Pig Production Research Articles

Evaluation of the Humoral Response after Immunization with a Chimeric Subunit Vaccine against Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Pregnant Sows and Their Offspring.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) poses a significant public health risk due to its zoonotic potential and association with severe human diseases, such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Ruminants are recognized as primary reservoirs for STEC, but swine also contribute to the epidemiology of this pathogen, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies across species. Notably, a subgroup of STEC that produces Shiga toxin type 2e (Stx2e) causes edema disease (ED) in newborn piglets, economically affecting pig production. This study evaluates the immunogenicity of a chimeric protein-based vaccine candidate against STEC in pregnant sows and the subsequent transfer of immunity to their offspring. This vaccine candidate, which includes chimeric proteins displaying selected epitopes from the proteins Cah, OmpT, and Hes, was previously proven to be immunogenic in pregnant cows. Our analysis revealed a broad diversity of STEC serotypes within swine populations, with the cah and ompT genes being prevalent, validating them as suitable antigens for vaccine development. Although the hes gene was detected less frequently, the presence of at least one of these three genes in a significant proportion of STEC suggests the potential of this vaccine to target a wide range of strains. The vaccination of pregnant sows led to an increase in specific IgG and IgA antibodies against the chimeric proteins, indicating successful immunization. Additionally, our results demonstrated the effective passive transfer of maternal antibodies to piglets, providing them with immediate, albeit temporary, humoral immunity against STEC. These humoral responses demonstrate the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate and are preliminary indicators of its potential efficacy. However, further research is needed to conclusively evaluate its impact on STEC colonization and shedding. This study highlights the potential of maternal vaccination to protect piglets from ED and contributes to the development of vaccination strategies to reduce the prevalence of STEC in various animal reservoirs.

The disappearance of pollution havens under unified environmental regulation: evidence from China’s pig industry

ABSTRACT Since 2014, China has implemented a unified environmental regulation policy for the livestock industry. With unified environmental regulations across provinces, does the phenomenon of ‘pollution havens’ still exist? To address this question, this paper examines spatial variations among provinces and their spillover effects on the pig industry using data on environmental regulations and pig production panels. The results indicate that: (1) Environmental regulation policies are gradually converging across regions. (2) Under unified environmental regulation, the existence of ‘pollution havens’ in the pig industry is no longer evident. As national regulations become stronger, increasing local regulatory intensity will not affect the number of pig farms in neighboring areas nor lead to significant emigration of such farms. (3) In cases where there are inter-regional variations in environmental regulations, large-scale farmers may relocate to neighboring areas with less stringent regulations; however, under unified environmental regulation, neither small nor large-scale farmers will migrate.

Current issues of animal welfare and health in pig breeding (review)

Objective. To summarise current issues related to welfare and health in pig production. Methods. Domestic and foreign sources of literature on the subject of research and their desk analytical analysis. Results. Today, animal welfare is determined by a combination of three interrelated components: the physical, mental and natural state of certain animals, as well as, of course, humane human attitude to meeting their needs. Until recently, the problems of humane treatment ofproductive animals were exclusively related to economically developed countries where intensive livestock production technologies were used. Pig farms need to have highly productive animals, adequate and balancedfeed, and use resource-saving technologies to produce breeding and marketable products at the optimum cost. Improving the efficiency of pig production primarily has a negative impact on the welfare of pigs. At the same time, it should be understood that, in general, pigs are raised to produce meat and lard products, which is directly related to their slaughter and, accordingly, the taking of their lives. Therefore, the needs of pigs will not be fully met. However, the basic needs - the so-calledfive freedoms of animals - must be met. A detailed grouping of approaches to determining animal welfare is formed in three main aspects: physical condition, mental condition and naturalness. It should be borne in mind that the satisfaction of specific needs in the natural environment does not always ensure their full satisfaction in the two aspects ofphysical and mental health. In the case of pig breeding, it is necessary to take into account the consequences of long term targeted selection of the main breeds and significant modification of their representatives compared to wild forms. The provision of air, water and feed for pigs is critical and should be provided in full. However, this is not always taken into account on Ukrainian pig farms. In addition, the welfare of pigs is inextricably linked and directly depends on the health of the animals. Conclusions. The review of literature sources to summarise current issues related to welfare in pig production indicates that there are a number of issues to be addressed in Ukraine. First and foremost, we are talking about EU legislation that should be implemented in domestic production, which is especially relevant on Ukraine's path to full EU membership. With regard to the existing pig welfare issues, the list of methods and approaches for determining certain indicators is gradually expanding, but it should be borne in mind that welfare in pig production is not limited to pig housing. These are issues related to the transport and slaughter of pigs, aspects that synergise with the subsequent safety of pig products. Of particular importance are the issues in which pig welfare intersects with biosecurity and ensuring appropriate animal health. Key words: pigs, welfare, animal health, housing, feeding, productivity, commercial pork production.

