Physiological and nonphysiological indicators of body condition score in weaner pigs.
The aim of this study was to identify parameters that may be used as objective measures of wellbeing in weaner pigs on farm. Eighty-six weaner pigs were categorized into 3 groups based on their BCS: very compromised (VC, BCS = 1), moderately compromised (MC, BCS = 2), or healthy (HY, BCS ≥ 3). Nonphysiological and physiological measures were then collected from the pigs. Nonphysiological measures included 3 subjective binary scores that assessed the activity, hairiness, and responsiveness of each pig. Physiological measures included rectal temperature, skin temperature, and 11 blood-based parameters. Each physiological measure was assessed in a ternary manner, with pigs being classed as being above, below, or within the normal physiological range. Fisher’s exact tests (FET) were used to identify differences between the numbers of pigs in each BCS category for each variable, and ANOVA of physiological measures was also conducted. Correlations between all variables were also conducted. The FET results identified significant differences for 8 of the measures, with activity, hairiness, responsiveness, rectal temperature, and blood concentrations of glucose, creatinine kinase (CK), albumin, and globulin all differing significantly (all P < 0.05) according to category. Rectal temperature, glucose, and globulin concentrations were significantly different in ANOVA analyses. Of these measures, there were significant correlations between hairiness, rectal temperature, and glucose (all R > 0.30 and P < 0.05). Based on these results, rectal temperature, glucose, and hairiness all warrant further investigation as simple to apply, on-farm measures that can be used in conjunction with body condition and subjective assessment to aid management decisions on pig welfare.
Die richtige Ration für Bioferkel – ist eine 100 % Biofütterung umsetzbar?
In der biologischen Ferkelfutterung ist es eine Herausforderung, den hohen Ernahrungsanforderungen der Tiere gerecht zu werden. Konventionelles Kartoffelprotein, dessen Verwendung derzeit noch erlaubt ist, hat ein vorteilhaftes Aminosaurenprofil. Die Einfuhrung einer 100 % Biofutterung impliziert den Verzicht auf diese hochwertige Proteinkomponente. Um festzustellen, ob eine 100 % Biofutterung ohne Beeintrachtigung der Leistung und Gesundheit moglich ist, wurde ein On-farm-Futterungsversuch mit Ferkeln durchgefuhrt und verschiedene 100 % Biorationen getestet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine 100 % Biofutterung bei Ferkeln moglich ist. Die Wachstumsleistung der Kontroll- und Versuchsgruppen unterschied sich nicht. Teilweise trat (Absetz-) Durchfall auf, der auf einem Betrieb in den 100 % Biofutter-Gruppen langer anhielt. Wir konnten jedoch keinen direkten Zusammenhang zur 100 % Biofutterung herstellen, wobei ein hoherer Sojakuchengehalt und ein defizitares Aminosaureprofil zum Durchfall beigetragen haben konnten. Statt einer Erhohung des Sojakuchenanteils, ware die Verwendung anderer Futterkomponenten wunschenswert. 
Daruber hinaus konnte eine verlangerte Saugezeit die Umsetzung einer 100 % Biofutterung erleichtern, da sie die Anforderungen an die Proteinqualitat eines Ferkelfutters reduziert und eine abwechslungsreichere Futterzusammensetzung fordert. Eine Universallosung auf dem Weg zu einer 100 % Biofutterung gibt es nicht, sondern individuelle, betriebsangepasste Losungen.
Concentration of amino acids in wine after the end of fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains
Both quantitative and qualitative differences in the utilization and release of assimilable nitrogen by two wine strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (cerevisiae and capensis) under different conditions of oxygen were observed. These differences were influenced by the presence of oxygen at the beginning of the fermentation, and by the strain of S cerevisiae. The release of some amino acids post-fermentation may be the result of reoxidation of NAD(P)H in order to maintain a normal redox balance. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry