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Aggression during mixing of pregnant sows impacts sow welfare and productivity. The aim of this study was to increase satiety and reduce aggression by including dietary fiber and fermentable carbohydrates. Sows were housed in individual stalls 7 to 14 d after breeding (moving day was considered d 0 of treatment) and were fed (at 0700 h) with a CONTROL (corn-soybean meal based with no additional fiber sources), RSTARCH (10.8% resistant starch), BEETPULP (27.2% sugar beet pulp), SOYHULLS (19.1% soybean hulls), or INCSOY (14.05% soybean hulls) for 21 d (5 sows/diet x 5 diets x 8 replications = 200 sows). The CONTROL diet was targeted to contain 185 g(d⋅sow) NDF and the other diets were targeted to contain 350 g(d⋅sow) NDF. The INCSOY diet was fed at 2.2 kg/(d⋅sow) and the other diets were fed at 2 kg(d⋅sow). On d 22, sows were mixed in groups of 5 (at 1200 h). Behaviors in stalls (on d 1, 7, 14, and 21) and after mixing (d 22 and 23), heart rate (on d 1, 7, 14, and 21), blood metabolites (on d 2, 8, 15, 22, and 25), and the effects of diets on production were collected and analyzed. Sows stood more (P < 0.01) and rested less (P < 0.001) over time irrespective of the diet. Sows on BEETPULP stood more (P < 0.01) and sows on SOYHULLS rested more (P < 0.01). Sham chewing increased over days irrespective of the diet. Chewing behavior (bar and feeder) increased with days on diet (P < 0.001) and was lowest in sows on the SOYHULLS diet (P = 0.045). When mixed, biting frequency in the first hour was highest for sows on the CONTROL diet (236.5 ± 62.6) and lowest for sows on the RSTARCH diet (90.5 ± 30.5). Skin lesions increased (P < 0.001) 24 h after mixing sows irrespective of diet. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was lowest in sows fed BEETPULP and SOYHULLS (P < 0.001). Serum glucose concentration was highest in sows fed RSTARCH and BEETPULP (P = 0.04), but there was no day effect (P = 0.62) or diet x day interaction (P = 0.60). The NEFA was greatest in sows fed RSTARCH, BEETPULP, and SOYHULLS (P < 0.001). Lactate (P < 0.001) and BUN concentrations were greatest on d 2 but dropped and remained constant after d 8. Average heart rate was lowest for sows on SOYHULLS and INCSOY compared with sows on the other diets (P = 0.03). Number of piglets born and average weaning weight were not affected by diets (P > 0.05). Average birth weight was lowest in the INCSOY diet (P = 0.02). This study demonstrates that RSTARCH and SOYHULLS can improve the welfare of sows by reducing aggression and increasing satiety in limit-fed pregnant sows without affecting production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-access stalls allow sows to choose the protection of a stall or use of a shared group space. This study investigated the effect of group space width, 0.91 (SS), 2.13 (IS), and 3.05 (LS) m, on the health, production, behavior, and welfare of gestating sows. Nine replications of 21 (N= 189) gestating sows were used. At gestational d 35.4 ± 2.3, the pregnant sows were distributed into 3 pens of 7 sows, where they remained until 104.6 ± 3.5 d. Each treatment pen had 7 free-access stalls and a group space that together provided 1.93 (SS), 2.68 (IS), or 3.24 (LS) m²/sow. Baseline measurements were obtained before mixing. Back fat depth, BW, BCS, and lameness were measured monthly, and skin lesions were scored weekly. Blood was collected monthly for hema-tological, immunological, and Cortisol analyses. Sow behavior was video recorded continuously during the initial 4 d of treatment and 24 h every other week thereafter. Behavior was analyzed for location, posture, pen investigation, social contact, and aggression. Skin response to the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) was tested at mean gestational d 106. Litter characteristics including size and weight were collected at birth and weaning. The data were analyzed using a mixed model. Multiple comparisons were adjusted with the Tukey-Kramer and Bejamini-Hochberg methods. Group space allowance had no effect on any measure of sow health, physiology, or production (P > 0.10). Sows in the SS, IS, and LS pens spent 77.88% ± 3.88%, 66.02% ± 3.87%, and 63.64% ± 3.91%, respectively, of their time in the free-access stalls (P ≥ 0.12). However, SS sows used the group space less than IS and LS sows (P = 0.01 ). Overall, pen investigatory behavior was not affected by group space allowance {P = 0.91). Sows in the LS pens spent more time in a social group than SS sows (P = 0.02), whereas sows in IS pens were intermediate to, but not different from, the other treatments (P ≥ 0.10). The size of the social groups was also affected by the group space allowance (P = 0.03), with SS sows forming smaller groups than LS sows; again, IS sows were intermediate to, but not different from, the other treatments. Although the group space allowance had no measurable impact on the health, physiology, or productivity of the sows, the lower group space use and social contact of the SS sows reduced the behavioral diversity benefits of group housing and may indicate an avoidance of social stressors or a lack of physical comfort in the smallest pens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many mammalian species, prenatal stress masculinizes female and feminizes male offspring impairing their reproductive capacity. Regrouping ges-tating sows is a common, stressful production practice, but its impact on the developing pigs of the sow is not fully known. This study examined the effects of regroup-ing gestating sows and the administration of exogenous glucocorticoids on the growth and external reproductive morphology of pigs. At 37.2 ± 0.26 d of gestation, 6 cohorts of 18 sows (N= 108) were placed in 1 of 3 treatments: socially stable (Stable), hydrocortisone acetate (HCA), or mixed (Mixed). The HCA sows were administered 70 mg HCA, a synthetic glucocorticoid, twice daily during the 21 d experimental period. Each Mixed sow was penned with 2 companion sows (Companion) and regrouped on d 7 and 14 with 2 different Companion sows in a new pen. Stable and HCA sows were penned in treatment groups of 3 sows. Sow social rank was assessed weekly during feeding. After the 21 d experimental period, all sows were housed in gestation stalls for the duration of pregnancy. During the 21 d, Companion sows gained more weight than HCA and Mixed sows (P < 0.05) with Stable sows intermediate. High ranked sows gained more weight than middle and low ranked sows (P < 0.05). Mixed sows had greater head lesion scores than Stable and HCA sows (P < 0.05) with Companion sows intermediate. Head lesions increased with lower social rank (P < 0.001). Sow treat-ment did not affect farrowing rate, litter size, or sex ratio (P > 0.10). Social rank also had no effect on farrowing rate (P > 0.10), but affected total litter size (P = 0.03). High ranked sows bore and weaned more live females than low ranked sows (P < 0.05), in part due to differential pre-weaning mortality among female pigs (P = 0.01 ). Only male pigs were affected by sow treatment. Preweaning mortality was higher among male pigs from HCA than from Mixed sows (P = 0.04) with other treatments inter-mediate. Despite no weight differences in the preweaning period, at 160 d of age males from HCA sows weighed more than males from Stable sows (P = 0.01) with other treatments intermediate. Males born to Companion sows had longer relative anogenital distances, a marker of fetal testosterone exposure, than males from Mixed sows (P = 0.03) with other treatments intermediate. The prenatal environment affected the pigs in a sex-specific manner altering the growth and reproductive morphology of the males more than that of the females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pure form of salbutamol has the poten-tial to deliver positive production benefits to the swine industry. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effects of salbutamol on growth, carcass measures, and health of finishing pigs. The study used 192 pigs (89 ± 1 kg BW) housed in groups of 6 in 32 pens and assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) control (CTL), 0 mg/kg salbutamol; 2) 2R, control diet with 2 mg/kg of the pure R-enantiomer of salbutamol; 3) 4R, control diet with 4 mg/kg of pure R-salbutamol; or 4) 8RS, control diet with 8 mg/kg of a 50:50 mixture of the R- and S-enan-tiomers. All diets were offered ad libitum for 4 wk. All pigs were weighed and pen feed intakes were recorded weekly. At slaughter, individual HCW and measure-ments of the lOth-rib loin muscle area (LMA), color, marbling, firmness, and back fat, last lumbar, and mid-line back fat depths were collected. Data were analyzed using Proc GLM of SAS, with pen as the experimental unit. Overall, 2R and 4R pigs had greater ADG than CTL pigs (P < 0.05) and, at slaughter, were heavier than CTL pigs (P < 0.01). Overall, 8RS pigs had decreased ADFI {P < 0.05), and CTL pigs had poorer G:F (P < 0.001) than the other 3 treatments. All salbutamol-fed pigs had 5 to 6 kg greater HCW (P < 0.001), 2% to 3% increased carcass yield (P < 0.001), 5.6 cm2 larger LMA CP < 0.01), 3 to 4 mm less lOth-rib back fat (P < 0.01), and 2 mm less lumbar back fat (P < 0.05) than CTL pigs. However, control pigs had greater loin muscle color scores (P < 0.05) and marbling scores (P < 0.001) than all salbutamol-treated pigs. Taken together, these data indicate that as little as 2 mg/kg R-salbutamol has a positive effect on pig growth and carcass composition. However, the effects of salbutamol on meat quality re-quire further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long distance transportation of weaned piglets (Sus scrofa) is increasingly common in the Unit-ed States and may result in delayed eating, drinking, or normal social behaviors. A potential solution is a mid-journey rest (lairage). The objective of this study was to determine if a lairage altered behavior after a 16-h transport. Pigs that weighed approximately 18 kg each (n = 894) were housed in 16 pens with 8 pens per treat-ment. Lairaged pigs were transported for 8 h and given an 8-h rest with food and water, whereas control pigs were transported continuously for 16 h. The heaviest, the lightest, and 2 average-BW pigs relative