Highlights
• Averagedailygainandfeedefficiencyindiseasedpigsmaybeimprovedbyacombinationoffunctionalaminoacidssupplementedaboverequirementsforgrowth
• FunctionalaminoacidsimprovedtheimmuneresponseassociatedwithSalmonellainfection
• Bacterialsheddingandintestinalcolonizationcanbereducedbyfunctionalaminoacidsupplementation
• Dietaryproteinlevelhadlimitedeffectonpigresponse
ResearchconductedatthePrairieSwineCentreandtheUniversityofSaskatchewaninvestigatedtheinteractionbetween
functionalaminoacid(AA)supplementationanddietaryprotein duringdiseasechallengeingrowingpigs.Toachievethis,growingpigswereeitherinoculatedwithanentericpathogen(Salmonellatyphimurium,ST)orreceivedsalinecontrol(CT)andhadadlibitumaccesstodietsdifferingincrudeproteincontent(low(16%,LP)vshigh(20%,HP)containingeitherbasalsupplementationofaminoacidsatrequirementsaccordingtoNRC(2012)(AA-)orsupplementedwithafunctionalaminoacidprofileinwhichthreonine,methionine,andtryptophanwereprovidedat20%aboverequirements(AA+).Dietscontainednoanimalproductsorantibiotics.
Spring 2020Volume26,Number2
Pigs Consume More Water When Stressed ............................. 2
Group Sow Housing Decision Tree poster ................. 5-8
Programfundingprovidedby
Publication # 40010021
InsideThis Edition
Amino Acids can Enhance Pig Robustness
(Amino Acids can Enhance Pig Robustness ... cont’d on page 3)
Heart Health’s Potential Link to Early-life Nutrition ........................ 9
Feeding Mycotoxin Contaminated Grain ....................10
Personal profiles ..........................12
LucasA.Rodrigues,Msc,DVM.DepartmentofAnimalandPoultryScience,UniversityofSaskatchewan
DanColumbus,PhD,ResearchScientist,PrairieSwineCentre
2 Centred on Swine
Pigs Consume More Water When Stressed
Twonoveltechnologiesconsistingofanindividualwaterconsumptionsystem(IWCS)andinfraredthermographysystem(ITHS)wereinstalledinafinishingroom.Theindividualwaterconsumptionsystem(installedineachpen)wascomposedofanippledrinkerattachedtoawaterflowmeter,andanRFIDreader(andantenna)tocaptureindividualpigdata.Theinfraredthermographysystemwascomposedoftwotypesofinfraredcameras,onetocaptureimagesofindividualpigsdrinking,asecondtocaptureanimageofallthepigsinthepen.Toassesswhetherthenovel
technologieswerecapableofdetectingpigsthatmaybestressedduetoroutinepractices,twostressorswereintroducedduringthetrial:(1)movingpigstothebarnhallwayandhandlingthemthroughapre-definedroutefor10minutes,and(2)mixingunfamiliargroupsofpigs.
AspartofalargerSwineInnovationPorcproject(#1237)entitled‘Useofnoveltechnologiestooptimizepigperformance,welfareandcarcassvalue’,varioustechnologiesweredevelopedandpilot-testedindifferentuniversitiesandresearchcentersthroughoutCanada(underCCSIcoordination).Afterpilotstudieswerecompletedbytheoriginaldevelopersofthetechnologies,thenextstepwastoconductcommercialtrialswhereselecteddevelopedtechnologieswereappliedinaproductionenvironmentandevaluatedundertypicalcommercialpractices.Commercialtrialswereacriticalstepaftertheresearchanddevelopmentphase,providingtheopportunitytomakeadjustmentstothetechnologies,facilitatingtheiradoptionincommercialbarns.
