Average Number Of Pigs Research Articles

English

Porcine cysticercosis is a major public health issue in Burkina Faso. This study investigated farmers’ awareness and ethno-veterinary practices regarding this disease in Boulkiemde province, Burkina Faso. A survey was done with 132 randomly selected pig farmers in 10 villages of two municipalities of Boulkiemde province, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The majority of interviewed farmers (54%) were from the Koudougou municipality and female (77%). The average number of pigs per farm was 5.4, and all pigs were roaming free during the dry season. All farmers already heard about porcine cysticercosis and the condition had various names in local languages in the study area. In the area, 66% of farmers observed porcine cysticercosis in their pigs, and among them 85% have noted cysticercosis cases in their farms during a period of six months before the survey. During the survey, farmers stated that, on average, infected pigs lost 62% of their market value. Among farmers, 77% knew some traditional treatments based on plants. Fourteen plants species were documented as used in the treatment of this disease. The most commonly used plant species is Parkia biglobosa, with a frequency index of 37%. In general, the leaves (44%), bark (30%), seeds (23%) and roots (3%) are used in treatments that are administered only orally. Key words: Burkina Faso, Sabou, Koudougou, Taenia solium, plant, treatment.

Pig farms' typology and African swine fever's epidemiology in Parakou's district in North of Benin.

One most worrying diseases in pig breeding in Benin is the African swine fever (ASF) which made important economic losses. This study aims to make Parakou’s pig farms’s typology and ASF’s epidemiologic’s study. A survey was been done on 10 % Parakou’s pig’s farms number that’s mean 69 farms. For ASF’s epidemiologic study, 41 samples of organs (liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and heart) and 24 samples of blood serum were carried out. These samples were analyzed by the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three breeders groups were been identified. The average number of pigs per farms was 15.78 ± 11.15. In group 1, the breeders had provided with schooling and practiced an intensive breeding. In group 2, they were extensive breeders with a little technical knowledge. Finally, group 3 was for semi-intensive breeders who practiced quarantine and who used kitchen residues in pigs’ feeding. The laboratory analyses revealed that 78.05% of the organs subjected to the PCR were positive against 12.5% of serum by the ELISA test. The rates of positivity observed by organ were respectively of 31.21%, 28.12%, 18.75, 12.50% and 9.38% for the liver, the lungs, the spleen, the kidneys and the heart. It was noted that the expression of ASF in the different types of pig farms is under the influence of the mode of pig conduct, the practice or not of the quarantine of animals, heating of feeds containing fatty water and the number of pig herds. The reduction or elimination of the risk factors seems the starting point for an effective fight against this viral disease of swine which decimates the pigs’ farms and impoverishes people.

Diffusion pollution from livestock and poultry rearing in the Yangtze Delta, China

