Nutritional approaches to slow late finishing pig growth: implications on carcass composition and pork quality

Although pork producers typically aim to optimize growth rates, occasionally it is necessary to slow growth, such as when harvest facility capacity is limited. In finishing pigs, numerous dietary strategies can be used to slow growth so pigs are at optimal slaughter body weights when harvest facility capacity and/or access is restored. However, the impact of these diets on pork carcass quality is largely unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary strategies to slow growth in late finishing pigs and evaluate their effects on carcass composition and pork quality. Mixed-sex pigs (n = 897; 125 ± 2 kg BW) were randomly allotted across 48 pens and assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (n = 8 pens/treatment): (1) Control diet representative of a typical finisher diet (CON); (2) diet containing 3% calcium chloride (CaCl₂); (3) diet containing 97% corn and no soybean meal (Corn); (4) diet deficient in isoleucine (LowIle); (5) diet containing 15% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from soybean hulls (15% NDF); and (6) diet containing 20% NDF from soybean hulls (20% NDF). Over 42 d, pen body weights and feed disappearance were collected. Pigs were harvested in 3 groups (14, 28, and 42 d on feed) and carcass data collected. From the harvest group, 1 loin was collected from 120 randomly selected carcasses (20 loins/treatment) to evaluate pork quality traits. Overall, ADG was reduced in CaCl₂, Corn, and 20% NDF pigs compared with CON pigs (P < 0.001). However, ADFI was only reduced in CaCl₂ and 20% NDF pigs compared with CON (P < 0.001). Feed efficiency was reduced in CaCl₂ and Corn pigs compared with CON (P < 0.001). Hot carcass weights were reduced in CaCl₂ pigs at all harvest dates (P < 0.001) and were reduced in Corn and 20% NDF pigs at days 28 and 42 compared with CON pigs (P < 0.001). In general, CaCl₂ and 20% NDF diets resulted in leaner carcasses, whereas the Corn diet increased backfat by 42 d on test (P < 0.05). Loin pH was reduced and star probe increased in CaCl₂ pigs compared with CON pigs (P < 0.05); no treatments differed from CON pigs regarding drip loss, cook loss, color, firmness, or marbling (P ≥ 0.117). Overall, these data indicate that several dietary strategies can slow finishing pig growth without evidence of behavioral vices. However, changes to carcass composition and quality were also observed, indicating quality should be taken into consideration when choosing diets to slow growth.     

锰胁迫下鸡眼草的富集特征及生理响应

为探明植物对锰胁迫的耐受性机制,以采自重金属污染区与非污染区的鸡眼草为试验材料,在不同锰浓度胁迫下［0 （对照）、1000、5000、10000、15000、20000 μmol·L^-1］ 开展盆栽试验,比较研究锰胁迫对两种来源鸡眼草表型、生理生化特性及锰积累特征的影响。结果表明：随着锰浓度的升高,1） 两种来源鸡眼草的根干重、芽干重、根冠比均呈降低的趋势;当锰浓度达5000~20000 μmol·L^-1时,与对照相比,污染区、非污染区鸡眼草的芽干重分别下降4.34%~27.71%与16.33%~49.77%,根干重分别下降19.00%~66.06%与27.90%~77.54%,污染区下降幅度均较非污染区的小;2） 两种来源鸡眼草的叶绿素、可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性均呈先升后降的趋势,可溶性蛋白含量逐渐下降,丙二醛（MDA）含量则逐渐升高;3） 两种来源鸡眼草根、茎、叶的锰含量均增加;锰浓度为20000 μmol·L^-1时,污染区和非污染区鸡眼草的叶锰含量分别为对照的16.53和13.41倍。因此,污染区鸡眼草锰耐受能力及富集能力均较非污染区鸡眼草高,较高的抗氧化酶活性是其耐受高锰胁迫的重要生理机制。     

Informing Community Engagement in Sea Turtle Conservation by Examining Non-Conservation-Related Participation in Northeast Brazil

Participation in conservation programs is often viewed as a necessity, but understanding of this participation is limited. This research takes a different approach by also examining participation in non-conservation-related activities. Questionnaires (N = 339) were administered in four Brazilian coastal communities where the national sea turtle conservation project conducts monitoring and outreach. Employing social capital as a conceptual framework, measurements included participation in civic, community, and social activities along with group participation and collective action. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for validating measures of social capital and conservation perceptions. Structural equation modeling indicated that social capital has a positive relationship with participation in sea turtle conservation, suggesting that general levels of participation and community norms of participation could be just as influential as conservation perceptions to engage communities in conservation. Information gained by deconstructing participation may be used to design and target conservation programs, improving overall participation.     