Twonoveltechnologies(IWCSandITHS)wereinstalledinagrow-finishroomwithsixpenscontaining14pigsperpen(Figure1).TheIWCSwascomprisedofanippledrinkerattachedtoawaterflowmeter,andRFIDreaderandantennatogetherwithelectroniceartagtransponders.ITHSwascomposedoftwotypesofinfraredcameras:C3camera(FLIRC3CompactThermalImagingCamera)andA325IRTcamera(FLIRA325scInfraredCamera).TheA325IRTcameraswereusedtocapturetheimageofallthepigsinthepenwhiletheC3cameraswereinstalledontopofthedrinkertocapturetheimageofanindividualpigwhiledrinking.Pigsweretransferredintotheroomat20-25kgandremainedintheroomfor10weeksuntilreaching105-110kg.
RESULTSANDDISCUSSION
Water Consumption and HandlingFigure2showsthecomparisonofaveragewaterconsumptionbeforeandafterthemovingactivity.Regardlessofstressinduction,waterconsumptionincreasedasthetrialprogressed.Atthestartofthetrial,growerpigshadanaveragewaterconsumptionofabout4,014mL/day;thisincreasedto5,876mL/daytowardstheendofthetrialwhenpigswerenearingmarketweight.
BernardoPredicala,PhD,ResearchScientist–PrairieSwineCentre
Figure 1. Floor layout (a) of the grow-finish room used in the study. Details of the pen showing the location of the feeder and drinker – top view (b) and side view (c).
Figure 2. Average water consumption of pigs 24 hours before and 24 hours after the moving activity during the start (n=12), middle (n=12) and end (n=10) of the trial.
Figure 3. Average water consumption of pigs 24 hours before and 24 hours after unfamiliar pigs were introduced into the pen during the start (n=16), middle (n=16) and end (n=12) of the trial.(Pigs Consume More Water ... continued on page 4
Clinicalsign Score Classification 0 NormalconsistencyFecalscore 1 Semisolid,noblood 2 Watery,noblood 3 Bloodtingedfeces 0 NormalbehaviorDemeanor 1 Listless,willstand 2 Recumbent,willnotstand 3 Moderatelydepressed
Clinical signs associated with infection
Thepost-weaningperiodisastressfultimeforgrowingpigs,withincreasedsusceptibilitytoseveralentericpathogens,includingSalmonella.PigsinfectedwithSalmonellaexperienceapronouncedinflammatoryreactioninthegut,consequentlyshowingcompromisedperformance.Theresearchersmonitoredbodytemperature,fecalscoreanddemeanordailyforeach
pigoveraperiodof7days(day-1,1,2,3,4,5and6relativetoinoculation).Fecalscoreanddemeanorwerethenscoredfrom0to3accordingtoseverity(Table1).InoculationwithSalmonellatyphimuriumincreasedbodytemperaturewithin24hwhichremainedelevatedforthedurationofthestudy(Figure1).DemeanorandfecalscorewerenegativelyaffectedbySTinoculationduringthefirst3and5daysafterchallenge,respectively(Figure1).Therewerenodieteffectsonanyclinicalsigns.
High protein diets: are they harmful?
Moresusceptiblepost-weanedpigsalsoexperienceanabruptchangefromamilk-basedtoacereal-baseddiet.Besidesthat,highlydigestiblenutrientsourcesarenotalwaysavailable,andpigsarecommonlyfeddietshighinproteinsourcespotentiallyharmfulforguthealth.Asaresult,currentdietaryrecommendationinthepost-weaningperiodistoprovidelowerproteindietsthathavebeensupplementedwithnecessaryessentialaminoacidstomeetrequirements.Thisreducestheamountofundigestedproteinavailableforfermentation
3Spring 2020Centred on Swine
(Functional amino acids ... continued from pg.1)
Table 1. Scoring of clinical signs
Table 2. Performance parameters of growing pigs challenged or not with Salmonella typhimurium and fed diets differing in protein content and functional amino acid supplementation.