Effect on Feeding Behaviour and Growing of Being a Dominant or Subordinate Growing Pig and Its Relationship with the Faecal Microbiota.

Pigs are a social species, and they establish hierarchies for better use of resources and to reduce conflicts. However, in pig production, the opportunities for growth can differ between dominant and subordinate animals. In the present study, a system was tested to perform a dominant versus subordinate test in growing pigs to investigate how the hierarchy affects feeding behaviour, growth, and gut microbiota assessed in faeces. Sixty-four animals housed in eight different pens were used, with four castrated males and four females in each one, weighing 18 kg at arrival and maintained during the whole growing period, until 140 kg. Three stool samples were obtained from the animals directly from the anus to avoid contamination of the faeces 58, 100, and 133 days after the start of the study to investigate the microbiota composition. The dominant animals had higher gains during the growing period than the subordinates. In addition, they were performing more visits to the feeder throughout the day. Differential abundance patterns were observed in five bacterial genera, with Oliverpabstia, Peptococcus, and Faecalbacterium being more abundant in dominant animals and Holdemanella and Acetitomaculum being overrepresented in subordinate ones. This microbial biomarker accurately classified dominant versus subordinate groups of samples with an AUC of 0.92.

Description of patterns of ear and tail lesions during the grower-finisher period in a commercial pig farm

BackgroundEar and tail lesions are prevalent indicators of impaired welfare observed in pig production with different multifactorial causes. Understanding the progression of ear and tail lesions over time is important to implement preventative strategies on commercial pig farms. Therefore, this case study aimed to provide a detailed account of patterns of ear and tail lesions in pigs on a single commercial farm during the grower-finisher period.Case presentationA total of 1,676 12-week old pigs (n = 773 females and n = 903 males, all tail docked) were followed from arrival to the grower facilities until transferred to the finisher stage on a commercial pig farm in Ireland. Pigs were individually weighed and inspected for the severity of fresh ear and tail lesions (score 0–4) on transfer to the first grower (24.9 ± 5.33 kg, 12 weeks of age, n = 1,676 pigs), second grower (33.3 ± 7.04 kg, 14 weeks of age, n = 1,641 pigs), and finisher stage (60.2 ± 7.74 kg, 18 weeks of age, n = 1,626 pigs). Due to the low number of pigs with high scores, ear lesions were classified as no (score 0), mild (score 1), moderate (score 2) and severe (score ≥ 3) and tail lesions were classified as no (score 0), mild (score 1), and moderate-to-severe (score ≥ 2). Ear lesions were more prevalent than tail lesions at each inspection. There were approx. 19% of pigs with ear lesions at all three inspections but no pigs presented with tail lesions at all three inspections. When considering the specific severity categories, we observed 32 different ear lesion score combinations and 15 different tail lesion score combinations across the three inspections.ConclusionThe high number of observed patterns of ear and tail lesions suggest large individual variability in lesion progression. Ear lesions were more of an issue than tail lesions and little is known about this health and welfare problem indicating that further research into causes and management strategies is needed.

