Mixing Pigs Without Tears
Pigs may have to be mixed so as to facilitate pig flow, reduce stocking density or make maximum economic use of pig space, according to John Gadd in his latest book, Modern Pig Production Technology. He offers advice on mixing growing pigs and...

Feeding a Healthy versus a Challenged Pig
Health is the one overriding factor affecting performance, according to BPEX in its latest Knowledge Transfer Bulletin, number 18.

Investigation of an Outbreak of Mycobacteriosis in Serbia
After a number of pigs imported to Serbia reacted positively to avian and/or bovine tuberculin, Mycobacter avium subsp. hominissuis was found in porcine and environmental samples from the Lithuanian breeding herd and that peat in Lithuania...

Quantification of Campylobacter in Swine before, during and after Slaughter
After measuring Campylobacter levels in pigs on farm, in lairage and at various stages of processing, researchers based at Ohio State University concluded that the risk of a meat product being contaminated is associated with pigs that shed higher concentrations...

Danish Pig Research Centre: Annual Report 2010: 'Solid Floor, No Mess' Project
The 2010 annual report from the Danish Pig Research Centre describes an investigation into techniques to reduce manure on solid-floored finisher pens.

Recording Resounding Success
The BPEX Farm Case Study Number 26 highlights how focusing on the six most important key performance indicators (KPIs) can improve efficiency in a breeding herd.

Salmonellosis in Finishing Pigs in Spain
Salmonella spp. were isolated from 31 per cent of the animals and 94 per cent of the herds sampled, and resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent was detected in 73 per cent of the Salmonella strains, according to recent research from Spain.

Feeder Management – Fine Tuning Your Feeders
Research from Kansas State University suggests that optimum feeder gap setting may differ with growth phase, according to Doug Richards, Swine Grower-Finisher Specialist with OMAFRA in the latest Pork News and Views from Ontario's Ministry of...

Effect of Local Anaesthesia and/or Analgesia on Pain Responses Induced by Piglet Castration
Researchers in Sweden found that lidocaine reduced pain in male piglets during castration and that meloxicam reduced pain after castration.

Prairie Swine Research Centre Annual Report 2010
The annual report from the Prairie Swine Centre in Canada includes articles on some recently completed research in the fields of engineering, behaviour and nutrition.

Tips for Pork Producers to Beat Summer Heat
The University of Minnesota's Mark Whitney provides tips on how to beat heat stress in pigs during the summer months.

Water in Swine Production: a Review of its Significance and Conservation Strategies
A review of the importance of good water quality for pig production and tips on the best water management practices from Martin Nyachoti and Elijah Kiarie of the University of Manitoba in a paper presented at the Manitoba Swine Seminar 2010.

Bedding Options for the English Pig Industry
The advantages and disadvantages of different straw types and some alternatives are outlined in Knowledge Transfer Bulletin no. 15 from BPEX.

Overlaying
Advice from Mark White, BVSc LLB DPM MRCVS, on how better management, avoidance of chilling and adequate investment in facilities can reduce piglet losses by up to 50 per cent.

Reduced Nocturnal Temperature for Nursery Pigs
Reducing the nursery house temperature at night by around 10°F can save utility costs without impacting pig performance, according to Lee Johnston and Yuzhi Li of the West Central Research and Outreach Center of the University of Minnesota.

Tough Years in Pork Business Show Benefits of Benchmarking & Record-Keeping
It might be called the benchmarking bonus, delegates to the 2011 Banff Pork Seminar heard. Records from two large benchmarking and record-keeping databases of North American pork producers show that the best of those producers significantly outperformed...

Keys to Finisher Stocking Density Uncovered at Kansas Swine Day
Two papers presented at last year's Kansas State University Swine Day Report help to clarify the best stocking density for finishing pigs and whether mixing should be carried out, writes Douglas Richards, Ontario agriculture ministry's Swine-Grower Finisher...

Life is Too Short for Many Pigs
Piglet mortality in Denmark has been increasing in line with increasing litter size. Scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Aarhus University have reviewed existing knowledge about the problem and suggest methods to reducing it, writes...

Staph aureus Found Along Pork Production Chain
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified at all stages of the production chain, according to recently published research from Germany, with contamination rates highest in nasal swabs and lower on carcasses, meat at processing...

Analgesics in Farrowing and Castration
Preliminary data indicate no economic benefit from providing analgesia to sows at farrowing or to piglets at castration, writes Ed Barrie, Sow Weaner Pig Specialist at Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), reviewing research...

Environment Enrichment for Pigs
A report was published jointly by BPEX and the UK's University of Bristol in December 2010 on the need for objects or substrates to help prevent tail biting and the best options for providing environmental enrichment. Jackie Linden, editor of ThePigSite,...

Effects of Environmental Enrichment and Loose Housing of Lactating Sows on Piglet Performance
Enrichment of the pre- and post-weaning environment improves performance and health of newly weaned pigs, according to researchers in the Netherlands.

Important Roles for L-Glutamine Revealed in Pig Nutrition
New research at Texas A&M University indicates that L-glutamine is an essential nutrient for pigs and that growth, development and production performance in pregnant and lactating gilts and sows and in weaned piglets can be improved by supplementing the...