(Functional amino acids ... continued on page 4
Figure 1. Performance parameters of growing pigs challenged or not with Salmonella typhimurium and fed diets differing in protein content and functional amino acid supplementation.
CT1 ST1
LP2 HP2 LP HP SEM4 Item AA-3 AA+3 AA- AA+ AA- AA+ AA- AA+
Average daily gain, kg/d
Pre-inoculation 0.423 0.486 0.450 0.463 0.451 0.456 0.460 0.474 0.051
Post-inoculation 0.571A 0.576A 0.586A 0.580A 0.297Bb 0.458Ba 0.300Bb 0.456Ba 0.063
Average daily feed intake, kg/d
Pre-inoculation 0.580 0.602 0.563 0.636 0.614 0.646 0.632 0.648 0.054
Post-inoculation 0.880A 0.906A 0.916A 0.936A 0.738B 0.673B 0.744B 0.686B 0.086
Feed efficiency (gain:feed), kg/kg
Pre-inoculation 0.73 0.81 0.80 0.73 0.73 0.71 0.73 0.73 0.109
Post-inoculation 0.65 0.64 0.64 0.60 0.40† 0.68* 0.40† 0.66* 0.104
1 CT=controlgroup;ST=Salmonella-challengedgroup.2LP=lowproteindiet;HP=highproteindiet.3AA-=basaldietaryaminoacidprofile;AA+=supplementeddietaryaminoacidprofilecontaining120%ofNRC(2012)requirementsforMet,Thr,andTrp.4SEM=pooledSEM.Meansarepresentedasleastsquaresmeans.AB=meanslackingthesameletteraresignificantlydifferent(CTvsST)(P≤0.05)ab=meanslackingthesameletteraresignificantlydifferent(STAA-vsSTAA+)(P≤0.05)*†=meanslackingthesamesignshowedatrendtowardssignificance(STAA-vsSTAA+)(P<0.10)
4 Centred on Swine
inthegut,reducingtheinflammatoryresponse.Therefore,itwashypothesizedthattheseverityandincidenceofdiarrheainSalmonella-challengedpigswouldbeaggravatedbyhighproteindiets.However,therewasnoeffectofdietaryproteincontentonfecalscore.Ontheotherhand,SalmonellacountsincecaldigestawereincreasedinHPpigscomparedtoLPpigs.Thus,loweringdietaryproteinlevelsmaybeusefultosuppressproliferationofmicrobialmetabolitesandconsequentlyminimizeintestinaldisturbancesincommercialsettingswithentericproblems.
Duringanimmuneresponseaminoacidswhichareutilizedforgrowthinhealthyanimals,areredirectedtowardsimmunesupportindiseasedanimals,decreasingtheiravailabilityforproteindeposition.Thus,supplementingfunctionalAAmaybenecessarytosupportboththeimmuneresponseandgrowthperformance,reducingthenegativeeffectsofdiseaseonperformance.
Asexpected,inoculationwithSTresultedinreducedaveragedailygainandaveragedailyfeedintakeinthepost-inoculationperiodcomparedtoCTpigsregardlessofdietarytreatment(Table2).However,STpigsfedtheAA+diethadincreasedADGandatendencyforimprovedfeedefficiency(gain:feed)inthepost-inoculationperiod,regardlessofdietaryproteinlevel.Whilethisperformancewasstillreducedcomparedtohealthypigs,thisshowsthatfunctionalAAsupplementationmayprovideanadditionalstrategyforreducingthenegativeimpactofdiseasechallengeonanimalperformance.
Inadditiontotheimpactonperformance,thesupplementalAAprofileattenuatedtheimmuneresponsethroughmodulationofacute-phaseproteinlevelsinSalmonella-challengedanimals.Disease-challengedanimalsshowedincreasedserumconcentrationofhaptoglobinanddecreasedconcentrationofalbumin,respectively.However,whenfedtheAA+profile,challengedpigsshowedreducedoveralllevelsofhaptoglobinandincreasedlevelsofalbumincomparedtothosefedtheAA-profile.ThesefindingscorroboratetheroleoffunctionalAAasregulatorsofmetabolicpathwaysduringinflammation,particularlythroughregulationofimmuneresponse.
