Swine Unit Research Articles

Airborne Bacteria, Endotoxin and Fungi in Dust in Poultry and Swine Confinement Buildings

Airborne dust in swine and poultry confinements was analyzed to determine concentrations of total and gram-negative bacteria, total fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus and endotoxin. Airborne concentrations of total and gram-negative bacteria in swine and confinement units have been found to be as high as, or higher, than those found in other environments, such as wastewater treatment plants and cotton card rooms, where microbiologically contaminated organic dusts were present. Airborne endotoxin concentrations in the swine units (average 0.12 µg/m3) and poultry units (average 0.31 µg/m3) were in the range where clinical effects have occurred in other populations. Therefore, health studies of poultry and swine confinement workers with concurrent estimation of the individual daily exposure dose are warranted.

Quantitation of Indole and Skatole in a Housed Swine Unit

AbstractWhile many compounds have been identified as odor constituents of animal waste, few have been measured quantitatively and directly implicated as parameters for evaluating the quality or strength of odor. To determine the possibility of contribution to odor, two alkaloids, indole and skatole, were measured quantitatively in fresh manure, in anaerobic pit liquor, in dust, and in air extracts from an enclosed swine‐finishing unit. Gas, thin‐layer, and column chromatography were used to measure the concentrations and to verify the presence of indole and skatole. Although indole and skatole were found in the fresh manure and anaerobic pit liquor extracts, only skatole was found in the dust extracts. Neither indole nor skatole could be detected in the air of the swine unit above the detection limits of 2.5 × 10−12 g/ml of air. Since the odor threshhofd value of indole and skatole (1 × 10−9 g/ml of air) is approximately 1,000 times higher than what could be detected in the air, it was concluded that aerial concentrations of indole and skatole in swine units could not be used to evaluate the quality and strength of odors.

Bacteria in the Air of Housed Swine Units

Two housed, swine-growing-finishing units were studied for numbers of total bacteria, fecal coliforms, Staphylococcus, and Salmonella in the air. At 30.5 and 122 cm from the floor, total colony-forming particles, as tested, averaged 3.4 x 10 and 1.3 x 10/m of air, respectively; whereas fecal coliform counts averaged 24 x 10 and 1.9 x 10/m of air, respectively. Only 41% of the organisms growing on Staphylococcus 110 medium tested as Staphylococcus. Of 458 Staphylococcus isolates, 5 were coagulase-positive. No Salmonella were detected in the air of the units tested.

COPPER SUPPLEMENTATION OF CANADIAN DIETS FOR GROWING–FINISHING PIGS

A co-operative trial involving 10 swine units and 744 pigs examined the effects of adding 0.05 and 0.08% copper sulfate to diets fed, ad libitum, from approximately 11 to 90 kg liveweight. Supplementation resulted in weighted improvements of 2.2 and 1.7% in growth rate and 2.0 and 2.2% in the efficiency of feed conversion, respectively, for the overall period. Added copper had little effect upon carcass characteristics, but resulted in a marked increase in liver copper concentrations. Although 31 of the 500 livers analyzed contained levels in excess of the Canadian tolerance (150 mg Cu/kg fresh weight), 28 of these were from pigs fed the 0.08% copper supplement. Pigs fed the copper-supplemented diets tended to have a more unsaturated backfat, which contained a lower proportion of stearic acid, but more palmitoleic acid and a higher oleic:stearic ratio. There was evidence that both the composition of the unsupplemented diets and the sex of the pigs could also significantly influence the criteria measured in the carcass tissues. The level of dietary copper did not affect the eating quality of pork held for 4 or 8 mo frozen storage. The results indicate that under Canadian conditions, it would be preferable to limit the use of high levels of copper to diets for pigs under 50 kg liveweight.

Control of House Flies1 in Swine-Finishing Units by Improved Methods of Waste Disposal2

Four swine-finishing units were equipped with different waste-disposal systems to determine their effectiveness in preventing development of the house fly, Musca domestica L. Each unit was completely screened to prevent contamination from outside sources. No insecticides were used. One of the 4 was a standard shed-type house used as a control. The other 3 units were equipped with new and improved waste-disposal systems. Results from 2 years of study indicate that house fly production in and around swine finishing units can be greatly reduced by using 1 of the 3 improved methods of waste disposal described.

Swine Metabolism Unit for 100 to 200 Pound Barrows

A swine metabolism unit design is presented which includes facilities for feeding, watering, and quantitative collection of urine, feces, and feed spillage. The advantages of this unit over previously plans are discussed.

Swine Metabolism Unit

Swine Metabolism Unit

The design and operation of metabolism units for nutritional studies with swine.

A description is presented of the design and operation of adjustable metabolism units which are adaptable for use in balance studies with barrows or gilts. The width of the stall and the length may be readily adjusted to the size of the animal. The animal is successfully restricted to the desired area by means of these adjustments and a hot wire arrangement from an electric fence unit. A drawer-type combination feed box and watering unit attached below floor level minimizes contamination of excreta with feed and water. A removable panel in one side of the stand and a swine immobilizer unit attachment facilitates bleeding or dosing of the animal without the necessity of removing it from the stall.