Bactericidal activity of preparations based on Juglans Regia against certified bacterial test cultures

Objective. To study the bactericidal activity of a number ofpreparations obtained by different technological processes from plant materials of individual parts of the Green walnuts on several certified model strains of bacteria that differ in biological diversity. To determine the disinfectant capabilities of these preparations in the absence of antagonistic and synergistic effects of the full range of mixtures of typical banal microflora of pig farms. Methods. The following methods were used: biological and botanical to determine the phase of vegetation of Juglans regia in the selection of raw materials from different parts of the plant; biochemical and chemical in the process of preparation and isolation of the active substance from these samples and their purification from ballast fiber by maceration and extraction, using a number of devices and equipment; microbiological for the preparation of standardized culture media with selective properties that correspond to the peculiarities of reproduction, development and distribution of selected model strains. Surface inoculation was performed on liquid and agar-based culture media in test tubes and Petri dishes using the standard streak plate method with a microbiological loop. Subsequently, standard incubation at 37°C for 24 hours was performed. Results. It was found that the greatest bactericidal and fungicidal activity, and therefore potential effectiveness as a possible disinfectant in organic pig production technology, was found in extracts of phytomaterials of Juglans regia L - potential disinfectants No. 2 (extractant - 5 % acetic acid, wax-ripening nut) and No. 4 (extractant - 20 % alcohol, wax ripening nut) - brought to 5 % alcohol after obtaining the primary extract. Conclusions. According to the results of studies on certified strains of microorganisms, it was found that the studied extracts have a significant effect on representatives of enterobacteria, a weak effect on spore forming bacilli. Keywords: organic pig production, bactericidal activity, phytodesinfectant, certified test cultures, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus subtilis, extract, walnut.

Environmental impacts of medium-scale pig farming at technical and economic optimum production weight in Mexico

Medium-scale pig production systems, which make up 30 % of Mexico's pig farms, face two key obstacles impacting their economic and financial performance. The first is the absence of a sales plan based on pigs' weight, which negatively affects both profitability and resource management. The second obstacle is inadequate waste management, which hampers efforts to mitigate environmental impacts generated by pig farms. Based on this criterion, this study aims to determine technical and economic optimum levels of a medium-scale pig farm and evaluate its associated environmental impacts. Based on the last farm sale weight (116.3 kg – base scenario), technical and economic optimum levels were estimated using a production function, resulting in a technical optimum of 155 kg and an economic optimum of 127 kg. An environmental assessment of the pig fattening process was carried out following the principles of the Life Cycle Analysis methodological framework. Using a cradle-to-farm gate perspective, and establishing 1 kg of live-weight pig as the functional unit. The results indicated that production at maximum weight level (155 kg), increased environmental impacts by 60 % to 75 % compared to the base scenario. In contrast, at the maximum economic benefit level (127 kg), environmental impacts increased by 5 % to 10 %. Feed production represented the largest contribution (over 74 %) in six impact categories. The results provide valuable information for medium-scale pig farms to mitigate the environmental burdens associated with the optimal production weight and to direct efforts towards achieving future economic and environmental efficiency.

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Novel Candidate Genes Influencing Semen Traits in Landrace Pigs.

Artificial insemination plays a crucial role in pig production, particularly in enhancing the genetic potential of elite boars. To accelerate genetic progress for semen traits in pigs, it is vital to understand and identify the underlying genetic markers associated with desirable traits. Herein, we genotyped 1238 Landrace boars with GeneSeek Porcine SNP50 K Bead chip and conducted genome-wide association studies to identify genetic regions and candidate genes associated with 12 semen traits. Our study identified 38 SNPs associated with the analyzed 12 semen traits. Furthermore, we identified several promising candidate genes, including HIBADH, DLG1, MED1, APAF1, MGST3, MTG2, and ZP4. These candidate genes have the potential function to facilitate the breeding of boars with improved semen traits. By further investigating and understanding the roles of these genes, we can develop more effective breeding strategies that contribute to the overall enhancement of pig production. The results of our study provide valuable insights for the pig-breeding industry and support ongoing research efforts to optimize genetic selection for superior semen traits.

