Cost Of Pig Production Research Articles

469 Reducing crude protein levels with amino acid supplementation in the finishing diets of heavy Duroc sire line pigs: Effects on carcass and meat traits in males and females

Abstract Nutrition represents 70% of pig production costs, particularly protein; therefore, decreasing protein costs is of capital importance. Reducing crude protein (CP) contents to levels below recommended whilst supplementing with amino acids (AAs) is an interesting strategy to reduce costs without decreasing production performances. It has been conducted essentially in lean genotypes during the growth stage. Few studies address heavy genotypes or sex differences during the finishing period. Our objective is to study carcass and meat (loin) traits of heavy [Duroc X (Landrace X Large-White)] male and female pigs during the finishing stage under a 2% CP reduction with crystalline AA supplementation, hypothesizing that both sexes will be affected equally. In total, 60 males and 60 females, 9 wk old animals were used and allotted in split-sex pens (6 pigs/pen) with water and dry feed ad libitum. At 15 wk of age, when pigs weighed an average of 68 kg, two isoenergetic diets with different CP levels were provided (145 and 125 g CP/kg, control and low-CP) during the last 42 d of fattening. In the low-CP diet, crystalline AAs were added. On last day of the trial, animals weighed 116.5 kg on average and were slaughtered. Hot carcass weights and yields, ham fat thickness, lean meat percentage and boar taint by human nose scoring were determined. Loin samples (one per pen) were used to determine thawing losses, pH, color, Texture Profile Analysis (TPA: hardness, cohesiveness, springiness) and chemical composition (moisture, ash, protein, collagen, fat, and saturated fat). Data were analyzed using the simple least squares models that included dietary treatment and sex and their interaction as fixed effects with the pen as the experimental unit. Carcass weights were greater in control males than in females (91.2 vs 85.7 kg; P < 0.05). No effect of sex or diet was detected on carcass yields, lean contents or ham subcutaneous fat thickness. There was a great impact of sex for loin subcutaneous fat thickness, with males having 7 to 8% greater values in both dietary treatments (P = 0.011). Low-CP females had a greater percentage of carcasses of greater lean content compared with the three other groups (P < 0.05). Boar taint, carcass pH, color traits, chemical analysis and TPA did not differ across diets. A strong dietary influence was noticeable with animals of both sexes in the Low-CP diets having greater fat and saturated fat contents than animals in the control groups (P = 0.02). In conclusion, the 20g/kg CP reduction supplemented with AAs can efficiently be used in heavy Duroc sire line genotype during the finishing phase without leading to major impairments in carcass or meat traits, regardless of sex.

470 Reducing crude protein levels with amino acid supplementation in the finishing diets of heavy Duroc sire line pigs: Effects on growth performance and nitrogen balance in males and females

Abstract Nutrition represents 70% of pig production costs, particularly protein; then, decreasing protein costs is of capital importance. Reducing crude protein (CP) contents to levels below recommended whilst supplementing with amino acids (AAs) is an interesting strategy to reduce costs without decreasing production performances with environmental benefits. It has been conducted essentially in lean genotypes during the growth stage. Few studies address heavy genotypes or differences between males and females during the finishing period. Our objective is to study productive performances of heavy [Duroc X (Landrace X Large-White)] male and female pigs during the finishing stage under a 2% CP reduction with crystalline AA supplementation, hypothesizing that both sexes will equally be affected. In total, 60 males and 60 females were used. At 9 wk of age, animals were allotted in split-sex pens (6 pigs/pen, 0.9 m2/animal) with water and dry feed ad libitum. At 15 wk of age, when pigs weighed an average of 68 kg, two isoenergetic diets with different CP levels were provided (145 and 125 g CP/kg, control and low-CP) during the last 42 d of fattening, under the ideal protein concept. In the low-CP diet, crystalline AAs were added. Feed intake was measured daily, and animals were weighed every 3 wk to calculate average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and N balance on d 21 and 42. Data were analyzed using the simple least squares models that included dietary treatment and sex and their interaction as fixed effects with the pen as the experimental unit. At d 21, animals weighed 90 to 95 kg with males being 5 to 6 % heavier (P < 0.01). No significant differences were recorded regarding diet. The same difference (P < 0.001) was recorded at day 42, with males (119-122 kg) being 7.25% heavier than females in both treatments. Males had 16% higher ADGs than females in both treatments (P < 0.0001) No differences were recorded for ADFI as a consequence of sex for both diets. FCRs were higher in females of both nutritional treatments (P < 0.0001). Retained N was 22% greater in males than in females for both dietary treatments. The N efficiency was greater in Low CP males by comparison with low CP females and control males, whereas control CP females had decreased N efficiency compared with all other experimental groups. Results demonstrate that the 20g/kg CP reduction supplemented with AAs can efficiently be used in heavy Duroc sire line genotypes during the finishing phase without a decrease in production parameters with females having poorer growth performances than males, whereas N efficiency was impaired when females had no limiting dietary CP.