to the aver-age weight of the pen were observed by video recording for 24 h immediately before and after transport, and dur-ing d 6 and 13 after transport. Postures (lying, sitting, and standing) were recorded using 10-min-interval scan sampling, and behavioral categories included inactivity, activities (eating, drinking, alert, manipulating pen, root-ing, and walking) and social interactions (aggression, belly nosing, playing, tail biting, and positive social behaviors). In both treatments, sitting occurred most before transport (P <0.01) than at other times, but did not differ between treatments. Standing increased (time effect; P < 0.01) for both treatments immediately after transport through d 6, but returned to pre-transport val-ues by d 13. In contrast, lying decreased (time effect; P < 0.01) after transport, but returned to above pre-transport values by d 13. Time effects were evident for activity (P < 0.01), pen manipulation (P = 0.05), rooting (P < 0.01), initiation of belly-nosing (Z5 = 0.01), and receiving belly-nosing (P = 0.03); however, initiation of aggression did not differ for day (P = 0.19) or treatment (P = 0.56). Lairaged pigs initiated more (P = 0.05) play than con-tinuously transported pigs, but no differences {P = 0.84) were seen in receipt of play behavior. Pigs that were to be transported for 16 h continuously walked less pre-transport, walked more post-transport (treatment x time interaction; P = 0.02), and drank less pre-transport, but drank more on all days post-transport compared with the lairage group (treatment x time interaction; P = 0.001). This study indicated that extended transport without lairage alters some swine behaviors relevant to produc-tion (water consumption) and demonstrated that a long-duration transport, regardless of the mid-journey lairage treatment, affects a number of behaviors up to 13 d after transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of water-delivered, direct-fed microbials (DFM) or organic acids on intestinal morphology and active nutrient absorption in weanling pigs after deliberate Salmonella infection. Pigs (n = 88) were weaned at 19 ± 2 d of age and assigned to 1 of the following treatments, which were administered for 14 d: 1) control diet; 2) control diet + DFM {Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis) in drinking water at 109 cfu/L for each strain of bacteria; 3) control diet + organic acid-based blend (predominantly propionic, acetic, and benzoic acids) in drinking water at 2.58 mL/L; and 4) control diet + 55 mg/kg carbadox. Pigs were challenged with 1010 cfu Salmonella entérica var Typhimurium 6 d after commencement of treatments. Pigs (n = 22/d) were harvested before Salmonella challenge and on d 2, 4, and 8 after challenge. Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal mucosal tissues were sampled for measurement of villus height and crypt depth. Jejunal tissue was sampled for determination of active nutrient absorption in modified Ussing chambers Duodenal villus height was greater in pigs fed in-feed antibiotic before infection (P < 0.05). Jejunal crypts were deeper in DFM- and acid-treated pigs on d 4 after infection compared with all other treatments (P < 0.05). Salmonella infection resulted in a linear decrease in phosphorus (P < 0.001) and glucose (P < 0.05) active transport, and an increase (P < 0.001) in glutamine uptake immediately after challenge. Salmonella infection reduced basal short-circuit current (Isc); however, water-delivered DFM or organic acid treatments caused greater basal Isc on d 2 after challenge than did carbadox. Carbachol-induced chloride ion secretion was greatest in negative control pigs before infection (P < 0.01) and DFM-treated pigs (P < 0.05) after infection. In conclusion, both the DFM and acidification treatments induced increases in basal active ion movement and jejunal crypt depth, which could be interpreted as responses consistent with increased Salmonella pathology, but none of the additives markedly affected intestinal absorptive and secretory function in response to Salmonella challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigs (n = 88) weaned at 19 ± 2 d of age were used in a 14-d study to evaluate the effects of water-delivered direct-fed microbials (DFM) or organic acids on growth, immune status, Salmonella infection and shedding, and intestinal microbial populations after intranasal inoculation of Salmonella Typhimurium (1010 cfu/pig). Pigs were challenged with Salmonella 6 d after commencement of water treatments. Treatments were 1) control diet; 2) control diet + DFM (Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis) in drinking water at 109 cfu/L for each strain of bacteria; 3) control diet + an organic acid-based blend (predominantly propionic, acetic, and benzoic acid) in drinking water at 2.58 mL/L; and 4) control diet + 55 mg/kg of carbadox. Serum samples were taken on d 6, 8, 10, and 14 for determination of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) concentrations. Fecal samples were taken on d 0, 5, 7, and 11 for determination of Salmonella shedding and enumeration of coliforms. Pigs were euthanized on d 6, 8, 10, and 14. Intestinal and cecal tissue and digesta and mesenteric lymph nodes were sampled and analyzed for Salmonella. Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal mucosal scrapings were sampled for measurement of mucosal TNFα concentrations. Water delivery of DFM prevented a decline in ADG on d 2 to 6 postchallenge compared with the negative control (P < 0.05). Coliform counts tended to be greater (P = 0.09) in the cecum of the DFM treatment group on d 2 postinfection compared with the negative control and acid treatment groups. However, Salmonella prevalence in the feces, gastrointestinal tract, or lymph nodes was not affected by water delivery of acids or DFM. Serum and mucosal TNFα concentrations were not affected by treatment throughout the study with the exception of ileal concentrations on d 4 postchallenge, which were greater in the negative control group compared with all other treatments (P < 0.05). The in-feed antibiotic was the only treatment that reduced Salmonella prevalence and this was localized to the cecum on d 8 postinfection. In conclusion, the DFM and organic acid treatments used in this study offered little or no benefits to pigs infected with Salmonella and should not be considered under the constraints of this study as viable alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in a pathogen challenge situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present investigation was to study the impact of fermentation of cereals on the degradation of polysaccharides and other macronutrients in the small intestine and total tract of growing pigs. Eight pigs (initial BW, 34.5 ± 0.9 kg) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Pigs were cannulated and housed individually in metabolism pens during sample collection. The 4 cereal-based diets were nonfermented liquid barley (NFLB), nonfermented liquid wheat (NFLW), fermented liquid barley (FLB), and fermented liquid wheat (FLW). The fermented feeds were prepared by storing the dietary cereals (barley and wheat) and water [1:2.75 (wt/wt)] in a closed tank at 25°C for 2 d, after which 50% of the volume was removed and replaced with an equal amount of fresh cereals and water after each afternoon meal. At the time of feeding (0730 and 1430 h), the remaining dietary ingredients were added. Water was added to the dry nonfermented feeds [1:1 (wt/wt)] immediately before feeding. The fermentation process reduced the amount of DM in both cereals (P < 0.001), whereas the amount of DM was similar (P = 0.626) between the fermented cereals. There was an interaction of cereal and treatment for ileal flow of DM (P = 0.014), OM (P = 0.013), and protein (P = 0.006), which were less in pigs fed the NFLB than the FLB diets, but unchanged in pigs fed the NFLW and FLW diets. Conversely, the ileal flow of protein was similar (P = 0.605) in pigs fed the barley diets (average, 47.5 ± 1.7 g/kg of DMI) and increased with the FLW diet compared with the NFLW diet (43 vs. 35 g/kg of DMI, respectively). Ileal fat and CH2O digestibilities were 7.6 (P = 0.002) and 8.9% (P < 0.001) greater, respectively, when pigs were fed wheat compared with the barley-based diets, and the ileal digestibility of CH2O was greater when pigs were fed the fermented than nonfermented diets (86.5 vs. 84.5%, respectively; P < 0.001). Fermentation reduced (P < 0.0001) the fecal excretion of DM, OM, and protein in pigs fed the barley diet, but not when fed the wheat-based diet (P = 0.305). Fermentation had no effect (P = 0.243) on the fecal digestibility of nonstarch polysaccharides in either of the cereals but their digestibility was 10.0% greater (P < 0.001) in pigs fed wheat than the barley-based diets. In conclusion, fermentation of cereal before feeding altered the dietary composition and influenced flow and composition of polysaccharides and other macronutrients at the ileum and in feces to a larger extent for barley than wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under farm conditions, aggression related to the formation of social hierarchy and competition for resources can be a major problem because of associated injuries, social stress, and carcass losses. Any factor that may affect the regulation and amount of aggression within a farmed system, for instance, feeding the β-adrenoreceptor agonist ractopamine (RAC), is therefore worthy of investigation. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of the widely used Swine feed additive RAC, considering also the effects of sex and social rank on aggressiveness and concentrations of brain amines, neurotransmitters essential for controlling aggression, in finishing pigs. Thirty-two barrows and 32 guts (4 pigs/pen by sex) were fed either a control diet or a diet with RAG (Paylean, Elanco Anirnal Health, Greenfield, IN) added (5 mg/kg for 2 wk, followed by 10 mg/kg for 2 wk). The top dominant and bottom subordinate pigs (16 pigs/sex) in each pen were determined after mixing by a 36-h period of continuous behavioral observation. These pigs were then subjected to resident-intruder tests (maximum 300 s) during the feeding trial to measure aggressiveness. At the end of wk 4, the amygdala, frontal cortex, hypothalamus, and raphe nuclei were dissected and analyzed for concentrations of doparnine (DA); serotonin (5-HT); their metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), respectively; norepinephrine; and epinephrine using HPLC. Ractopamine-fed gilts performed more attacks during the first 30 s of testing than pigs in all other subgroups (P < 0.05). By the end of the resident-intruder test (300 s), the dominant control gilts and barrows, and both dominant and subordinate RAC-fed gilts performed the greatest percentage of attacks (P < 0.05). Gilts had decreased norepinephrine and DOPAC concentrations in the amygdala and frontal cortex, and when fed RAG, gilts also had the least 5-HIAA concentration and greatest DA turnover rate in the amygdala (P < 0.05). The 5-HT concentration was less in the frontal cortex of gilts compared with barrows and in the raphe nuclei (single site for brain 5-HT synthesis) of dominant gilts (P < 0.05). Ractopamine may be affecting aggressive behavior through indirect action on central regulatory mechanisms such as the DA system. The aggressive pattern observed in the tested pigs, especially in gilts, is likely linked to brain monoamine profiling of a deficient serotonergic system in the raphe nuclei, amygdala, and frontal cortex, and enhanced DA metabolism in the amygdala, brain areas vital for aggression regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggression can impair productivity and well-being. The association between aggression in finishing pigs and the feed additive ractopamine (RAG), a β-adrenoreceptor agonist, is unknown and warrants further investigation. Our goal was to examine behavioral activity, including aggression, in the home pen and concentrations of peripheral amines in barrows and gilts, taking into account diet (RAG) and social rank. Sixty-four finishing pigs, housed in pens of 4 by sex, were fed either a control (CTL) or RAC-added (5 mg/ kg for 2 wk plus 10 mg/kg for another 2 wk) diet. The top dominant and bottom subordinate pigs in each pen were determined at mixing (2 wk pretrial). The behavior of all pigs was recorded continuously during the pretrial week (baseline) and for the following 4 wk. These behavioral data were used to evaluate home pen aggression, including the number of agonistic interactions (AINX) and constituent aggressive actions, during a 3-h period (0800 to 1100 h) once per week and their change in relation to the baseline. Time-budget behaviors and postures were analyzed over eight 24-h periods (2 d/wk) using 10-mm instantaneous scan sampling that focused on only the dominant and subordinate pigs in each pen. These 2 pigs were also subjected to blood collection once per week during the trial to determine concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine, epmnephrine, and serotonin (5-HT) using HPLG. Gilts performed more bites and total actions per AINX than barrows, and RAG-fed gilts increased bites and pursuits, whereas these behaviors decreased compared with baseline values in all other subgroups (P < 0.05). Gilts fed RAC increased the total number actions per AINX, whereas the occurrence of AINX decreased for all subgroups (P < 0.01). Overall, RAC-fed pigs were more behaviorally active, spending more time alert, bar biting, and sham chewing compared with CTL pigs (P < 0.05). The dominant RAC-fed pigs tended to have the greatest norepinephrine concentrations among the tested subgroups (P = 0.08). Dominant barrows had greater epinephrine concentrations than subordinate barrows (P < 0.05). The RAG-fed gilts tended to have lesser 5-HT concentrations than CTL gilts (P = 0.08), whereas concentrations were similar in barrows (P > 0.10). Greater activity and the increase in oral-related behaviors observed in RAC-fed pigs may be mediated by the increase in arousal caused by RAG. Intensified aggression in gilts, especially when fed RAG, may be linked to reduced central 5-HT and greater noradrenergic activity, and further research on brain neurotrans- mitters in guts is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding a corn- and soybean meal- based diet (control) or a low nutrient excretion (LNE) diet, formulated with reduced dietary CP and additional synthetic AA, low phytic acid corn, and phytase, on pig growth performance during the grower (BW 32 to 77 kg) and finisher (BW = 78 to 126 kg) periods and on carcass and bone characteristics at slaughter. Pigs (32 + 1.3 kg of BW, Exp. 1; 6.7 ± 0.27 kg of BW, Exp. 2) were blocked by sex and BW and randomly allotted to a control or LNE diet. Pigs were housed in 4 rooms during the nursery period and in 2 rooms during the grower and finisher periods, with individual and identical ventilation systems. Pigs were phase fed 3 nursery diets for 5 wk (Exp. 2) and phase fed 2 grower and 2 finisher diets for 16 wk (Exp. 1 and 2). Pigs were housed 4 or 5 pigs/pen with 9 pens·sex-1 ·treatment-1 during the nursery period and 4 or 5 pigs/pen with 5 pens·sex-1 ·treatment-1 in the grower phase and 2 or 3 pigs/pen in the finisher phase. Individual BW and pen feed disappearance were recorded weekly in the nursery period and every 2 wk in the grower-finisher period. Pigs were scanned ultrasonically at d 34 of the nursery period and wk 8 and 16 of the grower-finisher period to determine backfat depths and LM area. Ten pigs~sex'~treatment' were slaughtered at wk 16 of each experiment to determine carcass characteristics. Overall growth performance was not different during each experiment. However, nursery G:F (control = 0.65; LNE = 0.60), grower ADG (Exp. 1 and 2), and grower G:F (Exp. 2) were reduced (P < 0.05) when the LNE diets were fed. Diet had no effect on 10th-rib carcass data in either experiment. Metatarsal bone ash percentage was reduced (P < 0.05) when the LNE diets were consumed in both experiments. Feeding LNE diets resulted in the maintenance of overall growth performailce, bone variables, and carcass characteristics. However, further refinements are still required in the nursery and grower phases of pig production to optimize LNE diet use by the swine industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-eight grower pigs were used to evaluate the effects of feeding low phytic acid (LPA) corn, LPA soybean meal, normal corn (NC), normal soybean meal (NSBM), and phytase on nutrient digestibility and excretion. Barrows were blocked by BW (initial BW = 45.3 ± 1.6 kg) and randomly assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (6 pigs/treatment). Pigs were fed twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) at 3 times the ME requirement for maintenance. Phytase was added to the diet at 510 phytase units/kg of feed (where 1 phytase unit is the quantity of enzyme that liberates 1 ~imol of inorganic P/mm from 0.005 mol/L of sodium phytate at pH 5.5 and 37°C), at the expense of corn starch, and all diets were formulated to provide 0.39% total P, 0.50% Ca, and 1.0% lysine with no supplemental inorganic P. Pigs were adapted to metabolism crates and dietary treatments for 7 d, followed by a 3-d total collection of urine and feces. Total fecal DM excreted, percentage of DM of feces, and percentage of DM digested were not different (P > 0.53) among treatments. Fecal P excretion was reduced for pigs fed LPA corn vs. NC (2.85 vs. 3.24 ± 0.119 g/d; P = 0.024), for pigs fed LPA soybean meal vs. NSBM (2.79 vs. 3.30 + 0.119 g/d; P = 0.007), for pigs fed phytase vs. nonphytase diets (2.80 vs. 3.29 ± 0.119 g/d; P = 0.009), and for pigs fed LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase vs. NC and NSBM without phytase (2.16 vs. 3.70 ± 0.237 g/d; P < 0.001). Phosphorus digestibility was increased for pigs fed diets containing LPA corn vs. NC (48.4 vs. 39.9 + 2.27%; P = 0.012), for pigs fed phytase vs. nonphytase diets (48.4 vs. 39.9 ± 2.27%; P = 0.019), and for pigs fed the LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase diet vs. the NC and soybean meal diet (60.1 vs. 34.1 + 4.5%; P < 0.001) and tended to be increased for pigs fed LPA soybean meal vs. NSBM (47.2 vs. 41.1 ± 2.27%; P = 0.075). Corn type and soybean meal type had no effect (P> 0.11) on water-soluble P excretion. However, pigs fed diets containing phytase tended to excrete less total water-soluble P than those without phytase inclusion (1.99 vs. 2.27 + 0.099 g/d; P < 0.066). This study demonstrates that feeding any combination of LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase was additive, significantly improving P digestibility and dramatically decreasing P excretion to reduce the potential impacts of P from pig manure on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing concern for animal well-being and food safety has stimulated the investigation of feed additives such as ractopamine (RAG), a β-agonist widely used to improve production performance of finishing pigs. The objective of this study was to determine effects of RAC feeding, delivered as a "step-up" program (5 mg/kg for 2 wk followed by 10 mg/kg for 2 wk), on growth performance, Enterobacteriaceae shedding, including Salmonella, and hoof lesions, also taking into account sex and social rank of pigs. A total of 64 barrows and gilts (balanced by treatment and sex) were assigned to pens of 4 (by sex) as either control (CTL) or RAC treatment. Social ranks (dominant, intermediate, and subordinate) of pigs in each pen were determined by behavioral observation during 48 h postmixing. Fecal samples were collected once per week for 5 wk. At slaughter, the 32 dominant and subordinate barrows and gilts (16/sex) were examined for hoof lesions, and luminal contents from ileum, cecum, and rectum were collected. Pigs fed RAC had increased growth performance (P < 0.05) with social rank of animals affecting overall ADG (P < 0.05). Gilts gained more backfat than barrows when comparing to. baseline values at both 10th and last ribs (P < 0.05), whereas loin eye area increased at a similar rate for both barrows and gilts (P> 0.10). No significant effect of RAC feeding was found on backfat or loin eye area (P > 0.10). At slaughter, RAG-fed pigs had greater BW (P < 0.05). Despite the positive effects of RAG feeding on growth performance, pigs fed the compound had a greater frequency of front and rear hoof lesions as did barrows and dominant individuals (P < 0.05). Detectable concentrations of Salmonella shedding were not identified at any time during the experiment. Enterobacteriaceae shedding concentrations from RAG-fed pigs peaked at the first week of feeding and progressively decreased until slaughter. At slaughter, rectal and cecal Enterohacteriaceae concentrations were less in RAG-fed pigs than in GTL pigs (P < 0.05). Social rank tended to affect gut Enterobacteriaceae populations of barrows more than in gilts (P < 0.10). The effects of RAG feeding on hoof soundness and Enterobacteriaceae populations in the gastrointestinal tract of finishing pigs warrant further investigation. It is also proposed that the integration of the social rank status of the individual into future studies should he considered, because it may affect treatment responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dried corn distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) fed to swine may adversely affect carcass quality due to the high concentration of unsaturated fat. Feeding CLA enhances pork quality when unsaturated fat is contained in the diet. The effects of CLA on growth and pork quality were evaluated in pigs fed DDGS. Diets containing 0, 20, or 40% DDGS were fed to pigs beginning 30 d before slaughter. At 10 d before slaughter, one-half of each DDGS treatment group was fed 0.6% CLA or 1% choice white grease. Carcass data, liver- and backfat-samples were collected at slaughter. Longissimus muscle area, 10th-rib backfat depth, last rib midline backfat depth, LM color, marbling, firmness and drip loss, and bacon collagen content were not altered by DDGS or CLA. Outer layer backfat iodine values were increased (P ≤ 0.05) with DDGS feeding and were 65.07, 69.75, and 74.25 for 0, 20, and 40% DDGS, respectively. Addition of CLA decreased (P ≤ 0.05) outer layer backfat iodine values from 71.11 to 68.31. Diets containing DDGS decreased (P ≤ 0.05) percent lean tissue contained in bacon from 48% for controls to 38% for pigs fed 40%. Abundance of fatty acid synthase, carnitine palmitoyl transferase Ia, acetyl-CoA-carboxylase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA in adipose or liver were not different (P > 0.05) for pigs fed DDGS. Feeding CLA decreased (P ≤ 0.05) the Δ9 desaturase index in adipose tissue. The data indicate that decreased carcass firmness with DDGS feeding is not reflected by changes in lipogenic gene expression. Feeding 20% or more DDGS to finishing swine decreases bacon leanness, but inclusion of 0.6% CLA in the finishing diet can partially reverse these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lameness in breeding-age guts and sows is a major cause of culling, resulting in increased economic losses and welfare concerns. This study determined if exercise during gestation would affect the musculo-skeletal system, production variables, and behavior. Gilts were blocked by BW and assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: control (n = 10; no exercise), low exercise (n = 14; 122 m/d for 5 d/wk), and high exercise (n = 14; 122 m/d for 2 d/wk and 427 m/d for 3 d/ wk). All gilts were stall-housed during gestation, and gilts were exercised between d 35 and 110 of gestation. Lameness score, BCS, BW, and blood were taken at multiple points before gestation, and during gestation and lactation. Blood serum was analyzed for carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen. Sow lying behavior was recorded for 3 d after farrowing. Farrowing data included litter weight and size at birth and weaning, and preweaning mortality. After weaning, 38 sows were slaughtered and muscles and the bones of the left fore- and hind-limbs were harvested. Bone density and quality were determined by computed tomography (CT) scans, dual energy x-ray scans, and bone-breaking force tests. The control group took longer to lie down than both exercise groups, and the low exercise group took longer to lie down than the high exercise group (P < 0.05). The number of pigs weaned was greater in the high exercise group than the control group (P < 0.05). Piglet preweaning mortality was greatest in the control group compared with both exercise groups (P < 0.05). The low exercise treatments exhibited a greater bone density (CT) in the humerus, radius, and tibia compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). The bone density (CT) of the humerus in the low exercise group was greater than that of the high exercise group (P = 0.03). Breaking force in the humerus and femur was greater (P < 0.05) in the low exercise group than the control group. Breaking force in the tibia of the high exercise group was greater than the control group (P = 0.01). The tibia of both the low and high exercise groups had a greater breaking force (P < 0.05) than the control group. Although there was no benefit of exercise on lameness, differences in bone density and quality, lying behavior, and piglet survivability may provide useful insight into alternative housing for sows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salbutamol has potential for use as a repartioning agent in swine. The aims of this experiment were to determine effects of salbutamol on behavior and physiology of finishing pigs. The study used 192 pigs (88.8 ± 0.9 kg of BW) housed in groups of 6 in 32 pens and assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) control—0 mg/kg of salbutamol, 2) 2R—control diet with 2 mg/kg of the pure R-enantiomer of salbutamol, 3) 4R—control diet with 4 mg/kg of pure R-salbutamol, or 4) 8RS—control diet with 8 mg/kg of a 50:50 mixture of the R- and S-enantiomers. All diets were offered ad libitum for 4 wk. Salbutamol diets were replaced with control diets 24 to 48 h before slaughter. Behavioral responses to handling during weighing were recorded immediately before assignment to the treatments (wk 0) and at weekly intervals over the next 4-wk period. Behavioral and heart rate (HR) responses to a 10-min human presence test in the home pen were measured during wk 0, wk 1, and wk 3. Heart rate responses to a 36-min transportation were recorded. One pig from each pen had blood collected 4 times: during wk 0, 2, 4, and at exsanguination. Blood was analyzed for NEFA, creatine kinase, glucose, lactate, blood urea nitrogen, ammonia, insulin, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS, with pen as the experimental unit. Treatment had no effect on time spent lying laterally, overall activity, or time spent alert. Treatment had no effect on handling measures (P> 0.05) or on behavioral responses to human presence (P> 0.05), with all pigs willing to spend similar amounts of time close to and touch- ing the human. However, during the human presence test in wk 1 and wk 3, control pigs had HR around 10 peats per minute less (P < 0.05) than pigs in the other 3 treatments. During transport, overall HR were similar across treatments (P> 0.05). However, at certain 1-min time points, control pigs had greater HR than salbutamol-treated pigs (P < 0.05). There were no treatment differences in lactate, epinephrine, or norepinephrine concentrations at any point. During wk 4, control pigs had less creatine kinase (P < 0.02) and greater blood urea nitrogen (P< 0.005) compared with pigs fed all the salbutamol treatments. The home pen behavior, handling, human presence test, and transport results indicate that salbutamol-treated pigs do not show marked differences in home pen time budgets and behavioral and HR responses to handling and transportation compared with control pigs. Thus, salbutamol did not have a negative effect on finishing pig well-being during this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing stressors is essential for optimizing pig growth performance. To determine the effects of temperature and space allocation on growth performance and carcass characteristics, pigs were housed within their thermoneutral zone, at 23.9°C, or above their thermoneutral zone, at 32.2°C, and were provided either 0.66 or 0.93 m2/pig for the final 35 d of the grow-finish period. Individual BW were recorded on d 1, 10, 20, and 30. At slaughter, carcass measurements and samples of backfat and belly fat were collected. Final BW was decreased (P ≤ 0.05) from 113 to 103 kg for pigs housed at 32.2°C. The ADG was reduced (P < 0.05) for pigs housed at 32.2°C (0.89 vs. 0.54 kg/d), as was G:F (0.28 vs. 0.24). Housing at 0.66 m2/pig resulted in pigs that were lighter (P ≤ 0.05), at 106 compared with 110 kg, as a result of decreased (P ≤ 0.05) ADG (0.78 to 0.65 kg/d) and decreased (P ≤ 0.05) G:F (0.275 to 0.255) compared with pigs housed at 0.93 m2/pig. Pigs housed at a greater spatial allocation had elevated (P ≤ 0.05) ADFI. The interaction of housing at 32.2°C and decreasing spatial allocation increased (P ≤ 0.05) the adipose iodine value from 66.8 to 70.4, decreased (P ≤ 0.05) the saturated:unsaturated fatty acids ratio from 0.59 to 0.56, and increased (P ≤ 0.05) the n-6:n-3 from 23.56 to 25.27. Decreased spatial allocation resulted in decreased (P ≤ 0.05) belly weights. Although increased temperature did not affect belly weight, the 32.2°C pigs had decreased (P ≤ 0.05) raw and cooked slice weights, increased (P ≤ 0.05) percentage lean of bacon, increased (P ≤ 0.05) lean:fat ratio of bacon slices, increased (P ≤ 0.05) raw slice scores, and increased (P ≤ 0.05) quantity of collagen in belly fat. Some of these changes may have resulted from changes in lipid metabolism. Increasing spatial allocation in the 32.2°C pigs decreased fatty acid synthase (P = 0.03) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (P = 0.08) mRNA expression in adipose tissue. The results from this study demonstrated decreased growth, carcass lipid quality, and bacon quality in pigs housed at temperatures above the thermoneutral zone; however, increasing the spacial allocation for housing may be a means to ameliorate the negative effects of temperature stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ractopamine (RAC) improves growth by increasing lean accretion and decreasing fat deposition through repartitioning nutrients from adipose tissue to skeletal muscle. Although the process is not completely understood, RAC alters the proportion of muscle fiber type composition toward a