Pig Breeding Farms Research Articles

DESEMPENHO DO REATOR DE FLUXO ASCENDENTE COM LEITO DE LODO (UASB) NA REDUÇÃO DO PODER POLUENTE DE ÁGUAS RESIDUÁRIAS DE SUINOCULTURA

Os resíduos produzidos na suinocultura, ricos em matéria orgânica e patógenos, são freqüentemente responsáveis pela poluição do solo, ar e água. A utilização da biodigestão anaeróbia é uma alternativa viável encontrada para redução do poder poluente de águas residuárias de suinocultura. No presente estudo, avaliou-se o desempenho do reator de fluxo ascendente com leito de lodo (UASB). Observou-se que os valores médios da demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), de fósforo (P), nitrogênio (N), zinco (Zn) e cobre (Cu) sofreram variações decrescentes a partir da entrada no biodigestor, reduzindo o impacto ambiental que causariam, porém não houve redução significativa das concentrações de sódio (Na) ao longo do sistema. A produção de biogás demonstrou a eficiência do sistema do ponto de vista energético. Os estudos realizados demonstraram a possibilidade de redução drástica do poder poluente de águas residuárias de suinocultura.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Trichinella spiralis antibodies and the surveillance of selected pig breeding farms in the Republic of Korea.

Trichinellosis is a parasitic zoonosis of public health importance. It is caused by Trichinella spiralis which has a wide host range including humans. In the present communication, the ELISA technique was employed on a total of 803 blood samples from 7 selected pig breeding farms in 1996 for diagnosis and surveillance of trichinellosis. Out of the entire 803 samples, nine were found to be suspected while one was positive by ELISA. But western blot analyses employed for further confirmation have shown that all of 10 samples did not react to larval excretory-secretory product antigens. These results indicate that pig breeding farms included in the present study are free from trichinellosis. However, it does not mean Korea is free from trichinellosis since human trichinellosis has recently been reported. The necessity of continued surveillance for trichinellosis in both pigs and wild animals was discussed.

Estimation of genetic and environmental risk factors associated with pre-weaning mortality in piglets using generalized linear mixed models

AbstractRisk factors and variance components of pre-weaning mortality were estimated using generalized linear mixed models. Data were from 12 727 piglets born alive from 1338 litters recorded at the pig breeding farm of the University of Kiel from 1989 to 1994. Deviances due to risk factors were estimated by generalized linear model and their odds-ratios by generalized linear mixed model both with binomial errors and a logistic link. Variance components of sire, dam and litter were estimated using a logit or probit link function as well as a linear model for which estimates were transformed to the underlying continuous scale. Highest increase in deviance, indicating the risk factor, which accounts for the greatest amount of unexplained variation of pre-weaning mortality was obtained after exclusion of individual birth weight (1206) from the model, followed by year-season (217), parity-farrowing age or interval (58), genotype of piglets (56), sex (39), total number of piglets born (18) and gestation length (16). Substitution of individual birth weight successively by average piglet birth weight per litter, litter birth weight and standard deviation of birth weight within litter resulted in models with substantially lower explained variation of pre-weaning mortality. Odds of pre-weaning mortality was 1·5 times higher for males than for females and 2·0 times higher in piglets from German Landrace dams than from Large White dams. Odds increased to the fifth parity by 2·2 times the odds of the first parity or increased for the age group of dams between 850 and 949 days by 2·3 times the odds of the age group with less than 350 days. When the continuous risk factors of individual birth weight, average piglet birth weight and litter birth weight decreased or standard deviation of birth weight within litter increased by one standard deviation from the mean, the odds ratios increased by 6·0, 1·6, 0·8 and 0·4, respectively. Piglets with individual birth weights of 1·8, 1·5, 1·2 and 1·0 kg showed a rapid increase in odds ratios of pre-weaning mortality of 1·4, 2·7, 7·0 and 16·1, respectively, relative to piglets with 2·1 kg. Estimates of direct heritability for pre-weaning mortality on the linear observed, transformed underlying, logit and probit scale were 0·02, 0·06, 0·07 and 0·07, respectively. Low estimates of heritability for pre-weaning mortality, even on the underlying continuous scale, suggested low potential for improvement by selection. Therefore, selection for individual birth weight phenotypically closely associated with pre-weaning mortality was recommended to improve survival of piglets during the nursing period.

Eradication of sarcoptic mange from a Belgian pig breeding farm with a combination of injectable and in-feed ivermectin

Sarcoptes scabiei var suis was eradicated from a Belgian pig farm by using a combination of injections of ivermectin and ivermectin in the feed. The detection of mites in ear...