Knowledge graph-derived feed efficiency analysis via pig gut microbiota

Feed efficiency (FE) is essential for pig production, has been reported to be partially explained by gut microbiota. Despite an extensive body of research literature to this topic, studies regarding the regulation of feed efficiency by gut microbiota remain fragmented and mostly confined to disorganized or semi-structured unrestricted texts. Meanwhile, structured databases for microbiota analysis are available, yet they often lack a comprehensive understanding of the associated biological processes. Therefore, we have devised an approach to construct a comprehensive knowledge graph by combining unstructured textual intelligence with structured database information and applied it to investigate the relationship between pig gut microbes and FE. Firstly, we created the pgmReading knowledge base and the domain ontology of pig gut microbiota by annotating, extracting, and integrating semantic information from 157 scientific publications. Secondly, we created the pgmPubtator by utilizing PubTator to expand the semantic information related to microbiota. Thirdly, we created the pgmDatabase by mapping and combining the ADDAGMA, gutMGene, and KEGG databases based on the ontology. These three knowledge bases were integrated to form the Pig Gut Microbial Knowledge Graph (PGMKG). Additionally, we created five biological query cases to validate the performance of PGMKG. These cases not only allow us to identify microbes with the most significant impact on FE but also provide insights into the metabolites produced by these microbes and the associated metabolic pathways. This study introduces PGMKG, mapping key microbes in pig feed efficiency and guiding microbiota-targeted optimization.

Defined Pig Microbiota Mixture as Promising Strategy against Salmonellosis in Gnotobiotic Piglets.

Probiotics are a potential strategy for salmonellosis control. A defined pig microbiota (DPM) mixture of nine bacterial strains previously exhibited probiotic and anti-Salmonella properties in vitro. Therefore, we evaluated its gut colonization ability and protection effect against S. typhimurium LT2-induced infection in the gnotobiotic piglet model. The DPM mixture successfully colonized the piglet gut and was stable and safe until the end of the experiment. The colon was inhabited by about 9 log CFU g-1 with a significant representation of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli compared to ileal levels around 7-8 log CFU g-1. Spore-forming clostridia and bacilli seemed to inhabit the environment only temporarily. The bacterial consortium contributed to the colonization of the gut at an entire length. The amplicon profile analysis supported the cultivation trend with a considerable representation of lactobacilli with bacilli in the ileum and bifidobacteria with clostridia in the colon. Although there was no significant Salmonella-positive elimination, it seems that the administered bacteria conferred the protection of infected piglets because of the slowed delayed infection manifestation without translocations of Salmonella cells to the blood circulation. Due to its colonization stability and potential protective anti-Salmonella traits, the DPM mixture has promising potential in pig production applications. However, advanced immunological tests are needed.

A new financial settlement approach to stabilize profitability of pig production.

This article proposes and evaluates a new solution that ensures the profitability in short and medium terms and stability of the operations of pork livestock producers through improved risk management An innovative tool for distributing the surplus between producers of piglets and finishers is presented. Manuals on pig farming and data combined from multiple sources were used to assess the current market situation, design a profit stabilization tool for pig producers, and evaluate the performance of this solution. We found that implementing the tool reduces the profits variability of finishers and piglets producers by 45% and 30%, respectively, while keeping the long-term average of profits constant.

Efficacy of oleandrin and PBI-05204 against viruses of importance to commercial pig health management

