Use of a crush-reducing device to decrease crushing of suckling piglets by sows.
Weanling pigs tend to avoid wind, and suckling piglets are thought to be more sensitive to wind than weanlings, owing to their thinner s.c. fat layer. We developed a crush-reducing device based on the anticipated behavior of suckling piglets toward wind and evaluated the performance of the device through field testing. The crush-reducing device consisted of six photo sensors, a controller, six solenoid valves, and an air compressor. In this study, 206 sows and their suckling piglets (Landrace xYorkshire) were investigated to ascertain the individual effects of several factors. Some of the newborn piglets were cross-fostered before the crush-reducing device was implemented. Litter weights were measured on d 0 and 4 to determine the influence of the crush-reducing device on the weights of suckling piglets. The crushing of suckling piglets by sows was affected by season (P < 0.01) and litter size (P < 0.05), but not by the parity of the sows; however, the number of crushed piglets per litter was less (P < 0.01) in the crush-reducing device group (0.05 +/- 0.02 crushed piglets/litter) than in the control group (0.23 +/- 0.04 crushed piglets/litter), regardless of litter size or season. The BW gain of suckling piglets did not differ between the control and the crush-reducing device groups. Based on these results, the crush-reducing device is expected to decrease the number of crushed piglets per litter without influencing the BW gain of suckling piglets, thereby greatly contributing to the productivity of pig breeders.
Enhancing piglet survival and welfare in different farrowing systems
II DECLARATION III ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES XII FIGURES XVI CHAPTER 1 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 FACTORS AFFECTING PIGLET MORTALITY 1 CHAPTER 2 4 LITERATURE REVIEW 4 2.1 FARROWING AND INTRA-UTERINE ASPHYXIA (STILLBIRTH) 4 2.2 PIGLET FACTORS INFLUENCING MORTALITY 5 2.2.1 LITTER SIZE, BIRTH WEIGHT AND GENDER 5 2.2.2 BODY MASS INDEX AND PONDERAL INDEX 7 2.2.3 PIGLET VITALITY 7 2.2.4 TEAT ORDER AND LATENCY TO FIRST SUCKLING 8 2.3 SOW FACTORS INFLUENCING MORTALITY 10 2.3.1 MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR 10 2.3.1.1 Crushing 10 2.3.2 PLACENTAL TRAITS INFLUENCING MORTALITY 15 2.3.2.1 The Porcine Placenta 15 2.3.2.2 Placental Efficiency 16 2.3.2.3 Placental factors affecting neonatal growth 17 2.3.3 LACTATION 18 2.3.3.1 Colostrum and milk 18 2.3.3.2 Lactation failure and starvation 21 2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING PIGLET MORTALITY .... 22 2.4.1 HOUSING 22 2.4.1.1 Conventional Farrowing Crate 23 2.4.1.2 Alternative Farrowing systems 26 2.4.1.3 Alternative Farrowing Environments developed over the years 28
The status of FAO and codex alimentarius developments on vegetable proteins
The FAO is interested in increasing world protein supplies both by advising and assisting developing countries to increase their production of staple foods and by encouraging the development of technology to produce protein concentrates both from vegetable and animal sources to supplement diets which are low in protein content. Recent revisions of the amount of protein required in the diet in relation to total per capita energy requirements and the difficulties encountered in introducing novel foods into established dietary patterns has led FAO to concentrate on increased agricultural productions in developing countries as the primary means of combatting malnutrition. In the meantime, in North America and Europe, advances in the technology of processing vegetable proteins has given highly acceptable products simulating meats which are being used as meat extenders and meat analogues. The consequent increase in vegetable protein production has revealed a need for international, agreement on standardization, and it has been agreed that this will be undertaken by the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards’ Programme. The program operates chiefly through the Codex Alimentarius, Commission, an international governmental body, the purpose of which is to protect consumers against health hazard in food and against fraud. The Commission, which has 116 member governments, controls an intensive program of work covering the composition, labeling, additives, contaminants, pesticide residues, hygiene, sampling and analysis aspects of foods and has established a procedure which allows member governments ample opportunity to reach agreement on food standards and to accept them for incorporation into national legislation. The Codex Commission, at its 12th session, decided to establish a Committee on Vegetable Proteins with the following terms of references: “to elaborate definitions and world-wide standards for vegetable protein products deriving from soybeams, cottonseed, groundnuts, cereals and from other vegetable sources as they come into use for human consumption, and to elaborate guidelines on utilization of such vegetable protein products in the food supply system, on nutritional requirements and safety on labeling and on other aspects as may seem appropriate.” The question of which country will host the Committee is still under discussion.