Use Of Sowing Research Articles

RESULTS OF BREEDING VALUE EVALUATION OF SOWS WITH THE USE OF TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE METHODS

The article presents the results of research on the reproductive qualities of sows of different breeding value, as well as determines the economic efficiency of their use in the industrial complex. The study was conducted in agricultural formations of the Dnipropetrovsk region (LLC "Druzhba-Kaznacheyivka", LLC "Vidrodzhennia") and the laboratory of animal husbandry of the State Institution Institute of Grain Crops NAAS. The work was performed according to the research program of NAAS №30 "Innovative technologies of breeding, industrial and organic production of pig products" ("Pig breeding"). Evaluation of sows on the grounds of reproductive qualities was carried out taking into account the following indicators: fertility, head; high fertility, kg, number of piglets at weaning, head, nest weight at the time of weaning at the age of 28 days, kg, nest weight at the time of weaning at the age of 60 days (estimated), kg, safety, %. The breeding value of animals was determined by the multiplicity and weight of the nest at the time of weaning (according to Annex 7 of the Instructions for grading pigs) and the selection index of reproductive qualities of sows (SIVYAS). The index of alignment (homogeneity) of the sow's nest by live weight of piglets at the time of their birth (ІВГ0) was calculated according to the method of V.I. Khalak (2012), the economic efficiency of research results - according to conventional methods. Biometric processing of research results was performed according to the methods of G.F. Lakin (1990). It was found that sows of the "elite" class were superior to peers of the "extracurricular" class in terms of multiplicity, several piglets at weaning, nest weight at weaning at 28 days and nest weight at weaning at 60 days (estimated) by an average of 28, 76%. The difference between sows of classes M + and M- (distribution class for SIVYAS) in terms of multiplicity, number of piglets at the time of weaning, the weight of the nest at the time of weaning at the age of 28 days and weight of the nest at the time of weaning at the age of 60 days (estimated) is 34.32. 34.78, 27.60 and 28.30 %, respectively. The coefficients of pair correlation between the absolute indicators of reproductive qualities of sows, the index "alignment (homogeneity) of the sow's nest by live weight of piglets at birth" and the selection index of reproductive qualities of sows (SIVYAS) at 83.33-100.0 % are reliable from -0.446 to +0.989. The criterion for the selection of highly productive animals according to the Instructions for grading pigs is the class "elite", according to the selection index of reproductive qualities of sows (SIVYAS) - 97.85-123.99 and more points. The use of sows of the class "elite" and М+ (according to SIVYAS) provides additional products at the level of +11.84 - 16.49 %.

Assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of Actisaf® Sc47 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-4407) for lambs for fattening, minor dairy ruminants, horses and pigs for fattening.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the renewal of the authorisation of Actisaf Sc47 as a zootechnical additive for lambs for fattening, minor dairy ruminants, horses and pigs for fattening. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, the FEEDAP Panel adopted opinions on the safety and efficacy of Actisaf Sc47 when used in lambs for fattening, minor dairy ruminants, horses and pigs for fattening. Actisaf Sc47 is the trade name for a feed additive based on viable cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I‐4407 with no carrier. It is currently authorised for use in sows, piglets, pigs for fattening, cattle for fattening, calves for rearing, dairy cows, dairy buffaloes, lambs for fattening, dairy sheep, dairy goats, horses, rabbits for fattening and non‐food producing rabbits. Actisaf Sc47 is marketed in three forms: standard, powder and HR. All of them are authorised with a declared minimal concentration of viable yeast cells in the additive of 5 × 109 CFU/g. The applicant has provided data demonstrating that the additive currently in the market complies with the conditions of authorisation. In previous opinions, Actisaf Sc47 was presumed safe for the target species, consumers of products from animals fed the additive and the environment. Additionally, it was not found to be a skin or eye irritant. No new evidence has been identified that would make the FEEDAP Panel reconsider the previous conclusions on the safety of Actisaf Sc47. Therefore, the Panel considers that the additive Actisaf SC47 remains safe under the approved conditions for lambs for fattening, minor dairy ruminants, horses and pigs for fattening, the consumer, user and the environment.

