European Union - Stalls ban readiness
At the European Union pigmeat price forecasting group in Brussels, the NPA's Barney Kay asked for each member country to indicate its level of preparedness for the 2013 partial stalls ban.
Page 40 of articles about sow
Denmark - Pig farmers ready for implementing ban on sow stalls
The results of a survey conducted in June this year indicated that nearly 70% of producers already keep pregnant sows in group systems, which is in line with the requirements of the EU legislation due in 2013.
Positioning crates: Alternative options: Aisles both in front and behind the crates, crates on both sides of the aisle (II)
In the last chapter we examined the advantages of positioning crates facing inwards and outwards. Now we are going to explore two other options: Aisles both in front and behind the crates and crates on both sides of the aisle.
Reproductive performance of gilts according to growth rate and backfat thickness at mating
The study evaluated the influence of growth rate (GR) and backfat thickness (BF), at first mating of gilts, on the reproductive performance until the first farrowing and on the variation in birth weight of piglets.
Hyaluronic acid in the female reproductive tract of the pig
Early embryo development requires a dynamic and active uterine environment tailored to the requirements of each embryonic stage. The development of asynchrony between the embryo and uterine environment during embryo transfer has been directly linked with both embryonic loss and abnormal development. Hyaluronic Acid (HA), has been implicated as an important factor in porcine embryo development in vitro, but little data exists on the concentrations of this glycoaminoglycan in the porcine female reproductive tract and its potential application in embryo transfer procedures.
Effect of dose of equine chorionic gonadotrophin on the estrus responses of gilts and weaned sows and effect of the interval between equine chorionic gonadotrophin and luteinizing hormone injections on sow performance
Objectives: To determine estrus and ovulation responses of gilts and sows to different doses of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG), with different intervals between eCG and luteinizing hormone (pLH) injections.
United Kingdom - English breeding herd increases, fattening pigs decreases
In 2010 the number of breeding pigs increased by 1.4% to 427 thousand. The number of fattening pigs decreased by 2% to 3.2 million leading to an overall reduction of 1.6% in the total number of pigs.
USA - USDA proposes to amend Livestock Exportation Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend the livestock exportation regulations to eliminate pre-export tuberculosis and brucellosis testing for goats and breeding swine if the receiving country does not require such testing.
Canada - Research investment will benefit swine producers
The Government of Canada is investing in an innovative project that will benefit Canadian swine producers and consumers. Coop fédérée will receive up to $80,000 to study and develop feeding recommendations to maximize sow milk production through gestation, ensuring optimal growth of suckling piglets.
The evaluation of feeding lactating sows on grams of lysine compared to percent of lysine in the diet
Formulating a sow diet based on percent lysine is only effective when total feed intake is known.
Threonine requirement of sows in early, mid- and late gestation
Current NRC (1998) recommendations for amino acids (AA) do not account for different requirements in early vs late gestation due to changes in metabolism; recovery of body tissue from previous lactation, and fetal, gut and mammary growth in late gestation. These increases in gut and mammary tissue and gut mucin suggest that there is a higher requirement for threonine (THR) in late gestation.
Positioning crates: Which is better: facing inwards or outwards? (I)
When designing farrowing rooms, sows can be placed in different ways: facing inwards, facing outwards, with aisles both in front and behind the crate, or on both sides of the aisle.
Farrowing programming III
Next we will consider some aspects that can be taken into account in order to adjust the day to induce farrowing.
Dietary supplementation with 0.8% L-Arginine between days 0 and 25 of gestation reduces litter size in gilt
Dietary L-Arginine supplementation may negatively affect gilt reproductive performance.
Organization of replacements V
On many farms the introduction of gilts is not homogenous. However, the introduction of a similar number of gilts to each productive batch would be ideal. How can we do this?
Playing and fighting by piglets around weaning on farms, employing individual or group housing of lactating sows
We assessed how piglets play, fighting and biting behaviour before and after weaning were affected by the housing system and weaning age as well as how the three behaviours are related to each other and piglet post-weaning weight gain.