FunctionalAAsupplementationalsodecreasedoverallsheddingofSalmonellacomparedtopigsfedAA-dietsandSalmonellacountsincolonwerereducedinAA+pigscomparedtoAA-pigs.Pathogensheddingisimportantasinfectedfecesareamajorsourceforcrossinfectionbetweenindividualpigsandinacommercialsettingreducedsheddingcouldreflectindecreasedincidenceofnaturalexposure.
Overall,supplementationofkeyfunctionalaminoacids(methionine,threonine,tryptophan)aboverequirementsappearstobeapotentialstrategyforimprovinggrowthperformanceandhealthstatusofpigsexposedtoanentericpathogen.
Acknowledgments: Funding for this project was provided by Swine Innovation Porc. Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH, and MITACS. Prairie Swine Centre receives program funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, Sask Pork, Alberta Pork, Manitoba Pork, and Ontario Pork.
Atthestartandmiddleofthetrial,pigstendtoconsumemorewaterafterthemovingactivity.Onaverage,pigsconsumedabout3,890and5,226mL24hoursbeforestresswasinducedatthestartofthetrialandmiddleofthetrialrespectively,increasingto4,138and5,878mLafterthestresswasinduced.Theseresultsmayimplythatgrowerpigsconsumedmorewaterwhenstressed.Noapparenttrendwasobservedforwaterconsumptiontowardstheendofthetrial.
Water Consumption and Mixing
Acomparisonofaveragewaterconsumptionofpigs24hoursbeforeand24hoursafterunfamiliarpigswereintroducedintothepenisshowninFigure3.Incontrasttothemovingactivity,waterconsumptiongenerallydecreased24hoursaftermixingunfamiliarpigsintothepen.Pigsconsumedanaverageofabout5,387mL/dayofwaterpriortothemixingactivity;thisdecreasedto4,738mL/day24hoursaftermixingoccurred.Thedecreaseinwaterconsumptionmightbeduetoaggressionthatoccurredaftermixing,whichsubsequentlypreventedsomeofthepigsfromdrinking.Thisobservationmayhavealsocausedthenoapparentincreaseinwaterconsumptionfromthestarttotheendofeachtrial.
Infrared Thermography - Handling
Duringthestartandmiddleofthetrial,noconsiderablechangeinbodytemperatureswasobserved.Towardstheendofthetrialwhenpigswereclosetomarketweight,aslightincreaseinbodytemperaturewasobservedafterthemovingactivity.Pigaveragebodytemperaturewas36.5°Cbeforethemovingexercise;thisincreasedto36.8°Cafterthemixingactivity.Thisminimalchangeinbodytemperaturecouldindicatethatthemovingactivitywasnotstrenuousenoughtocauseamarkedchangeinbodytemperatureofpigs.
CONCLUSION
1.Usingtheindividualwaterconsumptionsystem,itwas observedthatgrowerpigstendtoconsumemorewaterwhenstressed.Thesystemalsoconfirmedthatwaterconsumptionincreasedasthepiggrewregardlessofstressinduction.
2.Ascapturedbytheinfraredthermographysystem,aggressionasaresultofmixingunfamiliarpigstothepencausedanincreaseintherecordedbodytemperatureofpigs.Thesystemalsoshowedthatthepigs’bodytemperaturewasaffectedbychangesinroomtemperatures.