Safety and efficacy of Bacillussubtilis PB6 (Bacillussubtilis ATCC PTA-6737) as a feed additive for sows.

Bacillus subtilis PB6 is a feed additive based on viable spores of a strain of Bacillus subtilis. EFSA has already issued several opinions on the safety and efficacy of the additive when used in the feed for a number of avian and porcine species/categories. The applicant is now seeking authorisation for use in sows in order to have benefits in piglets. In the course of previous assessments, no evidence of a toxigenic potential or resistance to relevant antibiotics was found. Consequently, the strain of B. subtilis in the additive, following the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment, is presumed safe for target animals including sows and their offspring, consumers and the environment. In a previous assessment, it was also concluded that the additive is not a skin/eye irritant or a skin sensitiser and that there were no concerns on respiratory sensitisation. The use of the additive with feed for sows is considered unlikely to introduce hazards for users of the product not already considered. Five studies are described in which groups of sows given the additive for a minimum period from the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, throughout farrowing and lactation, until weaning of piglets were compared with a control group. In only two of five studies, there was a significant beneficial effect seen in terms of piglet performance. However, when data from the four similar were pooled and analysed, significant increases in weaned weight and average daily gain were indicated for piglets from sows given the additive. Consequently, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that Bacillus subtilis PB6 when added to diets of sows from 3 weeks before parturition until weaning of piglets at a dose of 1 × 108 CFU/kg complete feed has the potential to improve the growth of piglets from birth to weaning.

Productivity of agrocenoses of oat in conditions pollution of heavy metals of gray forest soil

Object. To set possibility of the use of sowing of oats the shelled and naked for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with zinc, lead and cadmium in condition of right-bank Forest-Steppe. Methods. Field trials, laboratory testing, mathematical-statistical methods. Results. Conducted experiments affirm that the cultivation of different varieties of oats artificially contaminated with heavy metals ecotopes gray forest soils has led to changes in their quantitative, qualitative, toxicological characteristics of harvest, and also determination of the possibility of using grain. Conclusions. It is established that in condition of right-bank Forest-Steppe on territory with content in the grey forest soil of lead up to 1,000 mg, zinc up to 500 and cadmium up to 20 mg per kg sowings of oats shelled (variety Neptune) and oats naked (variety Solomon) show high tolerance to pollution, so it is possible to conduct a phytoremediation with their use, however the change for the worse of toxicological grain characteristics of these crops makes impossible its use in food and feed purposes.

Presence of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use in sows are risk factors for antimicrobial resistance in their offspring.

This study investigated whether antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in apparently healthy sows and antimicrobial administration to sows and piglets influenced antimicrobial resistance in fecal commensal E. coli from piglets. Sixty sows from three herds and three of their piglets were sampled at several time points. Antimicrobial usage data during parturition and farrowing were collected. Clinical resistance was determined for two isolates per sampling time point for sows and piglets using disk diffusion. Only 27.4% of E. coli isolates from newborn piglets showed no resistance. Resistance to one or two antimicrobial classes equaled 41.2% and 46.8% in isolates from sows and piglets, respectively, for the overall farrowing period. Multiresistance to at least four classes was found as frequently in sows (15.6%) as in piglets (15.2%). Antimicrobial resistance in piglets was influenced by antimicrobial use in sows and piglets and by the sow resistance level (p≤0.05). Using aminopenicillins and third-generation cephalosporins in piglets affected resistance levels in piglets (odds ratios [OR] >1; p≤0.05). Using enrofloxacin in piglets increased the odds for enrofloxacin resistance in piglets (OR=26.78; p≤0.0001) and sows at weaning (OR=4.04; p≤0.05). For sows, antimicrobial exposure to lincomycin-spectinomycin around parturition increased the resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine in sows (OR=21.33, OR=142.74, OR=18.03; p≤0.05) and additionally to enrofloxacin in piglets (OR=7.50; p≤0.05). This study demonstrates that antimicrobial use in sows and piglets is a risk factor for antimicrobial resistance in the respective animals. Moreover, resistance determinants in E. coli from piglets are selected by using antimicrobials in their dam around parturition.

