SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NCERA_old219 : Swine Production Management to Enhance Animal Welfare
- Period Covered: 10/01/2011 to 09/01/2012
- Date of Report: 01/18/2013
- Annual Meeting Dates: 11/15/2012 to 11/16/2012
Participants
"Lindemann, Merlin (Merlin.Lindemann@uky.edu) - Kentucky;" "Johnston, Lee (johnstlj@morris.umn.edu - Minnesota;" "Richert, Brian (brichert@purdue.edu) - Purdue;" "Moeller, Steven (moeller.29@osu.edu) - Ohio;" "Stalder, Kenneth (stalder@iastate.edu) - Iowa
Minutes are provided as an attachment
[Minutes]
Accomplishments
1. Study that evaluated digestibility experiment methodology and analysis will enable researchers to get a more clear understanding of their research results. This ultimately will either reduce the number of animals needed for those experiments or will increase the statistical power of the experiments if they choose to use the same number of animals.
2. Continued examination of the use of DDGS (a coproduct that results from the RFS mandate) to include carcass traits and taste panel acceptability of products from those pigs will allow swine producers a better understanding of appropriate, and most efficient, use of the coproduct while maintaining or enhancing consumer acceptability of the final food product(s) available in the market place.
3. Developed a computer based lameness assessment tool for breeding herd swine. This tool has the ability to objectively measure lameness in swine.
4. We are refining an digital image system to evaluate feet and leg structure in breeding swine. Initial findings suggest that we can identify feet and leg trait similarities among sows that have remained in the breeding herd greater than 6 parties.
5. The NCERA-219 group submitted a letter of intent to the USDA NIFA granting body to conduct a multi station study on space allowance for market hogs to heavy weights (350 lbs.) This is the first time that the NCERA-219 group attempted to garner USDA funding to support a multi station project. In the past we have been successful in getting commodity group (National Pork Board) funding to support these types of projects.
Accomplishments:
15 Ventilation workshops were held In Iowa for 254 attendees. Attendees indicated that they influenced the finishing of over 11 million pigs and 154,000 sows. Producers rated the overall benefit as 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
Many of the NCERA-219 participants are involved in a unique educational delivery systems to sow farm owners, managers, and barn workers. This program is called SowBridge. A similar program exists from grow-finish producers and is called PorkBridge. Each program reaches producers from multiple US states, Canada and other countries. Additionally, much of the information generated from the NCERA-219 group has been presented in this venue over the past number of years.
SowBridge
PI's: Whitney, Johnston, et al.
Short monthly programs (30 min + Q&A) are delivered over the noon period via CD and a phone-bridge. The program has grown to include ten collaborating institutions: MN, IA, SD, NE, OH, IN, IL, KS, NC, and MI.
PorkBridge
PI's: Whitney, et al.
Bi-monthly programs (60 min + Q&A) are delivered over the noon period via CD and a phone-bridge. Same states involved as SowBridge.
Impacts
- This committee provides a forum for interaction among faculty that specialize in swine production and management. The Reduced Nocturnal Temperature management in swine nurseries project is a good example of our committees ability to conduct multi-station experiments. This project was conducted across 5 states with similar results observed in each state. The consistent results observed across the 5 participating stations give us confidence in our conclusions and is noticed by pork producers.
- The Extension Pork Roadshow in Michigan for 2013 is focused on the Transition Pig. Extension educators are using NCERA 219 data about nursery temperature in their presentations. Support for our findings is being reported by a commercial feed manufacturer. Combined research estimates indicate both cost savings and reduced carbon foot print will occur. Attending producers will be surveyed to determine the changes in their operation in order to measure short-term and long-term impact.
- The reduced nocturnal temperature research conducted at 4 stations demonstrated that decreasing temp 15 °F from 1900 to 0700 h each day beginning 4 days after arrival in the nursery can save fossil fuel costs without an adverse impact on pig performance. Collective data indicate a 29% reduction in use of heating fuel and electricity, saving $1.71 per pig. Assuming that only 20 million pigs are affected annually, that projects to a savings of excess of $34,000,000 annually for swine producers.
- SowBridge and PorkBridge educational programs are short monthly or bimonthly programs delivered over the noon period via CD and a phone-bridge. Program growth has occurred and now includes eleven collaborating institutions (including many NCERA219 members) and producers from many US states. Many topics presented include data from NCERA 219 cooperative projects or projects conducted by a single member of the committee. Financial impact depends on producer technology adoption rate.
- Because the NCERA-219 group exists, extramural funding was secured from commodity groups and other funding organizations. These grants support our multi-state research projects. Because of our recent success, 4 stations submitted a letter of intent to submit a proposal to one of the USDA NIFA programs. Unfortunately, the letter of intent was not accepted. Clearly, the group has identified a spirit of working together on projects where there is mutual interest.
Publications
Publications are provided as an attachment.