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

Transplanting seedlings from plug trays into the field can cause transplant shock and lower the seedling survival rate. In order to avoid the need for a complicated clamping mechanism, this study developed a biodegradable seedling plug-tray cutting mechanism (SPCM) that separates seedlings with plug cells from plug trays. In order to cut and separate the plug cell from the plug tray and enable the seedling to fall into the transplanting hopper, the three sub-mechanisms that make up the SPCM align the plug cell at the point of seedling discharge. Approximately 82% of the plug cell was separated by the SPCM before being delivered to the planting unit. Additionally, using pepper and cabbage seedlings, the SPCM-equipped transplanter achieved a 74% transplanting performance, with an average field efficiency of 68%, a field capacity of 0.032-0.035 ha h-1, and a labor requirement that was 73% lower than that of manual seedling transplanting. The majority of pepper seedlings (85%) were transplanted with a planting angle of less than 10°, and 7% of cabbage seedlings were inclined with a planting depth of 48 mm for pepper and 53 mm for cabbage. These transplanting results were considered satisfactory. In conclusion, the SPCM represents a step toward effective and sustainable vegetable seedling transplanting. Enhancing productivity, precision in planting, and sustainability offer stimulating prospects for additional study and advancement in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from pig barns are increasing persistently as a result of increasing pig farming due to the growing demand of pork, which is a great concern for rising greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the CO2 emissions with respect to the diurnal activities among different growing stages of pigs. Two experiments were conducted in an experimental pig barn in 2020 and 2021 to estimate the CO2 emissions in response to their activities and growing stages. A livestock environment management system (LEMS) was used to measure the concentration of CO2 inside the barn. A camera with a network video recorder was used to record the activities of pigs on a diurnal basis. Our results showed that the lowest CO2 emissions were found in the fattening stage 1 (age 61–81 days) while the highest CO2 emissions were resulted from the fattening stage 4 (age 124–144 days). Moreover, among the four fattening stages, CO2 emissions levels were significantly different from each other (p < 0.05). The CO2 emissions were maximum during sleeping at midday (1–2 PM) and minimum during feeding at the evening (5–6 PM). In conclusion, this study recommends the need of additional research to be conducted to estimate the CO2 emissions concerning diurnal activities and different growing stages of pigs by providing different ingredients of diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water determines the life quality of pigs, however, adequate measures need to be taken in order to reduce wastage while the animals are drinking. The current study hypothesized and examined a suitable position at which to fix the nipple drinker to provide sufficient drinking water to pigs while also limiting water wastage. Additionally, this study describes both the drinking pattern and drinking duration of pigs. The height to place the drinker was calculated based on the neck movement of the pigs (neck movement angle, NMA). According to the NMA, 3 independent treatments were investigated with angles placed at clockwise 30°, 0°, and counter clockwise 30°. These positions will be correspondingly referred to as T1, T2, and T3, respectively. To understand the diurnal drinking pattern and drinking duration, along with each pig's drinking cycle, the number of visits to the drinker was recorded with a camera. The outcome shows that T3 had less water wastage and a higher average daily gain compared to T1 and T2. Further, the number of visits to the drinker and drinking duration were affected by the treatments. The research affirmed that the nipple drinker with a counter clockwise 30° angle at a proper height is the best at reducing water wastage for finishing pigs. Correspondingly, the T3 treatment might create opportunities to drink more water in group housed pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]