BACKGROUND: A better understanding of methods to assess quality and feeding value of feed fats and oils is needed because of variability in composition and quality. Commonly used lipid quality measures such as moisture-insolubles-unsaponables, titer and free fatty acid content…
Dietary effects on sow productivity to three parities
Rational design of attenuated foot-and-mouth disease virus strains for development of improved disease countermeasures
FMD is the one of the most feared viral disease that can affect livestock, including swine. Although this disease appeared to be eliminated from most developed nations by the end of last century, recent outbreaks in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, South…
Innovative scientific techniques to evaluate alternatives to the use of carbon dioxide euthanasia procedures
The identification and validation of a humane method to euthanize piglets is critical to address the public’s concern that current methods are not acceptable. Blunt force trauma procedure is humane when carried out correctly, but most people find it aesthetically…
Comparison of early immune responses of pigs which are genetically PRRS resistant/tolerant using a swine-specific immune protein (cytokine) multiplex assay
PRRS causes major economic losses to the US pig industry, as reflected in debilitating respiratory syndromes, major reproductive losses and unthrifty piglets; economic losses were calculated to be $642 million per year in 2011. Worldwide, PRRS affects pigs at all…
Post-harvest Prediction of Pork Tenderness
To ensure high eating quality of pork, the industry has relied on “enhancing” the product by pumping it with a solution of phosphates, salt and sometimes flavorings. This approach has been relatively successful, however, there are growing indications that the…
Contribution of prior SIV infection in enhancing secondary Haemophilus parasuis disease
Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) is a multifactorial disease process with a variety of infectious agents contributing to disease. The complex cannot be simply explained as infection with multiple pathogens as other factors, such as immune status and management practices…
In vitro estimation and in vivo determination of metabolizable energy in corn co-products
Energetics will continue to be of great importance to the swine industry because energy contributes a significant expense to feed which contributes more than 60% of pig production costs. Changes in the corn milling industry are improving the quality and…
Critical evaluation of commercially available enzymes, and processing on nutrient digestibility of swine diets containing DDGS
Application of enzymes in an effort to improve nutrient digestibility of plant-based feed ingredients for swine and poultry has been studied for decades. Essentially, an enzyme(s) must match the target substrate(s) in a feedstuff which have been shown to have…
Serological Surveillance of Wild Boars for Trichinella spiralis
Trichinella spiralis and Toxoplasma gondii are important zoonotic parasites, occurring in warm blooded animals and humans worldwide. Among domesticated food animals, domestic pigs and wild carnivores are hosts for Trichinella, while pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats are known to be…