A novel watery diarrhoea caused by the co-infection of neonatal piglets with Clostridium perfringens type A and Escherichia coli (K88, 987P)

In 2011, a novel watery diarrhoea in 1–7day-old piglets occurred in Changchun, China, characterized by high pathogenicity and mortality. Investigation of clinical signs, examination for viruses, and isolation and identification of bacteria showed that co-infection by Clostridium perfringens type A and Escherichia coli (K88, 987P) was the most likely cause of the disease. Newborn piglets challenged with a mixture of Clostridium perfringens type A and Escherichia coli (K88, 987P) died within 3days with clinical signs and gross lesions similar to those in the piglets that died in the outbreak.A subsequent study showed that the use in sows of an inactivated vaccine against the two causal bacteria was effective at reducing the incidence of the watery diarrhoea in piglets. Piglets from sows given the inactivated vaccine had a incidence of watery diarrhoea of 8% (14/175), much lower than the 95% (192/201) seen in piglets from control sows. This is the first report of diarrhoea in piglets resulting from co-infection of Clostridium perfringens type A and Escherichia coli (K88, 987P). Further studies are required to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease.

Recent developments in pig embryo transfer

Porcine embryo transfer has been performed for approximately 50 years, and surgical methods have proven to be reliable for collection and transfer of embryos. However, surgical collection and transfer have the disadvantage of being less useful on the farm. Recently, new procedures for both collection and transfer of embryos have been developed to improve usefulness. The surgical procedure has been refined to a minimally invasive procedure, using endoscopy for collection and transfer of embryos. A nonsurgical procedure for embryo collection has also been devised, but is limited to use in sows with surgically shunted (shortened) uterine horns. Nonsurgical embryo transfer procedures have been developed recently and have proven to be successful. The nonsurgical procedures are preferable to surgical procedures from an animal welfare point of view and because these procedures can be performed on farms without the need for special facilities.

The control of necrotic enteritis in sucking piglets by means of a Clostridium perfringens toxoid vaccine.

Necrotic enteritis in sucking piglets constitutes a serious problem in piglet rearing units because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. The primary causal agent is Clostridium perfringens type C. The β‐toxin plays a decisive role in the pathogenesis of this disease. A toxoid vaccine for use in sows has been developed and studied in field trials. The European Pharmacopoeia Monograph on vaccines for use in animals lays down a method of the efficacy testing based on the immunization of rabbits, the collection of pooled sera and the subsequent assay of anti‐toxin antibodies in mice using an appropriate test toxin. The vaccine is regarded as effective if it induces a minimum of 10 IU of β‐anti‐toxin per ml of rabbit serum. We have established a range of 17.14–98.23 IU β‐anti‐toxin per ml rabbit serum induced by a sample of C. perfringens toxoid vaccine. The vaccine has been used under field conditions in different rearing units at the same time, mostly in the form of emergency vaccinations following the outbreak of disease. The outcome of vaccination was evaluated by recording the total numbers of piglets born alive and the piglet losses. Use of the vaccine, coupled with other measures, resulted in an approximately 30% reduction in the number of losses.

The control of necrotic enteritis in sucking piglets by means of a Clostridium perfringens toxoid vaccine

Necrotic enteritis in sucking piglets constitutes a serious problem in piglet rearing units because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. The primary causal agent is Clostridium perfringens type C. The β-toxin plays a decisive role in the pathogenesis of this disease. A toxoid vaccine for use in sows has been developed and studied in field trials. The European Pharmacopoeia Monograph on vaccines for use in animals lays down a method of the efficacy testing based on the immunization of rabbits, the collection of pooled sera and the subsequent assay of anti-toxin antibodies in mice using an appropriate test toxin. The vaccine is regarded as effective if it induces a minimum of 10 IU of β-anti-toxin per ml of rabbit serum. We have established a range of 17.14–98.23 IU β-anti-toxin per ml rabbit serum induced by a sample of C. perfringens toxoid vaccine. The vaccine has been used under field conditions in different rearing units at the same time, mostly in the form of emergency vaccinations following the outbreak of disease. The outcome of vaccination was evaluated by recording the total numbers of piglets born alive and the piglet losses. Use of the vaccine, coupled with other measures, resulted in an approximately 30% reduction in the number of losses.