Seroprevalence of F4 + enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in regions with different pig farm densities

Sera of young sows from 135 closed Belgian pig breeding farms were examined for the presence of serum antibodies specific for the F4 fimbrial antigen of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Since 80% of all pig farms in Belgium are located in the provinces West-Vlaanderen (44%, approximately 18 farms/10 km 2), Oost-Vlaanderen (20%, approximately 9 farms/10 km 2), Antwerpen (10%, approximately 5 farms/10 km 2) and Vlaams-Brabant (6%, approximately 3 farms/10 km 2), the farms examined were randomly selected in these four regions. On 68% of all tested farms, sows were not vaccinated against enteric colibacillosis. In general, 65% of these non-vaccinated farms were F4-seropositive (mean optical density [OD 405] > 0.5) of which 38% were weakly (mean OD 405 = 0.5–1.0), 21% moderately (mean OD 405 = 1.0–2.0) and 6% strongly positive (mean OD 405 ≥ 2.0). These percentages showed major differences between the four provinces. In Vlaams-Brabant, only 31% of non-vaccinated farms were seropositive, of which most were regarded as weakly positive. In Antwerpen, Oost- and West-Vlaanderen however, this percentage was clearly higher and respectively 68, 71, and 79% of non-vaccinated farms were seropositive, of which most were weakly positive. These observations indicate that F4 + ETEC is widely spread and highly prevalent on non-vaccinated pig breeding farms in Belgium. Moreover, an increasing F4-seropositivity with increasing pig farm density suggests a possible influence of the swine density on the prevalence of F4 + ETEC infections.

Genetic determination of individual birth weight and its association with sow productivity traits using Bayesian analyses.

Genetic association between individual birth weight (IBW) and litter birth weight (LBW) was analyzed on records of 14,950 individual pigs born alive between 1988 and 1994 at the pig breeding farm of the University of Kiel. Dams were from three purebred lines (German Landrace, German Edelschwein, and Large White) and their crosses. Phenotypically, preweaning mortality of pigs decreased substantially from 40% for pigs with < or = 1 kg weight to less than 7% for pigs with > 1.6 kg. For these low to high birth weight categories, preweaning growth (d 21 of age) and early postweaning growth (weaning to 25 kg) increased by more than 28 and 8% per day, respectively. Bayesian analysis was performed based on direct-maternal effects models for IBW and multiple-trait direct effects models for number of pigs born in total (NOBT) and alive (NOBA) and LBW. Bayesian posterior means for direct and maternal heritability and litter proportion of variance in IBW were .09, .26, and .18, respectively. After adjustment for NOBT, these changed to .08, .22, and .09, respectively. Adjustment for NOBT reduced the direct and maternal genetic correlation from -.41 to -.22. For these direct-maternal correlations, the 95% highest posterior density intervals were -.75 to -.07, and -.58 to .17 before and after adjustment for NOBT. Adjustment for NOBT was found to be necessary to obtain unbiased estimates of genetic effects for IBW. The relationship between IBW and NOBT, and thus the adjustment, was linear with a decrease in IBW of 44 g per additionally born pig. For litter traits, direct heritabilities were .10, .08, and .08 for NOBT, NOBA, and LBW, respectively. After adjustment of LBW for NOBA the heritability changed to .43. Expected variance components for LBW derived from estimates of IBW revealed that genetic and environmental covariances between full-sibs and variation in litter size resulted in the large deviation of maternal heritability for IBW and its equivalent estimate for LBW. These covariances among full-sibs could not be estimated if only LBW were recorded. Therefore, selection for increased IBW is recommended, with the opportunity to improve both direct and maternal genetic effects of birth weight of pigs and, thus, their vitality and pre- and postnatal growth.

Environmental quality and hog production

This paper has been presented at a meeting of the National Research Council in February 1995, in Perugia, Italy. This is a preview of that which is to be the final product of the study: a manual for evaluating the environmental impact of pig-breeding farms. The most important issues in the environment-hog production relationship are discussed. After that, some elements for a sustainable swine production are focused. To solve the pig-breeding/environment conflict is not an easy task. The challenge is to find the right compromises, adopting all possible technologies for minimizing the impact on the environment. Since the first problem is the risk of water pollution due to manure, it is important to study the best solutions from the viewpoint of the watershed, taking into account the interactions and synergies occurring in the drainage system, and especially for the communities at the lower part of the basin. Therefore it becomes more and more of an absolute necessity to plan and manage resources using the watershed as a reference.

Mass distribution of inhalable aerosols in swine buildings.

Nine measurements of mass distributions of inhalable aerosols in swine buildings were performed at two pig breeding farms using personal sampling. The overall log-normal mass distribution was: geometric mean = 26 microns aerodynamic diameter, and geometric standard deviation = 2.9. No differences in parameters of mass distributions were found, but the concentration of inhalable aerosol was decreased at the farm where fat had been added to the feed. The aerosols reported in this study were coarser than those reported in earlier studies.