3.Inthisstudy,installationoftheindividualwaterconsumptionsystemandinfraredthermographysystemandinducingstressduetomovingandmixinghadnoconsiderablenegativeimpactonpigproductionperformance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe would like to acknowledge the financial support for this research project provided by Swine Innovation Porc. The authors would also like to acknowledge the collaboration of researchers from CCSI, CDPQ, and Lacombe Research Centre in carrying out this study. Strategic program funding provided by Saskatchewan Pork Development Board, Alberta Pork, Ontario Pork, the Manitoba Pork Council and the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund is also acknowledged. In addition, we also wish to acknowledge the support of the production and research technicians at Prairie Swine Centre that make it possible to conduct this research.
(Pigs Consume More Water ... continued from page 2) (Amino Acids can Enhance Pig Robustness ... cont’d from pg.3)
Non-com
petitive Feeding System
• Lowest conversion cost
• Need solid areas for feed drops
Com
petitive Feeding System• Suitable for sm
all static groups of 10 to 20 sows
• Good stockm
anship required: form sm
all, uniform groups and m
onitor sows daily at feeding
• Expect variation in body condition, feed wastage and production challenges due to com
petition• Sm
all pens require more space per pig in pens and m
ore alleyways for access
• Feeding aggression is reduced in shoulder stalls compared to floor feeding
• Static pens of 20 to 60 sows
• Individual feeding is electronic• M
oderate conversion cost• Effi
cient use of space
Prairie Swine C
entre would like to acknow
ledge the Ontario M
inistry of Agriculture,
Food & R
ural Affairs sw
ine team for their assistance in developing this decision tree.
For more inform
ation on group sow housing visit
ww
w.groupsow
housing.com
Free-Access ESFESF
Free-Access Stalls
Low Tech
High Tech
Com
petitive Feeding System
Floor Feeding
• Low conversion cost
• Can use existing feed lines
Shoulder Stalls
Non-C
ompetitive Feeding System
s• Individual feeding allow
s for more uniform
body condition• Reduced feed costs due to less w
astage and overfeeding• C
an still have competition at the feeder stall
• Small pens require m
ore space per pig in pens and more alleyw
ays for access• Potential for precision feeding as technology and data m
anagement im
prove
• Static pens of 50 to 60 sow
s OR dynam
ic pens
of 60 to >300 sows
• Individual feeding is
electronic• H
igh conversion cost• Effi
cient use of space
• Static pens of 20 to 40 sows
• All sows in a pen receive
the sam
e amount of feed
• Minim
al aggression and
competition
• High cost
Det
erm
inin
g w
hich
gro
up h
ousi
ng s
yste
m to
use
can
be
a da
untin
g ta
sk.
Ther
e ar
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ultip
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yste
ms
to c
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from
, and
no
hard
rule
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follo
w. T
his
deci
sion
tre
e pr
ovid
es a
roug
h gu
ide
base
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key
que
stio
ns y
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sk y
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elf.
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ld I
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exis
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barn
or
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ld a
new
bar
n?
Does
you
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still
have
val
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Build
new
bar
nRe
nova
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xist
ing
barn
Valu
e
Lim
ited
Life
Long
Shor
t
Do y
ou w
ant a
sho
rt or
long
te
rm in
vest
men
t?
Gro
up S
ow H
ousi
ng
Dec
isio
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ee
Shou
lder
Sta
llsFr
ee A
cces
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alls
ESF
or F
ree
Acce
ss E
SFFl
oor F
eedi
ng
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Com
petit
ive
Feed
ing
Syst
em
Do y
ou h
ave
solid
floo
rs?
Are
you
willi
ng to
ad
opt n
ew te
chno
logy
?
Non
-com
petit
ive
Feed
ing
Syst
em
See
othe
r sid
e...
Are
you
willi
ng to
inve
st
capi
tal n
ow fo
r lon
g te
rm
prod
uctio
n an
d effi
cien
cy?
Shou
ld I
choo
se a
com
petit
ive
or n
on-c
ompe
titiv
e fe
edin
g sy
stem
?
DECIS
ION #1
DECIS
ION #2
Det
erm
inin
g w
hich
gro
up h
ousi
ng s
yste
m to
use
can
be
a da
untin
g ta
sk.