The Yangtze Delta is one of the most developed regions in China and includes Shanghai, eight cities in Jiangsu province and eight cities in Zhejiang province. Meat consumption in this region has increased with economic growth, and most of the consumed meat is produced locally. The water quality of surface waters has deteriorated in recent years. An example was the huge blue-green algae bloom in Tai Lake in late May 2007, which affected millions of people's daily drinking water. However, animal husbandry is considered to be one of the main pollution sources. Pollutants (NH3-N, total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN)) excreted by livestock and poultry, and the resultant COD (chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), were estimated using two different methods based on different data sets. The number of livestock and poultry has remained stable in the Yangtze Delta over the four years from 1999 to 2002, with the average number of pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry being 21.1 M, 0.4 M, 7.7 M and 597.6 M, respectively. Pollutants in livestock and poultry excreta estimated by Method I were: 0.12 Mt NH3-N, 0.11 Mt TP and 0.29 Mt TN, resulting in COD and BOD of 1.34 Mt and 1.30 Mt, respectively, while the estimations based on Method II were: 0.18 Mt NH3-N, 0.15 Mt TP and 0.40 Mt TN, resulting in COD and BOD of 1.95 Mt and 1.80 Mt, respectively. Pollutants excreted annually by livestock and poultry in the Yangtze Delta are estimated to be: 0.17 Mt NH3-N, 0.16 Mt TP and 0.42 Mt TN, giving rise to a COD of 1.86 Mt and a BOD of 1.72 Mt. Approximately 25% of this pollution was estimated to enter water bodies, which means that the annual pollutant load is 43,700 t NH3-N, 39,400 tTP, 104,600t TN with a COD of 465,000 tand a BOD of 430,100 t. Pollutants from animal husbandry were similar in magnitude to those from industrial wastewater. Pigs produced the most pollution, followed by poultry, cattle and sheep. The pollution load from animal husbandry in the Yangtze Delta is about twice the average level of the whole of China. Domestic wastewater was the main pollution source in the Yangtze Delta, followed by pollution from raising livestock and poultry and from industrial wastewater. The pollution load in Shanghai and Jiaxing were the greatest, followed by 7 cities of Jiangsu province (except Suzhou) and other cities of Zhejiang province and Suzhou. Pigs and poultry produced about 90% of the total pollutants from animal husbandry. The local governments, especially in Shanghai and Jiaxing, should focus their attention on the pollution produced by livestock and poulrry. Controlling pollution from pigs and poultry will have the greatest impact in this region. Control of pollution will be facilitated by the development of large-scale livestock and poultry farming units and a shift away from small scale husbandry.

The effect of feeder type and change of feeder type on growing and finishing pig performance and behaviour

Reduced feed intake and hence lower growth rates commonly occur when the environment of the pig changes, e.g. at weaning and when pigs are moved from growing accommodation to finishing accommodation. It is hypothesised that if environmental factors, such as feeder type, remain the same in the weaning and finishing accommodation this ‘growth check’ may be reduced. A total of 640 pigs in 32 pens of 20 pigs per pen were used to investigate the effects of two feeder types and changing or not changing the feeder type at 10 weeks of age on growth performance and behaviour in the periods from 4 to 10, 10 to finish (22) and from 4 to finish (22) weeks of age, respectively. The two feeder types tested were a ‘wet and dry’ single-space (S) feeder and a ‘dry’ multi-space feeder (M). In the period 4–10 weeks of age feeder type had no significant effect on growth performance though pigs on the ‘dry’ multi-space feeder tended to exhibit significantly better feed efficiency from 4 to 7 weeks of age. In the first week after changing accommodation the growth rate of pigs on all treatments was depressed (compared to the last 3 weeks of the grower period) and was reduced a further 60 g/day when the feeder type was changed. However, the “feeder” effect was transitory and had no effect on overall finisher performance except for pigs changed from a ‘dry’ multi-space feeder to ‘wet and dry’ single-spaced feeder. These animals had significantly faster growth rate over the finisher phase (P<0.05, 886 g/day) and between 4 weeks of age and finish (P<0.05, 730 g/day) than pigs on all other treatments. Feeder treatment had no significant effect on feed intake or feed efficiency in the finisher period or overall from wean to finish. Similarly, the treatments had no effect on the variation in growth rate. Behavioural observations showed that the average number of pigs at the feeder during the finishing period was significantly higher when feed was offered from treatment M–S (1.19 (freq/30 s), P<0.001). In conclusion, the present results suggest that, a change in feeder type, from a ‘dry’ multi-space feeder in growing accommodation to a ‘wet and dry’ single-space feeder in finishing accommodation appears to stimulate improved growth performance in the early finishing period and overall from weaning to finish.

The effects of branched-chain amino acids on sow and litter performance.