BackgroundInfection by porcine respiratory and reproductive syncytial virus (PRRSV), swine influenza virus (SIV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PEDV) adversely affect worldwide pig production. Because effective control remains elusive the present research was designed to explore the in vitro antiviral activity of oleandrin and an N. oleander extract (PBI-05204) against each porcine virus.MethodsMonkey kidney (MARK-145) cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK), and African green monkey kidney cells (VERO 76) were used for in vitro culture systems for PRRSV, SIV and PEDV, respectively. Cytotoxicity was established using serial dilutions of oleandrin or PBI-05204. Noncytotoxic concentrations of each product were used either prior to or at 12 h and 24 h following exposure to corresponding viruses. Infectious virus titers were also determined.ResultsOleandrin and PBI-05204 demonstrated strong antiviral activity against PRRSV, SIV and PEDV when added prior to or following infection of cells. Determination of viral loads by PCR demonstrated a decline in PRRSV replication reaching 99.57% and 99.79% for oleandrin and PBI-05204, respectively, and decrease of 95.36% and 99.54% in infectivity of progeny virus in PRRSV infected cultures. Similarly, oleandrin tested against SIV and PEDV was effective in near complete inhibition of infectious virus production.ConclusionThe research demonstrates the potency of oleandrin and PBI-05204 to inhibit infectivity of three important porcine viruses. These data showing non-toxic concentrations of oleandrin as a single common agent for inhibiting infectivity of the three different porcine viruses tested here support further investigation of antiviral efficacy and possible in vivo use.

An overview of swine production and marketing in Africa - Mini review

Pigs are the oldest domesticated animals, though their ancestry is still uncertain because of a lack of archaeological and genetic evidence. Pigs serve a vital role in reducing the demand for livestock and livestock products in most parts of the world. Especially in the African continent, pigs serve as mobile cash implying how easily they can be converted into cash to sort pressing family needs. Pig production in Africa is different from advanced systems of production in temperate countries, however, it has similarities with most of the tropical low and middle-income nations. Pig production in Africa requires attention to enable it to contribute effectively to the growing African population. However, it has been orchestrated with a myriad of challenges including market access. This mini-review is designed in a manner to provide an overview of pig production contribution to livelihoods in Africa and associated challenges with possible appropriate solutions.

Awareness and adoption of a nurse sow management system among small-scale pig farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya

This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and adoption of nurse sow management strategies among small-scale pig farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. The research included a survey of pig farmers who visited the Nakuru Agricultural Show in July 2023. A total of 139 farmers were interviewed within 5 days of the show. The corresponding author interviewed the respondents in a face-to-face engagement, where questions on nurse sow management were initially drafted in English and translated into Kiswahili, i.e. the second language in Kenya. The obtained results indicated that farmers came from two main regions of the county: the northern part (54.7%, 76/139) and the southern part (45.3%, 63/139). Levels of awareness and adoption were insignificant between the two groups (χ2, p<0.05). A major obstacle to the adoption of this strategy was identified as feed challenge at 77.7%; (108/139) and market issue at 59.7%; (83/139). This study identified important aspects and limitations that should be considered when developing sustainable productivity development strategies for Kenyan pig farmers. To assist the sustainable growth of small-scale pig production, the authors suggest government measures that shield farmers against exploitation of feed and marketing components, as well as advocating for effective breeding to increase live born.

Advances of nutritional technologies and science in pig production

Advances of nutritional technologies and science in pig production

Social Responsibility as a Factor in the Survival of Small Agricultural Producers of Pigs in the Rural Area of the Republic of Croatia

Abstract The Republic of Croatia has several rural areas where agricultural production is carried out. Unfortunately, these areas have been experiencing negative trends and decline, leading to concerns about their survival. Despite state policies that are supposed to protect small agricultural producers, these conditions have been threatened by other interest groups and factors. The current state policy measures have proven to be ineffective, which is evident through the numerous barriers that small agricultural producers face when attempting to place their products on the market. To address these issues, a research paper was conducted to highlight the social responsibility of the state to protect small agricultural producers and ensure that they have equal market conditions. The research paper also presents the concrete demographic and economic situation in these rural areas, and regression calculations, trends, and hypothesis testing were used to identify possible future perspectives of development in these areas. The data used in this research paper were collected from various sources such as the State Statistical Office of the Republic of Croatia, the Agency for Payments in Agriculture, and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia. The research analysis was carried out using mathematical and statistical methods to quantify the collected data and present them in the form of research results. Based on the findings of the research paper, concrete activities were proposed to create assumptions that small agricultural producers can carry out their business activities without hindrance. These activities aimed to protect small agricultural producers and ensure that they have equal market conditions, thus creating a healthy and sustainable agricultural sector in Croatia.