Analysis of Reproduction Performance Traits in Sows of the CG36 Hybrid Line, Including the Effect of Selected Factors and Phenotypic Correlations

In Poland, despite a decline in the pig population, pork consumption invariably remains high. For this reason, it is important to search for a potential reduction in pig production costs. One of the feasible solutions is to use sows of hybrid lines. Currently, several sow lines are available on the Polish market, such as CG36 (Choice Genetics). The aim of this study was to determine the level of reproduction performance in this line considering the effect of parity and farrowing season. Additionally, coefficients of phenotypic correlations between analysed reproduction performance parameters were determined. The experimental material comprised 112 females inseminated with semen of a boar of the Excelium line (Choice Genetics), which produced 336 litters. The investigated population was characterised by a high level of reproduction traits and young age at first farrowing (AFF), while the number of piglets born alive (NBA), the number of piglets weaned per litter (NW), and the number of piglets weaned per sow per year (PWSY) reached high, economically advantageous levels. Primiparous sows produced and reared lower numbers of piglets than multiparous sows, which indicates the need to maintain an adequate herd structure, with a maximum share of gilts at 30%. No effect of the season on values of reproduction traits was found, which shows optimal environmental conditions in the animal housing where the pigs were kept. Dependencies between the analysed traits confirmed the results reported by other authors, where NBA was highly positively correlated with LW, although LW increased with an increase in NBA. No correlations were found between PWSY and the other traits. In turn, the observed coefficients of phenotypic correlations indicate that in order to reduce AFF in CG36 sows, it is necessary to control FI.

The effectiveness of the use of the feed additive “Butaselmevit-plus” as part of compound feed for young pigs

The results of the production approval fully confirmed the high efficiency of introducing the feed additive “Butaselmevit-plus” into the compound feed for piglets. It was established that at the end of the piglet rearing period (at the age of 75 days), the average weight of one head in the experimental group was 32.6 kg, which is 1.1 kilograms or 3.5% higher (P < 0.05). Then their peers from the control group. During the period of rearing, the absolute increase in body weight in young animals of the experimental group was higher by 1.2 kg, or by 4.7 %, and the average daily weight gain by 21.8 g, or by 4.7 %, compared to similar indicators in piglets of the control group, and were 26.5 kg and 481.8 g, respectively. Among the numerous indicators determining the economic efficiency of production, the cost per unit of production is considered the most important. One of the reserves for reducing the cost of pig production is increasing young animals' productivity and preservation. The above results of the production inspection convincingly prove that using the feed additive “Butaselmevit-plus” in compound feed for piglets at the rate of 100 mg/kg of body weight increases their product qualities and, as a result, improves economic indicators. In the experimental group, the cost of 1 kg of live weight of piglets during rearing decreased by UAH 0.57, or 3.0 %, compared to the young of the control group and amounted to UAH 18.25. The cost of 1 kg of live weight gain in control and experimental groups was slightly higher (23.44 and 22.46 UAH, respectively), and the difference in favor of the latter was 4.2 %. The decrease in the unit cost of production in the experimental group was due to the increase in body weight and the survival of young pigs during the rearing period. The economic effect of using the feed additive “Butaselmevit-plus” as part of compound feed, calculated per 1 head of young pigs, was UAH 25.97 at the prices set for feed and feed additive in 2019. To increase the adaptability of piglets at an early age when weaning from the sow and to prevent the development of oxidative stress, for further maintenance during the period of rearing and fattening, it is recommended to use the feed additive “Butaselmevit-plus” in the amount of 100 mg/kg of body weight per day together with concentrates diet in the period from 21 to 40 days of age.

