Health of non-ambulatory, non-injured pigs at processing

Loss of pigs during or after transport is a welfare concern, but also an economic concern for producers. Transport losses include animals that are dead on arrival (DOA) at the plant, pigs that are injured, and pigs which are not obviously injured but unwilling or unable to walk (non-ambulatory, non-injured or NANI). The objective of this research was to assess the health of non-ambulatory, non-injured (NANI) pigs relative to control pigs at the processing plant by looking at a range of measures, including complete blood chemistry, anatomy, and pathology to determine potential factors associated with pigs going down. Data were collected from NANI and control pigs at five plants in the midwest USA. Feet and legs and internal organs were inspected and the severity of the pathology scored. Alveolar macrophages were collected and counted. Blood was collected for analysis of hematology, blood chemistry and cortisol concentrations. Titers to common porcine respiratory viruses were measured in pigs from one plant. Hoof and pad problems did not differ overall between control and NANI pigs, however the percentage of severe foot problems was greater (P < 0.05) in NANI compared with control pigs at plants A and E. The percentage of total ulcers, rhinitis, and empty stomachs differed (P < 0.05) between control and NANI pigs at individual plants, but not overall. Blood hematology and chemistry differed (P < 0.05) between NANI and control pigs. Cortisol concentrations did not differ between NANI and control pigs. Titers to swine influenza virus (SIV) H1N1 and H3N2 and porcine circovirus (PCV) were lower (P < 0.01) among NANI compared with control pigs. However, more (P < 0.01) NANI pigs were positive for SIV H1N1 and H3N2 compared with control pigs. Blood hematology, chemistry, and pathology indicate a large difference between NANI and controls pigs. No single health problem was higher among NANI pigs compared to plant-matched control pigs. Rather, several problems appear to contribute to pigs becoming NANI which may differ from one plant too another.     

Ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids from canola meal in weaned piglets and growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to measure the apparent ileal digestibility coefficients (AID) of protein and amino acids from canola meal (CM) and a pelleted canola meal (PCM) and their effect on specific activity (SA) of pancreatic proteases in weaned piglets and growing pigs. In experiment one, 24 piglets weaned at 17 days and weighing 5.5 kg were used. Treatments were a reference diet with 200 g of crude protein (CP) kg^− 1 elaborated with casein (C) as the sole protein source, a diet containing C–CM and a diet containing C–PCM. These diets were obtained using the reference diet plus 100 g kg^− 1 of CM or PCM that substituted an isoproteic mixture of casein and maize starch from reference diet, so that the AID coefficients for their protein and amino acids could be calculated by difference. In experiment two, nine castrated pigs weighing 39.5 kg were used. Treatments were a reference diet with 160 g of CP kg^− 1 elaborated with casein (C) as the sole protein source, diet C–CM and diet C–PCM. These diets were obtained using the reference diet plus 300 g kg^− 1 of CM or PCM that substituted an isoproteic mixture of casein and maize starch from reference diet. In piglets, the AID coefficients for casein were highest (P < 0.05), those of PCM were intermediate, and those of CM were the lowest. In older pigs, the AID coefficients for casein were highest, and those of CM and PCM were similar (P > 0.05). The SAs of chymotrypsin, trypsin and carboxypeptidases A and B were lower in piglets than in heavier pigs. Moreover, the SAs of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase B were lower (P > 0.05) in animals fed casein. The results showed in piglets that whereas CM was less digestible, pelleted canola meal improved protein and amino acid ileal digestibility, resulting in similar AID coefficients to those of growing pigs.     

Salmonella in breeding pigs: Shedding pattern,transmission of infection and the role of environmental contamination in Irish commercial farrow‐to‐finish herds

This study aimed to provide new insights into the epidemiology of Salmonella in pig production, focusing on potential shedding patterns in breeding pigs throughout a full production cycle and the risk of transmission of infection from the sow to her offspring. A longitudinal study was conducted on five farrow‐to‐finish commercial pig farms. In each herd, shedding of Salmonella in faeces was monitored in breeders through service, gestation and lactation. Swabs of the farrowing room floor and pools of faeces from piglets were collected on two occasions during lactation. Environmental pen swabs were also taken in the weaning and finisher houses. Salmonella isolates were serotyped, tested for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and typed by Multiple‐Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA). Shedding by breeding pigs was low in all stages of the production cycle; 5% of sows shed at service, the production stage with highest risk of shedding (p < .01), 1.6% shed during gestation and 2.5% after farrowing. Salmonella was detected in 4% of piglet faecal pools in the second week post‐farrowing and 5% in the fourth week. Serotyping and AMR profiles of Salmonella isolates revealed that strains in sows and gilts were mostly different from strains isolated in weaner and finisher facilities. MLVA typing confirmed that the source of infection in piglets was in most instances the contaminated environment rather than their dam. Based on the typing results, it appears that sows do not pose a major risk in the maintenance and transmission of Salmonella to their progeny but instead the contaminated pen environment is more significant in the perpetuation of the organism on farm.     

Update on the diagnosis of Haemophilus parasuis infection in pigs and novel genotyping methods

Haemophilus parasuis causes Gl?sser's disease as well as a number of other diseases in pigs. The diagnosis of H. parasuis-associated disease is usually established by clinical signs, pathological findings and bacterial isolation but diagnosis is complicated by the existence of non-virulent strains and the early colonisation of the upper respiratory tract of healthy piglets. Moreover, several strains can be found on a farm and even within a single animal so it is important to determine the specific strain that is causing the clinical outbreak. Recently, genotyping methods have been developed with the goal of correlating genotype with the degree of virulence of H. parasuis strains. The association between genotype and virulence in H. parasuis is challenging due to the lack of knowledge of the complete genomic sequence and virulence factors of this bacterium.     