Behaviour in one fast-growing and one slower-growing broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) hybrid fed a high- or low-protein diet during a 10-week rearing period

This study compared behavioural time budgets, presence of comfort behaviours and social behaviours in two different broiler genotypes (the fast-growing Ross 308 (R) and the slower-growing Rowan Ranger (RR)) fed organic diets with high (17.0% crude protein (CP)) or low (14.5% CP) protein content during a 10-week rearing period. 429-day-old chicks (218 R and 211 RR, respectively) were included in the study and behaviour was recorded at 2, 6 and 9 weeks of age. The results showed no effect of diet treatments but that R broilers were less active and sat, ate and drank more frequently than RR broilers, which stood and perched more frequently. However, both hybrids showed decreasing activity and foraging behaviour with increasing age, while time spent eating and sleeping was approximately similar over the entire rearing period.     

Role of social structure in establishment of an invasive large mammal after translocation

Background

Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.

Results

We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5 days faster than those translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality impacted the home range sizes of translocated wild pigs and found wild pigs maintained larger ranges in areas with higher proportion of low-quality habitat.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings suggest translocations of invasive wild pigs have a greater probability of establishing a viable population near the release site when habitat quality is high and when released with members of their social unit compared to individuals moved independent of their social group or to low-quality habitat. However, all wild pigs translocated in our study made extensive movements from their release location, highlighting the potential for single translocation events of either individuals or groups to have far-reaching consequences within a much broader landscape beyond the location where they are released. These results highlight the challenges associated with containing populations in areas where illegal introduction of wild pigs occurs, and the need for rapid response once releases are identified. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Analysis of Social Appraisal Index System in Public Project

The social evaluation theories of public project still have not been standardization today, and have effects on the process of the construction to city. One of the main reasons lays in that the index system, about the social evaluation theories of public project, connects with many fields, has many non-economic index and difficult in measuring the every index. This article is to mark off the main factors involved in social evaluation effectually, to set up index system of social evaluation practically, and to settle firm ground for methodology and theory of public project.     

论乡村产业振兴

当前,全国上下正在全力推进乡村振兴战略的实施。乡村振兴,产业兴旺是重点。如何实现乡村产业振兴、产业兴旺,这是值得研究的紧迫而现实的重要问题。本文首先从乡村产业振兴在乡村振兴战略中的地位与作用入手分析,对新中国成立70年来中国乡村产业发展的历程进行了简要回顾,并将其划分为4个发展阶段：第一阶段：1949—1977年,传统产业缓慢发展;第二阶段：1978—2000年,乡镇企业异军突起;第三阶段：2001—2011年,新型产业不断涌现;第四阶段：2012年至今,乡村产业绿色“转型”。同时也指出了当前中国乡村产业存在的突出问题,即：产业门类少、生产规模小、产业层次浅、产业链条短、生产效率低、特色产业弱、品牌产业缺、产业环境差、产品质量低和缺乏竞争力。最后,针对上述存在的问题,提出了实施乡村振兴战略、实现乡村产业振兴要遵循的6大原则和10项具体措施,以期为推动实施乡村振兴战略做出积极贡献。     

辽河流域防洪系统综合评价指标体系研究

随着我国许多流域防洪体系建设的逐渐完善和水利部门防洪思路的逐渐改变，对流域防洪系统进行综合评价显得很有必要，而要进行防洪系统综合评价首先要建立评价指标体系。阐述了社会系统、经济系统和防洪系统之间的既相互制约又相互促进的关系，说明三者处于一种动态的协调平衡中；结合三者之间的关系，从辽河流域实际情况出发，考虑资料收集的可行性，以全面而精练为准则，分别建立了社会系统、经济系统和防洪系统指标体系，以期对辽河流域防洪系统进行全面、客观的科学评价。该指标体系结合实际作适当修改可以应用于其他流域的防洪系统评价中。     

农民工社会保障相对独立性初探

以农民工社会保障体系与城镇、农村社会保障体系的关系为研究视角,提出了在现阶段农民工社会保障应相对独立于城镇社会保障体系和农村社会保障体系,这是农民工职业、身份、风险的变化的要求,是农民工社会保障不宜纳入城镇社会保障体系的现实选择。在此基础上,本文还提出建立相对独立的农民工社会保障体系的基本框架:即以工伤保险为先,医疗保险、失业保险、养老保险、最低保障为主,内容逐步扩充。