faster-contracting phenotype. Because one of the primary determinants of contractile speed is the relative abundance of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms and because the genes encoding these isoforms are transcriptionally regulated, RAC likely alters MyHC gene expression. Using real-time PCR, the relative abundance of transcripts of individual type I, IIA, IIX, and IIB, and total MyHC, as well as glycogen synthase, citrate synthase, lactate dehydrogenase, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α, β1-adrenergic receptor (AR), and β2-AR were determined in the LM of 44 pigs fed RAC (20 mg/kg) for 0, 1, 2, or 4 wk. In addition, MyHC isoform expression was determined in the LM and red semitendinosus and white semitendinosus muscles of 48 pigs fed RAC (20 mg/kg) for shorter periods of 12, 24, 48, or 96 h. Type I MyHC expression was unaffected (P > 0.73) by RAC administration. Type IIA MyHC expression decreased (P < 0.0001) by 96 h, was lower (P < 0.0001) by 1 wk, and returned to normal by 4 wk. Type IIX MyHC mRNA decreased (P < 0.001) by 2 wk and continued to decrease (P < 0.0001) by 4 wk. Most interesting was an increase (P < 0.0001) in type IIB MyHC by 12 h, which was maintained at an elevated level throughout the 4-wk feeding period. Abundance of glycogen synthase transcript was increased (P < 0.05) by 12 h, but was not different from controls at 2 wk, and was lower (P <0.01) at 4 wk. Gene expression of β1-AR was not affected by feeding RAC, whereas β2-AR gene expression was decreased (P < 0.05) by 2 wk. These data show MyHC genes are differentially regulated by RAC and suggest that the beta adrenergic agonist-induced repartitioning effect is, in part, mediated by changing muscle fiber type-specific gene expression, perhaps through the β2-AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two 5-wk experiments were conducted to determine the effects of water and diet acidification with and without antibiotics on weanling pig growth performance and microbial shedding. In Exp. 1, 204 pigs (19.2 d of age) were used in a 3 × 2 factorial, with 3 dietary treatments fed with or without water acidification (2.58 mL/L of a propionic acid blend; KEM SAN, Kemin Americas, Des Moines, IA). Dietary treatments were: 1) control, 2) control + 55 ppm of carbadox (CB), and 3) dietary acid IDA; control + 0.4% organic acid-based blend (fumaric, lactate, citric, propionic, and benzoic acids; Kemin Americas)] on d 0 to 7 followed by 0.2% inorganic acid-based blend (phosphoric, fumaric, lactic, and citric acids; Kemin Americas) on d 7 to 34. In Exp. 2, 210 pigs (average 18.3 d of age) were fed 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) control, 2) control + 55 ppm of CB, and 3) control + 38.6 ppm of tiamulin + 441 ppm of chlortetracycline on d 0 to 7 followed by 110 ppm of chlortetracycline on d 7 to 35 (TC) with or without dietary acidification (same as Exp. 1) in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. For both experiments, the pigs were allotted based on genetics, sex, and initial BW [5.5 kg (Exp. 1) or 5.6 kg (Exp. 2)]. Pigs were housed at 6 or 7 (Exp. 1) and 7 (Exp. 2) pigs/pen. Treatments were fed in 3 phases: d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 35 (34 d, Exp. 1). Fecal grab samples were collected from 3 pigs/pen on d 6, 20, and 33 for measurement of pH and Escherichia coli. During phase 3 and overall in Exp. 1, pigs fed CB had greater (P < 0.001) ADG (overall ADG, 389 vs. 348, and 348 g/d, respectively), ADFI (P < 0.007, 608 vs. 559, and 554 g/d, respectively), and d 34 BW (P < 0.001, 18.8 vs. 17.3, and 17.3 kg, respectively) than pigs fed NC and DA. Phase 3 ADG was improved (P < 0.01) by water acidification across all diets. In Exp. 2, pigs fed CB and TC had greater ADG (P < 0.004; 315 and 303 vs. 270 g/d, respectively), ADFI (P < 0.01), and d 35 BW (P < 0.002; 16.7 and 16.2 vs. 15.1 kg, respectively) than pigs fed NC. There was a tendency (P < 0.08) for an improvement in ADG when DA was added to the NC or TC, but decreased ADG when DA was added to CB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of gestation stalls in pork production remains a controversial topic in animal welfare. Immune status and measures are frequently used to assess stress levels and thus well-being of confined animals. The important welfare issue of close confinement among gestating gilts was tested by quantifying cortisol, acute phase cytokine, and acute phase protein profiles before and after farrowing of gilts housed in 2 systems. Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred gilts housed in groups of 4 (group, n = 8) in pens (3.9 × 2.4 m with 4 individual feeding spaces, 9.36 m2 total or 2.34 m²/gilt) were compared with gilts housed in standard industry stalls (stall, n = 16; 2.2 × 0.6 m, 1.32 m²/gilt). Floors were fully slatted, and a substrate was not provided for either system. Cortisol was determined from saliva on d 105 of gestation, 1 h after moving the gilts into farrowing stalls (d 111), and 24 h and 7 d after farrowing. Cortisol was greater (P = 0.04) for group gilts compared with stall gilts 1 h after moving them into farrowing stalls and 24 h after farrowing. Cortisol concentrations decreased (P = 0.001) over time. Leukocyte mRNA expression of IL-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and tumor necrosis factor-α was determined by quantitative, reverse transcription PCR on d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h after farrowing. Cytokine mRNA expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not differ between housing systems for IL-1, its receptor antagonist, or for tumor necrosis factor-α. Acute phase proteins, including fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and α1-acid glycoprotein were determined for plasma samples taken at d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h and 14 d after farrowing. In contrast to cortisol, plasma fibrinogen concentrations increased (P < 0.005) over time. Haptoglobin did not differ between treatments (P > 0.10). Stall gilts tended to have greater (P = 0.07) plasma α1-acid glycoprotein concentrations than group animals at d 35 of gestation and d 14 after farrowing. These data showed a trend (P < 0.07) for α1-acid glycoprotein concentrations to return to baseline more quickly in group-housed gilts, which did not appear to be directly related to increased cortisol just before farrowing. In conclusion, few differences in the acute phase response were detected between housing systems, suggesting that the resting immunological responses are only mildly affected by gestation stalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weanhing pigs with mean initial BW of 6.04 kg (Exp.1) and 5.65 kg (Exp. 2) and mean age at weaning of 18.2 d (Exp. 1) and 17.7 d (Exp. 2) were used in two 5-wk experiments (Exp. 1, n = 180; Exp. 2, n = 300) to evaluate the effects of an organic acid blend (Acid LAC, Kemin Americas Inc., Des Moines, IA) and an inorganic/organic acid blend (Kem-Gest, Kemin Americas Inc.) on weanling pig growth performance and microbial shedding. In Exp. 1, the 5 dietary treatments were 1) negative control, 2) diet 1 + 55 ppm carbadox, 3) diet 1 + 0.4% Acid LAC, 4) diet 1 + 0.2% Kem-Gest, 5) diet 1 + 0.4% Acid LAC and 0.2% Kem-Gest. In Exp. 2, the 6 dietary treatments were diets 1 through 4 cor- responding to Exp. 1, plus 5) sequence 1: 0.4% Acid LAC for 7 d followed by 0.2% Kem-Gest for 28 d, and 6) sequence 2: 0.2% Kem-Gest for 7 d followed by 0.4% Acid LAC for 28 d. Pigs were housed at 6 (Exp. 1) or 10 (Exp. 2) pigs/pen. Treatments were fed throughout the experiment in 3 phases: d 0 to 7, d 7 to 21, and d 21 to 35. In Exp. 1, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in AIDG, ADFI, or G:F among the dietary treatments at any time during the study. In Exp. 2, throughout the study, pigs fed carbadox (diet 2) and sequence 1 (diet 5) diets had the greatest AIJG (d 0 to 35; 262, 294, 257, 257, 292, and 261 g/d, diets 1 through 6, respectively; P < 0.05), greater AIDFI than all other acid treatments (P < 0.05), and tended to have greater ADFI than diet 1 (P < 0.10). Fecal pH, Escherichia coli concentrations, and Salmonella presence were determined at d 6, 20, and 34 for Exp. 1, and on d 32 for Exp. 2. For both experiments, there was no effect of treatment on the presence of fecal Salmonella (P > 0.10) at any sampling time. In Exp. 1, fecal E. coli concentrations for pigs fed the carbadox (P < 0.05) diet were greater than for pigs fed the combination diet with 0.4% Acid LAC and 0.2% Kem-Gest on d 34, and the pigs fed the negative control diet tended (P < 0.10) to have greater fecal E. coli concentrations than those fed the combination diet on d 34. In Exp. 2, fecal pH of pigs fed sequence 1 tended to be greater than fecal pH of pigs fed diet 1, diet 4, or sequence 2 (P < 0.10), but there was no dietary effect on fecal E. coli. In Exp. 1, growth performance of pigs fed the Acid LAC and Kem-Gest diets was similar to each other and to that of the carbadox-fed pigs. Adding the combination of 0.4% Acid LAC and 0.2% Kern-Gest to nursery pig diets reduced ADFI and pig growth rate. In Exp. 2, pigs fed the acid sequence of Acid LAC-Kern-Gest had similar growth performance to pigs fed carbadox, and this novel dietary acid sequence may have merit as a replacement for antibiotics in the nursery phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of dietary vitamin E (VE, α-tocopherol acetate) and fat supplementation on growth and carcass quality characteristics, oxidative stability of fresh and cooked pork patty in storage, fatty acid profiles of muscle and adipose tissue, and VE concentrations of plasma, muscle, and adipose tissue were studied. Six hundred pigs were allocated to 1 of 6 diets and fed for 63 d in a 3 × 2 factorial design. The dietary treatments included 3 fat levels (normal corn, high oil corn, high oil corn plus added beef tallow) and 2 levels of VE supplementation (40 lU/kg, normal VE supplementation; and 200 lU/kg, high VE supplementation). At 113 kg of BW, 54 pigs were slaughtered as a subsample to evaluate dietary effects on pork quality. Growth performance and meat quality characteristics did not differ (P> 0.05) among treatment groups. The high level of VE supplementation had a