Ther
e ar
e m
ultip
le s
yste
ms
to c
hose
from
, and
no
hard
rule
s to
follo
w. T
his
deci
sion
tre
e pr
ovid
es a
roug
h gu
ide
base
d on
key
que
stio
ns y
ou n
eed
to a
sk y
ours
elf.
Shou
ld I
reno
vate
my
exis
ting
barn
or
bui
ld a
new
bar
n?
Does
you
r exi
stin
g st
ruct
ure
still
have
val
ue o
r a li
mite
d lif
espa
n?
Build
new
bar
nRe
nova
te e
xist
ing
barn
Valu
e
Lim
ited
Life
Long
Shor
t
Do y
ou w
ant a
sho
rt or
long
te
rm in
vest
men
t?
Gro
up S
ow H
ousi
ng
Dec
isio
n Tr
ee
Shou
lder
Sta
llsFr
ee A
cces
s St
alls
ESF
or F
ree
Acce
ss E
SFFl
oor F
eedi
ng
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Com
petit
ive
Feed
ing
Syst
em
Do y
ou h
ave
solid
floo
rs?
Are
you
willi
ng to
ad
opt n
ew te
chno
logy
?
Non
-com
petit
ive
Feed
ing
Syst
em
See
othe
r sid
e...
Are
you
willi
ng to
inve
st
capi
tal n
ow fo
r lon
g te
rm
prod
uctio
n an
d effi
cien
cy?
Shou
ld I
choo
se a
com
petit
ive
or n
on-c
ompe
titiv
e fe
edin
g sy
stem
?
DECIS
ION #1
DECIS
ION #2
Non-com
petitive Feeding System
• Lowest conversion cost
• Need solid areas for feed drops
Com
petitive Feeding System• Suitable for sm
all static groups of 10 to 20 sows
• Good stockm
anship required: form sm
all, uniform groups and m
onitor sows daily at feeding
• Expect variation in body condition, feed wastage and production challenges due to com
petition• Sm
all pens require more space per pig in pens and m
ore alleyways for access
• Feeding aggression is reduced in shoulder stalls compared to floor feeding
• Static pens of 20 to 60 sows
• Individual feeding is electronic• M
oderate conversion cost• Effi
cient use of space
Prairie Swine C
entre would like to acknow
ledge the Ontario M
inistry of Agriculture,
Food & R
ural Affairs sw
ine team for their assistance in developing this decision tree.
For more inform
ation on group sow housing visit
ww
w.groupsow
housing.com
Free-Access ESFESF
Free-Access Stalls
Low Tech
High Tech
Com
petitive Feeding System
Floor Feeding
• Low conversion cost
• Can use existing feed lines
Shoulder Stalls
Non-C
ompetitive Feeding System
s• Individual feeding allow
s for more uniform
body condition• Reduced feed costs due to less w
astage and overfeeding• C
an still have competition at the feeder stall
• Small pens require m
ore space per pig in pens and more alleyw
ays for access• Potential for precision feeding as technology and data m
anagement im
prove
• Static pens of 50 to 60 sow
s OR dynam
ic pens
of 60 to >300 sows
• Individual feeding is
electronic• H
igh conversion cost• Effi
cient use of space
• Static pens of 20 to 40 sows
• All sows in a pen receive
the sam
e amount of feed
• Minim
al aggression and
competition
• High cost
9Spring 2020
Heart Health’s Potential Link to Early-life Nutrition
Whileresearchersarewellversedinthecardiovascularrisksassociatedwithabaddiet,alackofexercise,andsmoking,they’restilllearningaboutanotherpossibleriskfactorthatcouldleadtopoorcardiachealth:whatyouconsumeinthefirstfewweeksofyourlife.
