Influence of Temperature in Pork Production
Pig performance is maximized when animals are kept within their thermoneutral zone. When describing the environmental conditions that the animal is raised in, it is important to realize that there are several factors influencing pig comfort. “Effective” environmental temperature is a better measure than “air” temperature, as it takes into account relative humidity, air movement (velocity), flooring type and condition, insulation of the building, evaporative cooling, and huddling of pigs
http://www.prairieswine.com/newsletter/influence-of-temperature-in-pork-production
What Does Being Sustainable Really Mean?
Sustainability is back on the agenda and replacing Survival as the ‘S’ word our industry has concentrated on for the past decade. Sustainability is a term that has become very familiar to us. Some of the original uses of the term were in the science of ecology and pertains to the interaction of organisms and their environment. In today’s media, an example is reducing the effect of global warming to 2°C should provide a sustainable balance between our economic desire to produce carbon and the environment’s capacity to adapt.
http://www.prairieswine.com/newsletter/what-does-being-sustainable-really-mean/
Behaviour of Pigs in Large Group Auto-Sort
Large group auto-sort systems pose some significant challenges to pigs n terms of eating behaviour. The feeders area ll located in a food court which can only be accessed through a single sorter scale. The cost of moving to the feeders is greater than in a small pen, where pigs may only have to move a metre or so to find feed. Despite these restrictions, pigs pass through the sorter and eat in a typical diurnal pattern similar to that seen in small pens. However, pigs in large group auto-sort pens only enter the food court 2-4 times each day, and have fewer meals (5 vs 10-15) than in small pens. They compensate by eating longer during each meal. They also move freely about the food court, eating from several feeder spaces every day.
http://www.prairieswine.com/behaviour-of-pigs-in-large-group-auto-sort-2/
Impact of Repeated Applications of Liquid Swine Manure and Biogas Production By-Products on Soils and Crops
An experiment was done to find out the long and short term impacts liquid hog manure had on soils compared to manure biodigestate that is produced from biogas production. Three amounts of hog manure (1,500, 3,000 and 6,000 gallons per acre) were applied along with three rates of urea: 50, 100 and 200 lbs N/acre. Assessments of grain and straw yield, nutrient concentrations, soil nutrients and properties were made on plant and soil samples collected every three years to determine how manure applications affected crop growth and soil properties. There was little difference in crop yields between applying traditional liquid hog manure and biodigestate.
http://www.prairieswine.com/impact-of-repeated-applications-of-liquid-swine-manure-and-biogas-production-by-products-on-soils-and-crops/