Estimation of Energy Balance throughout the Growing–Finishing Stage of Pigs in an Experimental Pig Barn

Monitoring the energy inputs and outputs in pig production systems is crucial for identifying potential imbalances and promoting energy efficiency. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the energy input, output, and losses during the growing–finishing phase of pigs from 1 September to 1 December 2023. A Livestock Environment Management System (LEMS) was used to measure the temperature, humidity, airflow, and water consumption levels inside the barn, and a load cell was used to measure the body weight of pigs. Furthermore, a bomb calorimetric test was conducted to measure the energy content of pigs’ manure. While calculating energy balance in the experimental barn, it was found that energy from feed and water contributed approximately 81% of the total input energy, while the remaining 19% of energy came from electrical energy. Regarding output energy, manure, and body weight accounted for about 69%, while around 31% was lost due to pig activities, maintaining barn temperature and airflow, and illuminating the barn. In conclusion, this study suggested methods to calculate energy balance in pig barns, offering valuable insights for pig farmers to enhance their understanding of input and output energy in pig production.

Theoretical aspects of innovative technologies in pig production

In the context of the globalization of the economy, the development of pig breeding enterprises is possible based on the highly efcient production of livestock products. A constraining factor for development is the lack of innovative technologies in most enterprises and the insignifcant impact of the introduction of innovative activities on improving production efciency. There is an important need to implement innovative transformations that would improve the economic performance of pig breeding enterprises, saturate the market with domestically produced products, and satisfy the social demand for cheap pork. The innovative model of pig production development ensures the competitiveness of enterprises in the industry, increases the level of food security of the state, and helps to solve problems related to environmental pollution and uncontrolled use of various additives in pork production. These issues necessitate substantiation of approaches to innovative development of enterprises in the pig industry and improvement of their efciency. The experience of domestic enterprises and foreign pork producers shows that in times of economic instability, it is important to be prepared for changes in the meat market. Such readiness is ensured by the planning and implementation of innovative approaches to the pig industry at enterprises. The innovative activity of enterprises in modern conditions should be aimed at social and economic satisfaction of the population's needs and environmental safety. The article focuses on theoretical and methodological aspects of the innovative development of the pig industry. The issues of modern technologies, innovations, and innovative activity are highlighted, and the defnition of "innovative development of enterprise" is analyzed. The article analyses the direction of development of competitive pig farms, taking into account the level of technological development of production and changes in the market share of enterprises. A special approach to the formation of the development of pig enterprises based on the transition to an innovative model of ensuring their competitiveness and modernisation of production according to the criteria that meet the capital replenishment, satisfaction of market demand for pork, and a slight negative environmental impact on the environment is noted. Key words: innovations, innovative activity, innovative development of pig breeding enterprises, economic indicators, innovative approaches, pork market, food security, environmental pollution, environmental safety.

Recyclable Rubber Flooring in Farrowing Crates and Its Influence on the Development and Welfare of Piglets in the Maternity Phase

To boost productivity in pig production, it is essential to improve the litter size per sow. However, achieving this goal requires reducing newborn mortality rates and increasing their weight gain. In this regard, prioritizing animal welfare and adopting practices that promote sustainability in the activity is crucial. The study aimed to evaluate the sustainable flooring coverage of farrowing crates, considering piglet adaptation, thermal comfort, animal development, and increased productivity. Three types of flooring treatments were defined: T1—wood shavings; T2—solid rubber mat; T3—perforated rubber mat, for 12 litters (±50 animals/treatment). Behavior, physiology, piglet production indices, and facility microclimate were assessed. The facility’s microclimate indicated the possibility of cold stress. There was a greater preference for the mat treatments among the animals, as they remained on them for longer periods and showed increased activity in the farrowing crates. The presence of mats resulted in lower mortality due to crushing, positively contributing to production. These findings suggest the potential of using recyclable rubber mats in pig production and encourage the exploration of new designs and installation locations.

Analysis of the social perception of a producer about the pig production system and his experience with alternative feeding.

Analysis of the social perception of a producer about the pig production system and his experience with alternative feeding.