Opioids and stereotypies in coping with chronic stress

Long-term tethered housing of pigs, which is not unusual in modern pig breeding farms, largely impairs the animals in their movements and thus represents a condition of chronic restraint stress. Some tethered pigs display stereotypies, that can be blocked by the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone, suggesnng increased activity of endogenous opioid systems in these animals. We have used the tethered pig as a model to further investigate the role of opioids in changes in hormonal and physiological regulation induced by chronic stress

Occupational exposures and health among Danish farmers working in swine confinement buildings

In a cross-sectional study at 11 large pig-breeding farms various work-related exposures were measured. The purpose was to record several simultaneous exposures in relation to various work tasks. The concentration of total dust and respirable dust was 4.13 mg/m 3 and 0.48 mg/m 3 respectively. For all farmers the relative heart rate increase during work was 29% of maximal work capacity ( ±9.7%), indicating a high work load. Increased pulmonary ventilation causes a higher risk for deposition of dust in the airways. The total tonnage lifted per day was 4,725 kg and was considered to be high according to Danish guidelines. During 40% of the working time, the work was performed with a forward flexion of the back of more than 20°. The load on the back may be the cause of the high one-year prevalence of low back pain at 62%. The work task of feeding pigs was the task with the highest number of simultaneous exposures.

急死した新生子豚から分離したゲタウイルスの性状

In September 1987, on a pig breeding farm in Kagoshima Prefecture, 6 newborn piglets died suddenly prior to their eighth postnatal day. Clinical, pathological and microbiological examinations of 3 dead piglets revealed no particular findings nor any responsible bacteria. A viral test, however, detected a virus having a cytopathic effect on ESK cells, in the respective parenchymal organs of 2 dead piglets. In view of its physical, biological and serological properties, the above virus was identified as Getah virus belonging to alphavirus of the Togaviridae. Thus, the animal deaths were thought to be due to postpartal infection with Getah virus, considering that the neutralizing antibody titer to the isolated virus was <2 for all of piglets, their litters and dams immediately before death.

Suckling behaviour and milk consumption in newborn piglets as a response to sow grunting

In this study, we investigated the development of the suckling behaviour and milk consumption in piglets as a response to sow grunting during the first 24 h after farrowing. Four Yorkshire and 6 Yorkshire-Finnish Landrace sows were observed in a commercial pig-breeding farm continuously for 5 h (the 5-h period) and then after 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 h (the later periods) after the birth of the first piglet. The first (A) and the sixth (B) piglets in each litter were weighed at 5-min intervals during the 5-h period, and before and after the first suckling observed during the later periods. The number of grunt rate peaks per hour emitted by the sow increased from 1.3 at the first hour to 4.2 at 5 h and stabilized at a level of 1.5 at 8 h. The number of grunts within 15 s of the grunt rate peak increased after the first hour and remained fairly stable after the fourth hour. The occurrence of suckling behaviour increased during the whole observation period and significantly so when grunt rates were high. Massaging was rare before the sixteenth hour, after which it tended to increase when grunt rates were low. Seeking and fighting at the udder were significantly more common with higher grunt rates, whereas behaviour off the udder was significantly more common with low grunt rates. During the first 5 h after the onset of the farrowing, the A and B piglets gained weight usually during different 5-min periods with an average of 20 min between the gains. Both piglets were at the udder during 55% of the observed sucklings during the later periods, but gained weight simultaneously only during 10% of the sucklings.

Geographical variation in house-fly (Musca domesticaL.) sex determinants within the British Isles

SummaryGenetic and cytological analyses of house-flies collected from 12 pig-breeding farms throughout the British Isles demonstrated that the non-standard sex determination mechanism prevailing in South-East England, involving a dominant female determinant (F) and virtual homozygosity for a male determinant on theXchromosome (Xm, both males and females morphologicallyXX), was not typical of the country as a whole. Instead there was a gradual decrease in the frequency of F,Xmand a rarer male determinantMIII, and a concomitant increase in the standard male determiningYchromosome, on moving north, east and west of this region. Only the Scottish and probably the Irish populations were fully standard (XXfemalesXYmales), although one from the East Anglian coast in which non-standard determinants were rare was predominantly of this type. Populations from intermediate areas possessed complex multifactorial mechanisms in whichY, FXmandMIII coexisted. It is hypothesized that this radial cline in sex determinants, like the latitudinal cline known from mainland Europe, represents a transient polymorphism caused by the recent and continuing invasion of non-standard determinants into originally standard populations. The cause(s) of this apparently rapid evolutionary change, however, remain unclear.

Epizootiological behaviour of the Middle-East strain (A22) of aphtovirus at a pig breeding farm.