Sows (n = 306; PIC, Line C-19; average parity 2.1) were used to evaluate the interrelationship between valine, isoleucine, and leucine on sow and litter performance. Our objective was to determine whether the increase in litter weaning weight associated with added dietary valine is specific for valine or a result of the total branched-chain amino acid (i.e., isoleucine and[or] leucine) concentration of the diet. Eight dietary treatments (36 to 41 sows/treatment) were arranged as a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial with two levels of valine (.80 and 1.20%), isoleucine (.68 and 1.08%), and leucine (1.57 and 1.97%). This provided total branched-chain amino acid levels of 3.05, 3.45, 3.85, and 4.25%. The lowest level of each branched-chain amino acid was similar to that in a .90% lysine corn-soybean meal diet containing .15% L-lysine HCl. Amino acids other than valine, isoleucine, and leucine met or exceeded their suggested estimates relative to lysine using ratios derived from the National and Agricultural Research Councils. Average number of pigs on d 2 of lactation was 11.2, and average lactation length was 20.9 d. Number of pigs weaned (x = 10.6), sow ADFI (x = 5.85 kg), and sow weight loss (x = 4.25 kg) were not affected by dietary treatment (P > .10). Sow backfat loss (P < .02), litter weaning weight (P < .04), and litter weight gain from d 2 to weaning (P > .05) increased as dietary valine increased. Litter weight at weaning and litter weight gain were not affected by dietary isoleucine (P > .80) or leucine (P > .60). Sixteen or 17 sows per treatment (129 total) were milked manually on d 14 to 16 of lactation. Increasing dietary valine tended to increase milk urea N (P < .07) but did not affect milk DM, CP, fat, lactose, or ash. Increasing dietary isoleucine or leucine had no effects on milk composition. These results confirm the importance of dietary valine for increased litter weaning weight, independent of either additional dietary leucine or isoleucine.

The effect of farrowing crate heat lamp location on sow and pig patterns of lying and pig survival.

Three experiments were conducted to study sow and pig behavior during the 1st 3 d after birth and pig survival during the 1st 2 wk after farrowing. In Exp. 1, 23 sows were housed in conventional farrowing crates that were divided into five sections: a .5- x 1.5-m front creep section and the remaining area divided into four sections, .75 x 1.05 m each. Air temperature was maintained at 19 degrees C, and a 250-W heat lamp was placed at the right side of the front creep in Treatment 1 (T1), or in the creep at the right side of the sow for Treatment 2 (T2). The percentage of pigs within 8 cm of the sow's trunk was not affected by treatment, but it decreased (P < .001) from 61.8 +/- 3.4% on d 1 to 28.1 +/- 3.5% on d 3. As the percentage of pigs near the sow decreased, the percentage of pigs within the section containing the heat lamp increased (T1, P < .05; T2, P < .10). Experiment 2 involved 15 sows and litters housed as in Exp. 1, except that heat lamps were not provided, and average air temperature was 27.3 +/- .2 degrees C during behavioral observations. Even though the portion of the litter near the sow decreased (P < .001) from d 1 to d 3 (d 1, 57.0 +/- 3.4%; d 2, 42.9 +/- 3.3%; d 3, 31.7 +/- 3.3%), pigs did not concentrate in any specific section as they moved away from the sow. The average number of pigs within the front creep section (Section 1) for the 3-d period was less than (P < .01) the number in any other crate section. Experiment 3 involved 147 sows and tested the effect of solid creep floor covering on pig survival for each of the heat lamp locations used in Exp. 1. Neither heat lamp location nor floor covering affected pig survival. During the 1st 3 d of life, pigs tend to lie near the sow regardless of heat lamp location or air temperature. Heat lamp position and floor covering under the lamp do not affect pig survival.

