Additives to Improve Flowability of DDGS Studied

Dec 15, 2007 4:31 PM

University of Minnesota (U of M) researchers have found that in-creasing moisture content of dried distiller's grains with solubles (DDGS) from 9% to 12% clearly and significantly reduced the flowability of the feedstuff...

Proper Amino Acid Ratios Cut Costs, Nitrogen Excretion

Dec 17, 2007 4:33 PM

Determining proper amino acid ratios in growing pigs' diets limits feed expense and reduces nitrogen excretion, according to a research report from the University of Kentucky...

Ractopamine Improves Growth, Carcass Value

Dec 15, 2007 4:37 PM

When finishing pigs were fed a control diet vs. ractopamine-supplemented (Paylean from Elanco Animal Health) diet for 27 days prior to slaughter, ractopamine improved growth and feed conversion, decreased backfat and improved loin thickness...

Adding Glycerol Improves Pelleting, Provides Nursery Growth Alternative

Dec 15, 2007 5:20 PM

A Kansas State University (KSU) research team recently investigated whether glycerol, a byproduct of the biofuels industry, could decrease diet cost by replacing corn as an energy source. They also looked at...

Additional web-exclusive nutrition research articles:

Selenium Source Matters in Sow Diets

Dec 15, 2007 5:35 PM

Organic selenium is showing superior results to inorganic selenium, reproductively, and especially in enhancing the selenium status of newborn and weanling pigs...

Rice Provides Attractive Feedstuff for Young Pigs

Dec 14, 2007 10:56 AM

Research at the University of Illinois suggests that feeding a small amount of rice to each pig in early nursery diets may improve health without affecting growth performance...

From My Perspective

Challenges Abound

Dec 15, 2007 12:00 PM, By Dale Miller Editor

The New Year promises more change. As 2007 the Year of the Pig on the Chinese calendar draws to a close, several factors appear to be converging on the North American pork industry that could make production and marketing ever more challenging...

Veterinarians on Call

Mycoplasma: An Old Pig Foe Resurfaces

Dec 15, 2007 12:00 PM, By Steve Patterson, DVM Shelbina, MO

Mycoplasmal pneumonia still exists on a majority of commercial hog farms. Mycoplasma is a long-term villain to the swine industry, although with the likes...