Effects of a pre-weaning socialization system on piglet livability, lifetime growth performance, and subsequent sow performance.

A total of 3,307 (PIC L 42) sows and 55,160 piglets were used to determine the effects of different farrowing systems on piglet livability and lifetime growth performance. Treatments were assigned to farrowing rooms and consisted of a conventional farrowing system (sows and piglets housed in individual farrowing stalls) or a pre-weaning socialization system (stall dividers removed between farrowing stalls and walkways within 6 to 24 h post-farrowing such that 12 to 32 litters of piglets were co-mingled). A total of 40 farrowing rooms with 80 stalls each were used with 20 rooms per treatment.

Differences in carcass chilling rate underlie differences in sensory traits of pork chops from pigs with heavier carcass weights.

Pork hot carcass weights (HCW) have been increasing 0.6 kg per year, and if they continue to increase at this rate, they are projected to reach an average weight of 118 kg by the year 2050. This projection in weight is a concern for pork packers and processors given the challenges in product quality from heavier carcasses of broiler chickens.

Effects of medium-chain fatty acids as alternatives to ZnO or antibiotics in nursery pig diets.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) on nursery pig performance in place of ZnO and carbadox. In this trial, 360 weanling pigs (DNA 200 × 400; 5.4 ± 0.

Effects of corn distillers dried grains with solubles in finishing diets on pig growth performance and carcass yield with two different marketing strategies.

Feeding diets high in corn distillers dried grains with solubles () before market can negatively impact carcass yield, hot carcass weight (), and belly fat iodine value (). Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of switching from DDGS-based to corn-soybean meal ()-based diets at increasing intervals (withdrawal periods) before harvest on finishing pig performance and carcass characteristics. Diets in both experiments contained either 0% or 30% DDGS and were balanced for net energy ().

Effects of switching from corn distillers dried grains with solubles- to corn- and soybean meal-based diets on finishing pig performance, carcass characteristics, and carcass fatty acid composition.

Corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are known to negatively impact carcass yield and fat quality, thus finishing pigs may need to be switched from diets containing DDGS to corn-soybean meal (CSBM) diets before marketing (DDGS withdrawal). A total of 860 finishing pigs (PIC C48 or L42 × 327; initially 66.2 kg body weight, BW) were used in a 76-day experiment to evaluate the effects of DDGS withdrawal periods at increasing intervals before harvest.

Effects of space allowance and marketing strategy on growth performance of pigs raised to 165 kg.

A total of 976 pigs (PIC 327 × Camborough; PIC, Hendersonville, TN; initially 22.0 ± 1.53 kg body weight [BW]) were used in a 160-d growth study to evaluate the effects of increasing space allowance and varying marketing strategies on growth performance of pigs raised to market weights of ~165 kg.

Effects of medium chain fatty acids as a mitigation or prevention strategy against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in swine feed.

Feed has been shown to be a vector for viral transmission. Four experiments were conducted to: 1) determine if medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) are effective mitigants when applied to feed both pre- and post-porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) inoculation measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), 2) evaluate varying levels and combinations of MCFA measured by qRT-PCR, and 3) evaluate selected treatments in bioassay to determine infectivity. In exp.

Implementing a course-based undergraduate research experience to grow the quantity and quality of undergraduate research in an animal science curriculum1.

Undergraduate research involves experiential learning methods that helps animal science students gain critical thinking skills. There is high demand for these opportunities. For example, 77.

Effects of sodium and chloride source and concentration on nursery pig growth performance.

Three studies were conducted to determine the effects of source and concentration of Na and Cl on pig growth performance from 7 to 12 kg. In all three experiments, pigs were fed a common diet (0.33% Na and 0.

Effects of added dietary salt on pig growth performance.

Three studies evaluated the effects of added dietary salt on growth performance of pigs weighing 7 to 10, 11 to 30, and 27 to 65 kg. In experiment 1, 325 pigs were used with 5 pigs per pen and 13 pens per treatment. Pigs were fed a diet (0.