Lipids and organic acids in three gut locations affect feed efficiency of commercial pigs as revealed by LC\u2013MS-based metabolomics

Feed efficiency (FE) is an important economic indicator in pig production. Improving the FE of commercial pigs is an important strategy for minimizing pig production costs and providing sustainability to the pig industry. In this study, nontargeted LC–MS metabolomics was performed on the contents of the three intestine segments (ileum, cecum and colon) of high-FE and low-FE pigs to explore the effects of small-molecule metabolites in pig intestine on pig FE. A total of 225 Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) pigs in the 30–100 kg stage were sorted based on FE, and 20 pigs with extreme phenotypes were selected, with 10 in each group. A total of 749 metabolites were identified, of which 15, 38 and 11 differed between high-FE and low-FE pigs in ileum, cecum and colon, respectively. These candidate biomarkers mainly comprised lipids and organic acids, which could partially explain the FE difference between the two groups. Among the identified differential metabolites, the lipids are mainly involved in combatting inflammation and oxidation in the ileum and cecum and in bile acid metabolism and vitamin D absorption in the cecum. A difference in organic acids was mainly observed in the hindgut, which is involved in the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids. This comprehensive study provides new insight into the biochemical mechanisms associated with pig FE.

Caractéristiques et qualité des tissus adipeux chez le porc. Facteurs de variation non génétiques


 
 
 
 En production porcine, la réduction de l’adiposité des carcasses au profit de la teneur en maigre obtenue par l’amélioration génétique et l’évolution des conditions d’élevage, a entraîné l’apparition de défauts de qualité des tissus adipeux. La qualité de ces tissus ne peut guère être améliorée par les technologies de transformation, elle dépend des caractéristiques des tissus à l’abattage, celles-ci étant déterminées par les conditions d’élevage des animaux en interaction avec leur type génétique.
 Les composantes nutritionnelle, organoleptique et technologique de la qualité des tissus adipeux sont fonction de leur composition chimique : teneurs en lipides et en eau, importance de la trame conjonctive, et de la nature des acides gras constitutifs des lipides. Ainsi, tout facteur intrinsèque ou extrinsèque à l’animal entraînant une variation de composition du tissu adipeux modifie en conséquence la qualité de ce tissu.
 La composition du tissu adipeux varie selon la localisation anatomique, l’adiposité globale de la carcasse et le type sexuel. Parmi les facteurs d’élevage, l’alimentation, en particulier la nature des acides gras ingérés, la supplémentation du régime alimentaire en vitamine E ou en minéraux, l’administration de promoteurs de croissance (hormone de croissance, béta-agonistes) ainsi que la température d’élevage influencent les propriétés de la fraction adipeuse de la carcasse.
 Les effets des facteurs d’élevage sur les caractéristiques des tissus adipeux du porc et leurs relations avec la qualité sont relativement bien établis. La maîtrise de la qualité des tissus adipeux est donc maintenant accessible, et ne dépend plus que de l’importance relative accordée à la qualité dans les coûts de production, au sein de la filière porcine.
 
 
 