beneficial effect on the oxidative stability of pork as indicated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values. Lean tissue had lower (P < 0.05) TBABS in the group fed the high VE than in those fed the normal VE level. The TBABS values differed among storage periods (0 to 6 d) and also between fresh and cooked ground ham. Fat type did not significantly affect total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids proportions in the neutral and polar fraction of muscle. Adding VE acetate led to greater (P < 0.05) monounsaturated and total unsaturated fatty acid proportions in neutral lipids of muscle and adipose tissues. Increasing dietary levels of VE acetate increased the concentration of VE in plasma and muscle. These results indicate that dietary VE acetate supplementation increased (P < 0.05) lipid stability and the VE concentration of muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding increased levels of dietary vitamin E can inhibit lipid oxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of levels of dietary α-to-copherol acetate (VE) and feeding duration on meat quality and lipid oxidation. Eighty-one pigs were allocated to 1 of 3 diets containing 40, 200, or 400 IU of VE/kg of feed, and each diet group was divided into 3 feeding periods (3, 6, or 9 wk). Carcass characteristics and meat quality were evaluated. Oxidative stability of fresh and cooked pork patties and pork chops was determined after chilled or frozen storage. Increasing dietary concentrations of VE did not affect any growth performance parameter. Drip loss, however, decreased (P < 0.05) with increased dietary VE levels. Moreover, an increased duration of VE feeding improved (P < 0.05) pH and drip loss. Less lipid oxidation (P < 0.05) was detected in fresh ground pork from pigs fed greater concentrations of VE after 4 d of storage. A greater (P < 0.05) resistance to oxidation in cooked ground pork was observed in pigs fed 200 or 400 IU of VE/kg at 2 and 6 d of storage. Fresh and cooked pork patty oxidation decreased (P < 0.05) linearly as feeding duration in- creased from 3 to 9 wk. After 6 mo of freezer storage, lipid oxidation of pork chops from pigs fed 200 or 400 IU of VE/kg was lower (P < 0.05) than for pigs fed 40 IU of VE/kg. Likewise, lipid oxidation of pork chops of pigs fed VE for an extended period of time (6 wk) was lower (P < 0.05) after 9 mo of storage. Fatty acid profiles of neutral lipid fraction of the LM became more unsaturated (P < 0.05) with added VE to the feed. These results indicate an increased intake of dietary VE concentration, and prolonged feeding of VE can improve drip loss and reduce lipid oxidation in ground pork and pork chops. This study suggests that supplementation with 200 IU of VE/kg of feed for 6 wk before market is beneficial in improving lipid stability and pork quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational housing of sows remains a controversial issue that may affect the well-being of both sows and piglets. Therefore, 2 types of gestational housing were used to evaluate the stress imposed on pregnant guts by each system and the effects on the offspring by comparing production, physiology, and behavioral measures of the piglets. Forty-eight Landrace × Yorkshire gilts were randomly assigned to groups (G) of 4 per pen (n = 8 pens; 3.9 m × 2.4 m) or to individual stalls (S; n = 16 stalls; 2.21 m × 0.61 m). Gilts were moved into individual farrowing crates 5 d before the expected farrowing date. Piglets were weighed at birth, d 14, and d 35. Two barrows from each litter were weaned at d 14 (early weaning) and housed together in pens. Maintenance behaviors (head in feeder, drinking, lying, eating mash) were videotaped and observed for the first 3 d after weaning using a 10-min interval scan sampling. Belly nosing and play/fight interactions were recorded from video observations for 3 d postweaning. An isolation test (30-min duration) was performed on one piglet from each pen of barrows on d 35. Time spent lying, the number of jumps against test box walls, and grunts and squeals were recorded in real time. Salivary cortisol was collected at 30-min intervals from baseline, and 0, 30, 60, and 90 min posttest. Jugular blood was collected from 2 harrows from each litter on d 1, 7, 14, 17, 21, and 28. Plasma TNF-α was analyzed by ELISA, and haptoglobin, α1-acid glycoprotein, and immunoglobulin G were analyzed by radial immunodiffusion. More piglets from the S treatment needed to be fed a liquid feed at weaning and drank more frequently on d 2 postweaning (P < 0.05). Additionally, by d 35 piglets from S gilts had a lighter BW (10.3 kg) than G piglets (12.8 kg; P < 0.01). Piglets from S gilts also grunted more during the 30-min isolation test (number of grunts = 356) than G piglets (number of grunts = 138; P < 0.01). Salivary cortisol and immune measures were not different. These data show some behavioral and production differences between piglets from individually stalled gilts and group-housed gilts. Therefore, there may be production advantages to housing first parity gilts in groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-wk study of the effects of CLA, rendered animal fats, and ractopamine, and their interactive effects on growth, fatty acid composition, and carcass quality of genetically lean pigs was conducted. Gilts (n = 228; initial BW of 59.1 kg) were assigned to a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement consisting of CLA, ractopamine, and fat treatments. The CLA treatment consisted of 1% CLA oil (CLA-60) or 1% soybean oil. Ractopamine levels were either 0 or 10 ppm. Fat treatments consisted of 0% added fat, 5% choice white grease (CWG), or 5% beef tallow (BT). The CLA and fat treatments were initiated at 59.1 kg of BW, 4 wk before the ractopamine treatments. The ractopamine treatments were imposed when the guts reached a BW of 85.7 kg and lasted for the duration of the final 4 wk until carcass data were collected. Lipids from the belly, outer and inner layers of backfat, and LM were extracted and analyzed for fatty acid composition from 6 pigs per treatment at wk 4 and 8. Feeding CLA increased (P < 0.02) G:F during the final 4 wk. Pigs fed added fat as either CWG or BT exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI and increased (P < 0.01) G:F. Adding ractopamine to the diet increased (P < 0.01) ADG, G:F, and final BW. The predicted carcass lean percentage was increased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed CLA or ractopamine. Feeding either 5% fat or ractopamine increased (P < 0.05) carcass weight. Adding fat to the diets increased (P < 0.05) the 10th rib backfat depth but did not affect predicted percent lean. Bellies of guts fed CLA were subjectively and objectively firmer (P < 0.01). Dietary CLA increased (P < 0.01) the concentration of saturated fatty acids and decreased (P < 0.01) the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids of the belly fat, both layers of backfat, and LM. Ractopamine decreased (P < 0.01) the i.m. fat content of the LM but had relatively little effect on the fatty acid profiles of the tissues compared with CLA. These results indicate that CLA, added fat, and ractopamine work mainly in an additive fashion to enhance pig growth and carcass quality. Furthermore, these results indicate that CLA results in more saturated fat throughout the carcass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to evaluate the mineral content of pork tissue with particular emphasis on Se between various states (regions) having different diet (grain) indigenous Se concentrations. The study involved 19 states in the north, central, and southern regions of the United States, with committee members of NCR-42 and S-1012 (formerly S-288). A total of 62 pigs were used, with collaborators sending 100-g samples each of loin, heart, and liver, and a 3- to 4-g sample of hair (collected along the topline) from two to five market-weight pigs to a common laboratory for analysis. Diets at each station were formulated with locally purchased soybean meal and grain that was either grown or normally fed to pigs within their state. Tissues were analyzed for Se, but only the loin was analyzed for the macro- and micromineral elements. Correlation of dietary minerals to the tissue element was determined. The results demonstrated differences in tissue Se among states (P < 0.01), with high correlations of dietary Se to loin (r 0.86; P < 0.01), heart (r = 0.84; P < 0.01), liver (r = 0.83; P < 0.01), and hair Se (r = 0.90; P < 0.01) concentrations. The correlation of hair Se to the Se concentration of loin, heart, and liver tissues was high (r > 0.90; P < 0.01). States in the west-central region of the United States and west of the Mississippi river had higher dietary Se and tissue Se concentrations than states in the eastern section of the Corn Belt, east of the Mississippi river, and along the East Coast. Generally, states did not differ greatly in their loin macro- and micromineral concentrations. The simple correlation of dietary minerals to their corresponding loin mineral concentration was generally non-significant, but most macrominerals had decreasing mineral concentrations when the dietary mineral level was higher. These results indicate that regional differences in tissue Se were influenced more by the indigenous Se content of the diet (grain) fed to the pigs than from sodium selenite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulation of the pig's diet to reduce nutrient excretions and odors is feasible and practical. Avoiding excessive dietary protein, using high quality protein sources, and feeding low protein, amino acid supplemented diets are practices that will reduce the N in excreta. Avoiding excessive overages of dietary P, balancing diets on an available P basis, and use of phytase as a dietary supplement offers potential for further reducing the P in manure. Use of reduced or organic forms of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mg will reduce excretion of these nutrients in manure. Feeding management technologies that will enhance feed efficiencies and reduce nutrient excretion include feeding for phase, sex and genetic ability of the animal. Reducing the intact protein levels in diets and balancing with synthetic amino acids, use of low levels of specific non-starch polysaccharides (NSP; soybean hulls, sugar beet pulp), and maintaining the proper acid-base balance and buffering in the diet can significantly reduce odorous compounds. Greater nutrient reductions may be possible through the development of specialty feed ingredients that will be used for specific animal diets. Research to fine-tune the diets for production systems is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six hundred cross-bred pigs were housed under thermoneutral (TN) or cycling heat (HS) conditions simulating summer heat with acute 3-day heat waves for a 70-day study. TN conditions were 18.9–16.7°C throughout the study. HS pigs were housed at the same temperature as TN from d0-18, then increasing temperatures d18-21 (28°C/24°C for 12h:12h, 50.0% humidity) followed by 30°C/26.7°C (12h:12h, 52.4% humidity) d24-70 except during acute heat (32-33°C/29-30°C, 12h:12h, 51.5% humidity) on days 21-24, 42-45, and 63-66. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 6 factorial with main effects of environment (HS vs. TN) and dietary zinc supplementation: 1) 50 mg/kg ZnO; 2) 130 mg/kg ZnO: 3) 50 mg/kg of organic Zn from Availa®Zn); 4) 50 mg/kg ZnO + 40 mg/kg Availa®Zn); 5) 50 mg/kg ZnO + 60 mg/kg Availa®Zn; and 6) 50 mg/kg ZnO + 80 mg/kg Availa®Zn. Pigs (5/pen) were blocked by initial BW (72.2 kg) and randomly allotted to 1 of 12 temperature and diet treatment combinations across 10 replicates. There were 5 rooms per thermal environment, each containing 2 blocks of dietary treatments. BW and feed intake were determined at the beginning and end of each acute heat event. All pigs were ultrasonically scanned at the 10th rib to predict loin eye area (LEA), backfat (BF), and percent lean. Data were analyzed by the GLM procedure in SAS with pen being the experimental unit. Pigs were marketed on d63 (TN) and d70 (HS). At d63 HS pigs were lighter (124.11 vs. 128.34 kg; P<.001), had lower overall ADG (826 vs. 901 g/d; P<.001), ADFI (2.740 vs. 3.032 kg/d; P<.001), but tended to have greater G:F (0.301 vs. 0.297; P=0.059). A diet by environment interaction was observed for ADG (P=0.043) and approached a tendency for ADFI (P=0.141) and G:F (P=0.135).ADG interaction is an order of magnitude in the reduction of ADG is a result of diet 5 having only a 3.8% reduction in ADG whereas diet 6 had 9.2% reduction in ADG. Pigs under HS had less BF at the 10th rib (16.9 vs. 18.0 mm; P<0.001) and a smaller LEA (53.5 vs. 55.2 cm2; P<0.001), and a greater percent lean (54.6 vs. 54.1%; P=0.039). Cyclic heat stress simulating summer conditions reduced growth performance by approximately 8.3%, resulting in 4kg lighter pigs after 63d. A blend of supplemental zinc at 110mg/kg may have helped mitigate the reduction in growth performance due to a summer heat stress and warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, our lab determined that supplementing nursery diets with 0.20% L-glutamine improved health and productivity of weaned and transported piglets in a controlled environment. Therefore, study objectives were to determine the impact of replacing dietary antibiotics with 0.20% L-glutamine on growth performance and health status of piglets following weaning and transport in a production environment during the hot summer months. In July 2016, 246 mixed sex piglets (5.64 ± 0.37 kg BW; Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]) were weaned (19 d of age), loaded onto a trailer, and transported for 12 h. During transport, ambient temperature (28.5 ± 0.3°C) and relative humidity (61.6 ± 1.1%) in the trailer were monitored in 5-min intervals, feed and water were withheld, and intra-abdominal temperature of 6 sentinel piglets was monitored every 10 min (39.7 ± 0.1°C). Following transport, 240 piglets were unloaded, blocked by BW, and randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments (n = 10 pens/treatment [8 piglets/pen]). Treatments were dietary antibiotics (AB; chlortetracycline [441 mg/kg] + tiamulin [38.6 mg/kg]), no dietary antibiotics (NA), or 0.20% L-glutamine (GLU) fed for 14 d (Period 1). Following Period 1, all pigs were provided a common antibiotic-free diet until d 34 (Period 2). Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS 9.4. In Period 1, ADG tended to be greater (P = 0.06) in AB pigs (234 ± 11 g/d) compared with NA pigs (194 ± 11 g/d), with GLU pigs (213.0 ± 11 g/d) being intermediate and not different from AB and NA pigs. During Period 2, ADG increased (P = 0.03) in AB pigs (455 ± 9 g/d) versus NA pigs (420 ± 9 g/d); however, no differences were observed in GLU pigs (443 ± 9 g/d) compared with AB and NA pigs. Overall, AB and GLU increased ADG (P < 0.01; 359 ± 8 g/d) compared with NA (329 ± 8 g/d), but no differences were detected between AB and GLU pigs. Feed efficiency was improved overall (P = 0.03) for AB piglets (681 ± 13) compared with NA piglets (633 ± 13); however, no G:F difference was detected for GLU pigs (647 ± 13) versus AB and NA pigs. No ADFI differences (P > 0.11; 538 ± 13.1 g/d) were detected. Treatments for enteric challenges were greater overall (P = 0.02) in NA piglets (4.9 ± 1.5%) compared with GLU (1.5 ± 1.5%) and AB piglets (1.5 ± 1.5%). In conclusion, 0.20% L-glutamine supplementation improved piglet health and productivity similarly to dietary antibiotics following weaning and transport during the summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven hundred twenty mixed-sex pigs were placed in 12 rooms at the Purdue Swine Environmental Research Building to measure the effect of reduced-CR AA-supplemented diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Pigs were blocked by BW and gender and allotted to room and pen with 10 mixed-sex pigs/pen Pigs were fed a 9-phase, wean-finish feeding program and weighed at the start and end of each dietary phase. Within each phase, control pigs consumed corn-soybean meal-20% distiller's dried grains with solubles-based diets containing no synthetic AA. The 2X diet was balanced using synthetic AA to the seventh limiting AA and represented the lowest CP diet. The IX diet was formulated using synthetic AA to meet a CP value halfway between the control and 2X diets. Diets were formulated to identical NE concentrations and balanced to meet standardized ileal digestible AA requirements. Data were analyzed using me GLM procedure in SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) and treatment means were separated using the Tukey procedure in SAS. Pigs fed the control and IX diet consistently grew faster (P < 0.005), had greater feed efficiency (P < 0.001), and were 4 kg heavier at market weight (P < 0.001) than animals fed the 2X diet. There were no consistent effects of diet on ADFI throughout the project. Carcass data were analyzed for sex, diet, and sex x diet effects. There were no (P > 0.10) interactions between sex and diet. Pigs fed the IX (75.5 mm) and control (75.1 mm) diets had greater (P < 0.02) loin depth compared with 2X (73.5 mm)-fed pigs. Backfat depth was not affected (P > 0.10) by diet. Pigs fed the IX diet (55.78%) had greater percent lean than pigs fed the 2X diet (55.22%) with control-fed pigs (55.62%) being similar to both (P < 0.05). Gilts were leaner (P < 0.001) and had reduced backfat (P < 0.02) and increased percent lean (P < 0.001) compared with barrows. Overall, the reduced performance and carcass characteristics observed in pigs fed the 2X diets indicates an inaccurate estimate of AA NRC (2012) requirements or ratios to lysine in this extremely low-CP diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial crossbred mixed-sex pigs (n=120; initially 72.0 kg) were housed under either thermoneutral (TN) or cycling heat (HS) conditions simulating chronic summer heat with acute heat waves. Thermoneutral conditions were 18.9–16.7°C while HS consisted of chronic heat (30°C/26.7°C for 12h:12h) on days 24-72 except during periods of acute heat (32-33°C/29-30°C for 12h:12h) on days 21-24, 42-45, and 63-66. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2×2 factorial with main effects of environment (HS vs. TN), added Zn level (50 vs. 130 mg/kg available Zn added to corn-soybean meal based diet), and added Zn source (100% inorganic from ZnO vs. predominantly organic from Availa®Zn (Zinpro Corp, Eden Prairie, MN) consisting of 100% Zn from Availa®Zn at 50 mg/kg level or 62% Zn from Availa®Zn and 38% from ZnO at the 130 mg/kg level). Pens of 5 pigs each were blocked on initial bodyweight (BW) then randomly allotted to 1 of 8 temperature and diet treatments across a total of 10 complete replicate blocks. After a fixed time of 65 days, a representative pig closest to pen mean BW was selected from each pen and slaughtered at Purdue University Meats Laboratory (n=80). The HS pigs were lighter BW (P=0.039), yielded lighter carcasses (P=0.011; 96.1 kg HS vs. 99.3 kg TN), had less (P=0.032) backfat at the last rib, and tended to have less (P=0.054) leaf fat, smaller (P=0.062) loin eye area (LEA), and lower (P=0.088) dressing percentage. Carcasses of HS pigs exhibited improved carcass quality over TN pigs with higher (P=0.001) 24-hour loin pH, decreased (P=0.034) drip loss, and greater (P<0.050) subjective color and firmness scores. No main effects of Zn source, level, or interactions were observed (P>0.050). Forty additional HS pigs were slaughtered on day 72 after attaining a common weight compared to that of TN pigs previously slaughtered on day 65 (126.4 kg TN vs. 125.8 kg HS, P=0.674). Considered on a fixed weight schedule, 130 mg/kg Zn improved both live BW (P=0.017) and HCW (P=0.014) compared to 50 mg/kg Zn. Compared to 65-day TN pigs, 72-day HS pigs had a lower dressing percentage (P=0.012), tendency for lower (P=0.088) subjective marbling score, but more (P=0.033) BF at the last rib. Also, LEA under 72-day HS conditions was numerically greater when pigs received inorganic Zn but under 65-day TN conditions organic Zn numerically increased LEA (source×temperature, P=0.039). In conclusion, cyclic HS affected carcass quality but Zn level and source imparted negligible benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of betaine and superdosing phytase on boar reproduction during mild heat stress. Twenty-seven mature, crossbred boars (Duroc