PIG BREEDING: CURRENT PROGRAMS VS. FUTURE PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Reports reported annually for the Canadian ROP swine testing program provide no evidence of genetic trends in the seed stock herds enrolled. Small herd size (&lt; 8 sows), short average life span of these herds (&lt; 5 yr) and the geographically diffuse nature of the seed stock industry appear to have been major impediments to the application of cohesive and sustained selection programs. The commercial industry, in contrast, has shown a marked improvement in average carcass merit during the past decade. This trend, stimulated and guided by the 1968 revision of carcass grading standards, has been accompanied by a 60% reduction in the number of commercial herds and a three-fold increase in the average number of pigs marketed annually per unit. The specific breeding programs employed by the commercial industry cannot be documented but there has been a steady growth in the use of systematic crossbreeding programs, and producer demand for boars with performance credentials has greatly intensified. This has fostered a fivefold increase in ROP testing activity since 1973, given impetus to the evolution of swine AI programs, and encouraged the development of large closed-herd seed stock operations with self-contained performance test facilities. The central objective of performance testing programs, both private and public, is the genetic improvement of traits directly relevant to efficient lean meat production. Future production requirements are unlikely to alter this basic objective but advances in the technology for live animal carcass evaluation and changing economic circumstances, specifically changes in rations to accommodate the increasing competition for cereal grain supplies, will necessitate continuous review and revision of testing procedures. Recent experimental evidence indicates that rate of feed ingestion is inversely related to efficiency of digestion and lean tissue feed conversion. This implies that testing programs which place a premium on rate of ingestion (e.g. "to appetite" or "scale" feeding) may be less suitable for purposes of measuring genetic differences in efficiency of lean production than programs which utilize ad libitum feeding.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE ONSET OF PUBERTY, POST-WEANING ESTRUS AND BLOOD HORMONE LEVELS OF LACOMBE GILTS

Lacombe gilts which were exposed to a boar at 55 kg liveweight reached puberty at an average age of 145 days (range 102–200 days) and an average weight of 78.9 kg (range 55–118 kg). Restricting energy intake to 85% of free-choice intake from 45 to 90 kg increased the age at 90 kg by approximately 7 days but decreased the age at puberty by 9 days. Level of energy intake before service had no significant effect on the number of pigs born or weaned per litter. The overall average number of pigs born alive was 9.5, with 7.8 weaned per litter. Ninety-three percent of the gilts were rebred and the average time taken to post-weaning estrus was 8 days. Depriving the gilts of feed and water on the day of weaning did not significantly affect the time taken to return to estrus or influence the levels of any of the blood hormones measured. In sows that came into heat within 10 days of weaning, peak plasma concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) occurred on the day of weaning or the 1st day after weaning, and plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol were low at weaning but reached peak concentrations on the day of estrus or the day prior to estrus. Patterns of plasma FSH, LH and estradiol were different in sows that failed to show an early post-weaning estrus.

Observations on reproduction in a pedigree herd of Large White pigs

1. The information analysed in this report is taken from records of the Compton herd of Large White pigs over a period of about 4 years.2. Length of gestation period: close concentration about the mean of 114·17 days; no apparent relationship between litter size and extremely long or short gestation period. There was no difference in the average duration of pregnancy as between old and young sows, nor was there any evidence of a characteristic tendency to long or short pregnancies in individuals. The incidence of stillbirths appears to be independent of the length of the gestation period.3. The number of pigs born, alive or dead, ranged from 3 to 24, the average being 13·12. The average number of pigs born alive was 12·4 and the average number weaned was 8·1.4. The average number of pigs born rose with successive pregnancies to a maximum of more than 15 in the 6th and 7th litter and declined thereafter. The average number born alive reached a maximum of more than 14 in the 5th litter and declined thereafter, the decline being less marked among pigs born alive than among all pigs including stillbirths, apparently because embryonic mortality (before parturition) bears more heavily on the litters of older sows, whereas the incidence of stillbirths is not related to age (or to the ordinal number of the litter).5. The incidence of stillbirths was studied in relation to litter size, the data being compared with similar data recorded elsewhere. The proportion of stillbirths was higher among female piglets than among males. The reverse was true in litters of less than average size, and the possible significance of this difference between smaller and larger litters is discussed.6. The foetal sex ratio appears to bear no relation to the ordinal number of the litter or to its size.7. The reasons for discard of sows which have been culled during the period under review have been recorded and are briefly discussed.