114 Evaluation of Using Hand Held Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Pellet Fines and Moisture.

Recently the use of Near Infra-red Reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) to predict nutritional information has grown. The ability to predict chemical information around protein, oil, and carbohydrates in real time has enabled nutritionists to make decisions around feeding values and to better predict animal performance. What is generally overlooked is that NIR can be used to predict physical as well as chemical properties. In addition new NIR equipment particularly at the portable end of the market has been introduced which allows the user to get closer to the production line and to make decisions whilst the product is still in process. One such physical attribute, pellet fines, is well established as resulting in poorer FCR especially if feeder adjustment is not closely controlled leading to an increased cost of pig production. The aim of the study was to determine if using a hand held (HH) NIR instrument it is possible to determine the percent pellet fines as measured using a standard sieve methodology. This trial was set-up to measure pellet fines on 89 swine feed samples using the 2 pan sieve method and developing a calibration to determine if it is feasible to measure particle size by HH-NIR. In addition 29 samples were sent for wet chemistry analyses for moisture; this data was used to determine if the level of moisture can be predicted by NIR. Using a HH-NIR instrument (wavelength between 920nm to 1650nm) approximately 1.2 to 2.0 kg of feed sample was placed in a specialized box and scanned at 5 different locations collecting 200 spectra per scan. The resulting 1000 spectra were averaged to produce 1 spectrum per sample. The same sample was then measured by being placed on to the sieve (#6) with the pan attached to the bottom. The sieve was then shaken for 45 seconds and repeated for 15 seconds until the sample was completely sieved. Pellets and fines were then weighed and the % fines determined. Chemometric analyses showed that there was a strong calibration between pellet fines analysis and the NIR spectra (r2 = 0.93, SEP 3.1). Furthermore using a standard feed calibration provided by Aunir for this HH-NIR it showed that there is a good prediction of pellet moisture against the laboratory values (r2 = 0.93, SEP 0.708). Overall, these results confirm that HH-NIR can be used at the mill to determine pellet fines and pellet moisture.

Xenotransplantation literature update, January-February 2015.

Xenotransplantation literature update, January-February 2015.

Under what conditions is it possible to produce pigs without using antimicrobials?

Antimicrobials are commonly used in pig production to control bacterial infections. However, there is increasing pressure from supermarkets and consumers and other sectors to reduce or eliminate the use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture. Banning the use of antimicrobials in some countries has led to increased disease and welfare problems, so it is important to know under what conditions pigs can be produced without the use of antimicrobials. In this review, practices that can prevent disease, and therefore reduce the need for antimicrobials were researched from published experimental challenge trials, field studies and risk factor analyses. Disease prevention practices were examined from pathogen survival and transmission studies, vaccine and disinfectant efficacy studies and nutrition trials. From these studies we collated the important practices that manage or prevent disease and improve pig health. We also reviewed new diagnostic assays and technologies to better monitor the pig and its environment at the herd level. Many of the conditions necessary to produce pigs without antimicrobials have been known and understood for a long time. The application of high standards of biosecurity and hygiene is crucial for creating the conditions for reduction of antimicrobial use. Factors important in preventing disease include eradication or elimination of pathogens, minimising mixing of pigs, cleaning and disinfection of pens and sheds, ventilation to improve air quality, reducing stocking density and eliminating potential vectors of disease. Improving the health of pigs also relies on vaccination and improved consistency of nutrition. The development of diagnostic technologies that correlate with disease and production will enable the detection of potential disease problems at the individual or herd level before disease outbreaks occur and before antimicrobials are needed. The development of vaccination technologies for prevention of disease and diagnostic technologies that can be used on-farm to predict disease outbreaks are integral to safely moving towards antimicrobial-free pork. Pig production without the use of antimicrobials is not simply a matter of substituting conventional antimicrobials with alternative antimicrobial substances and expecting the same result. Any move to antimicrobial-free production requires an acknowledgement that pig production costs may increase and that many pig production practices must change. Such changes must also ensure that animal welfare and food safety and quality standards are maintained or improved, and that reliable markets for the product are found. This paper does not seek to argue the science or opinion of reasons behind the desire to reduce antimicrobial use in animal agriculture, but rather discuss the circumstances under which reduction or elimination of antimicrobial use in pig production is possible.

Development of a spreadsheet based financial model for pig producers considering high welfare farrowing systems

This technical note describes the development of a novel spreadsheet-based financial simulation model that estimates the cost of pig production in five free-farrowing systems in comparison to standard sow housing in a farrowing crate. The model was developed to address the recognised deficiency in financial information on free-farrowing systems, and assist pig producers in estimating the cost of producing pigs in such systems. The model is available online at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/afrd/research/project/4378. Users can select from eight different types of farrowing accommodation and four gestation housing systems, with additional variations on floor type and feeding system. Input data on herd size and productivity are entered into one active sheet and, using built-in data on housing and other input costs, the model computes the cost of producing a weaner pig (8kg at 4 weeks of age) in each gestation/farrowing system combination selected. Sensitivities to input or output changes can also be evaluated by altering herd performance. The use of this model provides pig producers, policy makers and other stakeholders with a means to estimate the likely cost of pig production prior to any investment in a new housing system. An example of the applications of the model is given in this paper.