不同蛋白水平日粮对生长猪生长性能的影响

选用４８头（公母各半）体重约２３ｋｇ３元杂交猪,采用单因子８重复随机分组试验,比较两种蛋白水平日粮（１７％和１４％）对生长猪生长性能的影响。每个重复３头为一栏,每栏猪性别相同。日粮类型为玉米豆饼型,其赖氨酸、色氨酸和苏氨酸都满足了ＮＲＣ（１９８８）要求。结果表明,日增重不论是高蛋白组还是低蛋白组,都是公猪高于母猪（Ｐ＜０．０５）,且饲料转化率各组间差异不显著（Ｐ＞０．０５）。在生长速度方面,低蛋白组还要快于高蛋白组。结果提示,低蛋白日粮不影响生长速度,对饲料转化率也无不良影响。由于不同性别猪对日粮蛋白水平的反应不同,生产中根据性别来配制不同蛋白水平日粮可能更为经济。     

基于DANP法识别影响养殖户病死猪处理行为的关键因素

为了规范养殖户病死猪处理行为,保障猪肉安全与公共健康,以及保护生态环境。在借鉴国内外现有研究成果的基础上,归纳总结了可能影响生猪养殖户病死猪处理行为的四个维度和17个主要因素,运用决策实验分析法(Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory,DEMATEL)和网络层次分析法(Analytic Network Process)相结合的DANP法(DEMATEL-based ANP),定量分析影响生猪养殖户病死猪处理行为维度及因素间的相互关系,识别关键因素。研究结果表明,生产经营特征是最重要的维度,相关法律法规认知、生猪疫情与防疫认知、成本与收益、养殖规模和养殖模式是五个关键因素。证实了DANP的方法能有效识别影响养殖户病死猪处理行为的关键因素,且结论可为政府规范生猪养殖户病死猪处理行为提供了有益的决策参考。     

Specific proteins allow classification of pigs according to sire breed, rearing environment and gender

The present study used a proteomic data set obtained from a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment on longissimus muscle of 24 pigs to identify single or couples of proteins allowing correct classification of pigs according to gender, sire breed, or rearing environment. An actin isoform, a myosin light chain 2 isoform and cytochrome Bc1 allowed each, correct classification of all pigs according to gender. Peroxiredoxin 6 allowed correct classification of 23 pigs according to indoor or outdoor rearing environment, but only if gender was also taken into account. Heat shock protein 73 allowed correct classification of 21 pigs according to sire breed, Duroc or Large White. Results show that proteins may be used as biomarkers for traceability or genetic research. Relationships between treatment factors and intracellular regulatory mechanisms associated with these proteins are discussed.     

利用山东地方猪种培育新品种和专门化母系研究

以莱芜黑猪、烟台黑猪为育种素材,采用继代选育法培育而成了ZML专门化母系和鲁烟白猪新品种。ZML专门化母系和鲁烟白猪新品种具有繁殖哺育率高、适应性抗逆性强和肉质优良等突出性状。ZML专门化母系窝均产仔14.82头,70日龄育成率90.90%,肌内脂肪9.78%。利用ZML筛选的“ZFD♂Х（ZFY系♂ХZML系♀）♀”配套系育肥猪日增重742g,料重比2.99：1,胴体瘦肉率（58.39±4.40）%,肌内脂肪4.01%。鲁烟白猪窝均产仔13.02头,70日龄育成率95.01%,育肥期日增重782g,料重比2.57：1,瘦肉率62.67%。推广应用结果表明ZML专门化母系和鲁烟白猪新品种适宜于黄淮海区域饲养,尤其适宜于该区域中小型规模饲养。     

猪NCOA1基因PCR-RFLP多态性分析（摘要）（英文）

[目的]研究猪NCOA1基因的PCR-RFLP多态性,为猪的分子育种和标记辅助选择提供理论依据。[方法]以81头山东寿光六和原种猪场的长白猪为研究对象,采取常规酚-氯仿抽提法从猪耳组织提取基因组DNA,以基因组DNA为模板进行PCR扩增获得440 bp的NCOA1基因目的片段,利用限制性内切酶RsaⅠ对PCR产物进行酶切和琼脂凝胶电泳检测,并计算各等位基因频率和基因型频率。[结果]琼脂糖电泳检测酶切产物出现3种基因型：AA型（1条带：440 bp）、AB型（3条带：440、282、158 bp）、BB型（2条带：282、158 bp）;基因型频率分别为0.54、0.43和0.03;A和B 2个等位基因的基因频率分别为0.76和0.24。[结论]该研究猪群中,A为优势等位基因,AA基因型频率较高。     

化学絮凝法对高质量浓度养猪废水预处理效果

以COD质量浓度超过30 000 mg/L有机养猪废水为研究对象,研究硫酸铁、硫酸铝、结晶氯化铝、聚合氯化铝钾、聚合氯化铝、壳聚糖6种絮凝剂对该废水浊度、COD、 NH₃-N、 TP、BOD₅的影响,并简要分析絮凝法预处理的经济成本。结果表明,6种絮凝剂对废水各项指标均有一定的处理能力,浊度的去除率为95.2%～99.7%;COD的去除率为36%～53%;NH₃-N的去除率为25%～72%;TP去除为82%～97%;经6种絮凝剂处理后,水质BOD₅/COD依次为0.415,0.504,0.424,0.505,0.379,0.135,除壳聚糖外,生物可降解性均比原废水提高。6种絮凝剂对养猪废水的预处理效果显著,为后续的生物处理提供了有利条件,综合考虑处理效果和经济因素,聚合氯化铝钾为最佳絮凝剂。