Summary : Observations have been recorded on the epidemiological behaviour of the Middle-East strain (subtype A22) of aphthovirus at a pig breeding farm in Uttar Pradesh, India. The A22 outbreak was briefer and had much higher attack rate and case fatality rate for adult pigs than in outbreaks of serotypes O and Asia 1 infections at the same pig breeding farm. Among various strains of aphthovirus (foot and mouth disease virus), the subtype A22 (Middle-East strain) is of considerable importance; the extent of its immunological difference from earlier type A strains, the wide geographi­ cal area of its spread, and its emergence as the main endemic strain in many of the countries affected, are some of the characteristics which single out A 22 from other new variants of the virus (Arrowsmith, 1975). The precise date of entry of this strain into India is not known, but during 1967-68 it was associa­ ted with a large number of outbreaks in many States of the country. Although of considerable epidemiological significance, very little seems to have been published on the morbidity and mortality associated with this Middle-East strain in different species of livestock. This paper reports on the epidemiological behaviour of strain A 22 of aphthovirus among pigs in com­ parison with that of other serotypes of the virus at the same pig breeding sta­ tion in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Identification of a male determinant on the X chromosome of housefly (Musca domestica L.) populations in South-East England

SUMMARYHouseflies collected from eight pig-breeding farms were used to investigate the nature of sex determinants in fly populations of South-East England. Earlier observations had shown that their sex determination mechanism was not of the standard (XX females, XY males) type.Most flies of both sexes were XX; the male determining Y chromosome of standard populations was rare. Test-crosses to females of standard multimarked strains and crosses using aneuploid (OX) flies identified two dominant male determinants, one on autosome 3 (M III) and another on the X chromosome (Xm), and provided the first demonstration in this species of an active involvement of the X chromosome in sex determination. A small secondary constriction on X appeared to indicate reliably the presence of Xm. Most individuals in field populations were Xm homozygotes, implying the presence of an unlocated female determinant F,† epistatic to Xm and M III.M III was less common and differed in frequency between samples. Its increased frequency in a strain selected in the laboratory with the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin might be due either to genetic drift, or to linkage between M III and a gene on autosome 3 that confers resistance to pyrethroids in houseflies.

Field experience with d-biotin supplementation to gilt and sow feeds.

At a pig breeding farm with 130 sows, the culling rate in respect of the young replacement stock was more than 50% and was in particular caused by lameness. The effect was investigated of d-biotin supplementation of the feed on culling percentage, reproduction, claw lesions and lameness of gilts (young replacement stock) and sows, and piglet mortality. The young pigs were divided into a group of 23 young replacement pigs aged 2.5 months (12 controls and 11 treated) and a group of 47 gilts aged 7 months (23 controls and 24 treated). Both treatment groups received feed supplemented with 1250 mcg/kg d-biotin. Furthermore, all sows received feed supplemented with 500 mcg/kg d-biotin. The basic feed contained 175 mcg/kg biotin, of which about 100 mcg/kg was biologically available biotin. Biotin supplementation resulted in an increase in the plasma biotin levels from the critical deficiency level of about 50 ng/100 ml to about 300 ng/100 ml in young replacement stock, to about 179 ng/100 ml in the gilts, and to about 123 ng/100 ml in the sows. After 2.5 months of biotin supplementation the claw lesion score of the gilts had decreased by 28% (p less than 0.001). In the young replacement stock a reduction of the claw lesion score by 52% (p less than 0.001) was found after 4 months supplementation. The effect of biotin supplementation was greatest in the soft heel region (improved by 35%) and somewhat less on the claw wall (improved by 23%). After 11 months' supplementation with 500 mcg/kg biotin the effects on production performance of the sows compared to the previous year can be summarized as follows: --the overall culling rate dropped from 54.0% tot 30.8%, --the culling rate due to lameness decreased by 11% from 25% to 14%, --the culling as a result of 'insufficient production' was reduced from 11% to 4%, --a positive trend in piglet mortality was observed (17.7% compared to 19.2%). An increase of the biotin content of Dutch pig feeds and regular monitoring of its biotin content would appear to be advisable.

Induction of farrowing with cloprostenol on a commercial pig breeding farm in Yugoslavia.

Treatment of pregnant sows with 175 microgram of cloprostenol achieved efficient synchronisation of farrowing; 93% of treated animals commenced farrowing between 20 and 30 hours and 82% between 24 +/- 4 hours after injection. Duration of farrowing and weights of piglets at birth and weaning were not significantly affected by treatment. There was no harmful effect on piglet viability up to weaning and treated sows returned to oestrus within the expected time after weaning. There was a higher incidence of the mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome in control sows. The implications of these findings on the management of commercial pig farms is discussed.