Resource efficiency and economic implications of alternatives to surgical castration without anaesthesia

This paper presents an analysis of the economic implications of alternative methods to surgical castration without anaesthesia. Detailed research results on the economic implications of four different alternatives are reported: castration with local anaesthesia, castration with general anaesthesia, immunocastration and raising entire males. The first three alternatives have been assessed for their impact on pig production costs in the most important pig-producing Member States of the EU. The findings on castration with anaesthesia show that cost differences among farms increase if the anaesthesia cannot be administered by farmers and when the veterinarian has to be called to perform it. The cost of veterinarian service largely affects the total average costs, making this solution economically less feasible in small-scale pig farms. In all other farms, the impact on production costs of local anaesthesia is however limited and does not exceed 1 €ct per kg. General anaesthesia administered by inhalation or injection of Ketamin in combination with a sedative (Azaperone, Midazolan) is more expensive. These costs depend heavily on farm size, as the inhalation equipment has to be depreciated on the largest number of pigs possible. The overall costs of immunocastration – including the cost of the work load for the farmer – has to be evaluated against the potential benefits derived from higher daily weight gain and feed efficiency in comparison with surgical castrates. The economic feasibility of this practice will finally depend on the price of the vaccine and on consumer acceptance of immunocastration. The improvement in feed efficiency may compensate almost entirely for the cost of vaccination. The main advantages linked to raising entire males are due to the higher efficiency of feed conversion, to the better growth rate and to the higher leanness of carcass. A higher risk of boar taint on the slaughter line has to be accounted for. Raising entire males should not generate more than 2.5% of boar taint among slaughter pigs, in order to maintain the considerable economic benefits of better feed efficiency of entire males with respect to castrates.

The effect of graded levels of ‘Greenwich Gold’ on the performance of growing-finishing pigs

Using food industry liquid co-products can significantly reduce the cost of pig production (Scholten, van der Peet-Schwering, Verstegen, den Hartog, Schrama and Vesseur 1999) as well as reducing environmental pollution (Brooks, Moran and Beal 1999). Greenwich Gold (GG)(Amylum UK Ltd.) is a liquid residue, known in the trade as bottom stills, resulting from alcohol fermentation of wheat starch. Although the product is widely used by UK pig producers there is no published information on which to base a recommendation for maximum inclusion rate in diets for growing-finishing pigs. The objective of the study reported here was to assess the effect on growth performance and carcass quality of feeding pigs diets containing increasing levels of GG.

Variation in energy requirements to maintain liveweight in pigs divergently selected for efficiency of lean growth

The energy requirement for maintenance in pigs has been suggested to be a function of liveweight (W), using equations such as 0.46 MJ digestible energy (DE)/g W0.75 (ARC, 1981). For a 60 kg pig, the predicted energy required for maintenance can proportionately account for 0.30 of the daily energy intake. Therefore, substantial reductions in pig production costs could be achieved, if the energy required for maintenance was reduced. The present study estimated the energy required to maintain liveweight, rather than the energy required for maintenance, as the latter assumes no change in protein or lipid content of the animal. Genotypes from the Edinburgh lean growth selection experiment provided the experimental resource to determine if selection for lean food conversion ratio over seven generations had changed the DE required to maintain liveweight.

Variation in energy requirements to maintain liveweight in pigs divergently selected for efficiency of lean growth

The energy requirement for maintenance in pigs has been suggested to be a function of liveweight (W), using equations such as 0.46 MJ digestible energy (DE)/g W0.75 (ARC, 1981). For a 60 kg pig, the predicted energy required for maintenance can proportionately account for 0.30 of the daily energy intake. Therefore, substantial reductions in pig production costs could be achieved, if the energy required for maintenance was reduced. The present study estimated the energy required to maintain liveweight, rather than the energy required for maintenance, as the latter assumes no change in protein or lipid content of the animal. Genotypes from the Edinburgh lean growth selection experiment provided the experimental resource to determine if selection for lean food conversion ratio over seven generations had changed the DE required to maintain liveweight.