x (York x Landrace)) were randomly allocated to treatment and were fed 2.6 kg/d of one of three corn, soybean meal diets that consisted of: 1) Control (CNT; 250 FTU per kg E. coli phytase; n = 9); 2) Betaine (BET; 250 FTU/kg E. coli phytase and 0.60% betaine; n = 9); and 3) Betaine and Superdosed Phytase (BP; 2500 FTU per kg E. coli phytase and 0.60% betaine; n = 9). The experiment was split into 4 environmental phases (4 wk/phase) consisting of pre-heat stress (PreHS; 26.0 ± 0.7℃ and 55.6 ± 2.2% relative humidity), heat stress (HS; 30.2 ± 0.7℃ and 55.6 ± 2.2% relative humidity), post-heat stress 1 (Post1), and post-heat stress 2 (Post2). Semen was collected weekly from each boar and was evaluated for semen quantity and quality parameters. Total motility, progressive motility, and percentage of morphologically normal sperm were reduced in the HS period (P < 0.001) with no effects from the dietary treatments (P ≥ 0.267). Overall, total sperm production (semen volume x concentration) did not differ among treatments (P = 0.986). Incidence of distal droplets was greater during HS compared to PreHS for CNT (P < 0.001), but not different for BET (P = 0.972) or BP (P = 1.000). This suggests that supplementation with betaine and superdosed phytase may reduce the effects of heat stress on specific morphological abnormalities, though total normal morphology did not differ due to the dietary treatments. The results of the present study show that even a mild heat stress can reduce boar semen quality characteristics. However, diets supplemented with betaine and superdosed phytase had little impact on improving semen quality and quantity in boars during mild heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven hundred twenty-four, mixed-sex pigs were used in a wean-finish experiment to determine the effects of antibiotic free rearing on nutrient excretion compared to conventional rearing. At weaning, pigs were blocked by BW and sex and randomly assigned within block to rooms and pens in the Swine Environmental Research Building. Each room contained 6 pens of 10-11 mixed sex pigs with 3 pens over each manure pit. There were 5 control and 6 antibiotic-free rooms (10 and 12 manure pits, respectively). All pigs were fed a 9-phase wean-finish diet program. Control pigs consumed diets containing antibiotics and were treated with injectable antibiotics when deemed necessary. Antibiotic-free animals consumed diets with alternatives to antibiotics and received no injectable antibiotics. At the conclusion of the finisher phase, pits were individually emptied into a Slurrystore, mixed and subsampled. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure in SAS. Previously reported, there was no difference (P > 0.10) in overall growth rate between control and antibiotic free pigs, however there was a greater pig removal rate from the antibiotic free treatment (8.6% vs. 5.7%). No differences were observed between control and antibiotic-free management on the excretion of DM, R N, and ammonium N (P > 0.10) per kg of carcass weight. Dry matter excretion was 456 and 445 g/kg of carcass weight for antibiotic free and control animals, respectively. Phosphorus (0.59 versus 0.45 g/kg carcass), N (43.48 versus 42.56 g/kg carcass) and Ammonium N (35.07 versus 33.01 g/kg carcass) excretion were all approximately 6% lower for control animals compared to those reared without antibiotics. However, these findings were not significant. Therefore, future research with a higher number of observations is needed to confirm the lack of differences in nutrient excretion observed between pigs reared with and without antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of betaine supplementation during lactation in hot summer months on piglet growth and sow subsequent reproductive performance. The betaine feeding portion of the trial was conducted between December, 2014 and March 2015 with subsequent litter data completed by July, 2015 inRancagua, Chile. Dietary treatments were randomly allotted to concurrent farrowing rooms of sows. Sows were fed corn-soybean meal based diets supplemented with either 0% (n = 267, CON) or 0.3% of betaine-HCl (70.7% betaine, n = 251 sows, BET), from 2 d before their farrowing due date until weaning (avg. lactation length = 21.0 d). Betaine supplemented sows had a 2.96% greater average daily feed intake (ADFI) during lactation than control sows (P = 0.009). Treatment by parity interactions were significant for ADFI and bodyweight (BW) loss (P = 0.004 andP = 0.046, respectively). Parity 2 BET supplemented sows had greater ADFI (6.40 versus 6.13 kg/d) and 5.13 kg less BW loss than parity 2 CON sows (P < 0.001 andP = 0.024, respectively). The analysis of lactation ADFI for 4 lactation periods (1-5, 6-11, 12-16 and 17-21 d) indicated that ADFI was greater for BET sows from 6-11 d (6.57 vs. 6.27 kg/d, P < 0.001), 12-16 d (7.19 vs. 6.94 kg/d, P = 0.006), and 17-21 d (7.49 vs. 7.27 kg/d, P = 0.024). After the addition of piglets allowed to nurse as a linear covar-iate (P < 0.001), CON and BET sows had similar litter gain of 52.76 and 51.85 kg, respectively (P = 0.35). Wean to estrus intervals (WEI) were shorter for BET supplemented sows than CON sows (4.22 vs. 4.57 d, respectively; P = 0.001). There were shifts in the distribution of WEI between sows fed CON and BET supplemented diets (P = 0.035) with 2.0, 28.7, 11.4, 4.6 and 1.8% of the CON sows versus 3.6, 33.0, 10.7, 1.5 and 1.0% of the BET sows with WEI of 3,4, 5,6, and7 d. No treatment differences were found for subsequent conception rate (CON: 96.38 versus BET: 94.84%, P = 0.43) and farrowing rate (CON: 90.95 versus BET: 90.61%, P = 0.90). No treatment differences were found for subsequent litter size (total born, born alive, P > 0.25). Betaine supplementation increased daily feed intake and reduced WEI during summer months in sows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily feed intakes of 565 lactation records were evaluated for sows of two genetic lines, PIC C-22 and L-42. Sows were fed ad libitum during the entire lactation period (Avg. = 20.9 d). Sows were fed a corn-soybean meal based diet (3.32 Mcal ME/kg) supplemented with either 0% or 0.3% betaine-HCl (70.7% betaine). The daily feed intake (DFI) data were fit to generalized Michaelis-Menten (GMM) functions of day of lactation. The GMM function has the form: DFIi,t (kg/d) = DFI0 + (DFIA- DFI0)(t/K)C/[1 + (t/K)C] where DFIA is asymptotic daily feed intake, DFI0 is predicted daily feed intake at Day 0, t is days of lactation, K is a parameter equal to the day of lactation at which one-half of the increase from DFI0 to DFIA is achieved, and C is a unitless parameter. The GMM function with two random effects for maximal daily feed intake (dfiAi) and intercept (dfi0i), with K as a linear function of dfi0i, provided the best fit to the daily feed intake (R2 = 0.474). DFIi,t (kg/d) = (4.12 + dfi0i) + ((7.85 + dfiAi)- (4.12 + dfiAi)) (t/(4.865- (2.27 dfi0i)))1.60/[1 + (t/(4.865- (2.27 dfi0i))1.60]. The addition of a single covariate including daily degree-hours above 24°C (DGH24) or daily maximum temperature (MaxT) of the current day were significant (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the addition of a second covariate as the prior day DGH24 and MaxT to the single covariate models with current day DGH24 and MaxT were significant (P < 0.001). The addition of dewpoint to the model with a temperature covariate (DGH24 or MaxT) was not significant (P > 0.51). No genetic line differences were found for the random effects dfi0i and dfiAi. Betaine supplemented sows had a 0.27 kg greater mean for the dfiAi random effect (P = 0.004). Parity by treatment interactions were significant for dfiAi (P = 0.006). Greater DFI was found at the end of lactation in betaine supplemented parity 1 and parity 2 sows (P = 0.012 and 0.005, respectively). Parity was significant for both random effects (P < 0.001). Parity 1 sows consumed 91.2% and 85.6% of DFIs compared to parity 2 and 3 to 5 sows, respectively. Sows were managed to allow greater maximal DFI, and variation in DFI in early lactation and variation for dfi0i than previous studies. As temperature increased above 24°C, DFI decreased; however, humidity did not impact sow lactation DFI in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen manure pits (30 pigs/pit) were sampled monthly during a wean-finish trial (22 wks) to compare the effects of sampling method on estimates of manure DM and ash. Eight pits were emptied monthly in a pull plug/recharge (PP) system, and 8 were kept as a deep pit (DP) system. Manure pits were sampled using: 1) mechanical core sampler (Coswala); 2) vacuum core sampler (vacuum); 3) cup sampler; and 4) agitated slurrystore sample (control, CTL). For core sampling, manure was obtained from 12 locations/pit and pooled. Cup samples were taken from 6 locations/pit and pooled. All data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Within the PP system (40 obs/method), manure DM was 14.8% higher (P<0.05) for vacuum samples compared to CTL samples, while DM was 30.3 and 44.5% lower (P<0.05) for Coswala and cup samples, respectively, compared to CTL samples. Manure ash content was 12.5% higher (P<0.10) for vacuum samples and 19.8% lower (P<0.05) for cup samples compared to CTL samples. Ash content of Coswala samples was 10.4% less than CTL samples, although statistically similar. Within the DP system (wk 22, 8 obs/method), manure DM was 28.6% lower (P<0.10) for cup samples compared to CTL samples. Manure DM was 7.7% higher for vacuum samples and 16.7% lower for Coswala samples compared to CTL samples, but neither were statistically different from the CTL. Numerically, DP system manure ash followed the same pattern, but no significant differences (P>0.10) were observed among sampling methods. From wk 8-22, manure DM from Coswala and cup samples increased from 53 to 79% and 47 to 71%, respectively, relative to vacuum samples in the DP system. Relative estimates of manure ash followed a similar pattern, although initial estimates were closer (67%) to vacuum samples. Outcomes of this trial demonstrate that manure sampling method can significantly influence manure composition, potentially impacting land application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]