Dr.DanielColumbus,anadjunctprofessorattheUniversityofSaskatchewan’s(USask)CollegeofAgricultureandBioresources,islookingattheeffectsofearlylifenutritionandassociatedlong-term
healthoutcomesinpeopleandanimals.
“Wearelearningmoreandmorethatinagricultureaswellasinhumans,early-lifenutritionreallysetsthemupfor[long-termhealth]successorfailure,”saysColumbus,whoisalsoaresearchscientistatthePrairieSwineCentrenearSaskatoon,Sask.
HeartdiseaseisthesecondleadingcauseofdeathinCanadians,accordingtothePublicHealthAgencyofCanada.Onein12adultsovertheageof20arediagnosedandlivingwiththischroniccondition.
ColumbusandateamofUSaskresearchersarelookingatcardiacdevelopmentduringtheperiodimmediatelyafterbirthwhenmanyorgansarestillmaturing—astageofdevelopmentthathasn’tbeenthoroughlystudiedbefore.
Columbus,alongwithWesternCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine(WCVM)researcherDr.LynnWeber,havecreatedateamofhumanandanimalhealthresearcherstolookathowpoornutritionaffectsthiscriticalperiodofheartdevelopment.Usingpigsasmodels,theteamisinvestigatinghowthisstudyofearly-lifemalnutritioncouldtranslatetohumanhealth.
Columbusexplainsthatifanewbornanimalorhumanisn’tgettingenoughnutrition,itwillusetheenergyitdoeshavetoprotectorgandevelopmentatthecostofbuildingupmuscle.Whatscientistsarediscoveringisthatit’snotjustskeletalmusclethat’slostwhenunder-nutritionoccurs—it’salsocardiacmuscle.
Butcanahealthydietandlifestyleallowapigorahumantorecoverfromthisearlyperiodofunder-nutrition?That’sanotherimportantmysterytheUSaskteamisworkingtosolve.
Previousresearchusingmicemodelsshowedthatpoornutritioninthefirstweeksofliferesultedinimpairedheartdevelopment.Micethathadpoornutritionasinfantsperformedpoorlycomparedtotheirnormally-fedcounterparts,evenafterbeingfedahealthydietlaterinlife.
Forthisstudy,USaskresearchersareworkingwithpigs—ananimalmodelthat’sclosertohumansinanatomyandphysiologythanmice.Pigletsalsohaveasimilarperiodoforgandevelopmentinearlyinfancyashumans.
TheUSaskresearchersarecomparingthecardiovascularhealthanddevelopmentinpigletsthathavehadaccesstoadequatenutritiontopigletsthathavehadpoornutrition.Aswell,they’reinvestigatingwhetherthechangesseenfrompoornutritionarereversiblebyexaminingpigletsthathavebeenfedaproperdietafteracertainamountoftimeonthelow-nutritiondiet.
Tomakethesecomparisons,theresearchersareusingechocar-diographytoanalyzethepiglets’cardiovascularhealth,alongwithexamsoftheanimals’heartsandotherorgans.
Theteam’sworkwillhelptofillsomegapsinresearchers’understandingabouthowcardiovasculardiseasesdevelopandhowtheycanbepreventedinpeople.Moreinformationaboutthediseases’origincanalsohelpscientistsinvestigatetheeffectsofnutritionaldeficitsandcreateapushforbetterpublichealthprogramstoeducateandguidenewparentsabouttheimportanceofearlyinfantnutrition.
BreannaPatton,UniversityofSaskatchewan
“Analysis could show whether these pigs benefit from extra management and feed.”
(Heart health potential ... continued on page 11)
10 Centred on Swine
Mycotoxinsarechemicals(secondarymetabolites)producedbymouldsorfungiinfectinggrains.Thereareover400knownmycotoxins;howeveronlyasmallnumberoftheseprobablyaffectpigperformanceonaregularbasis.Itisimportanttonotethatthepresenceofthemouldorfungidoesnotguaranteethepresenceofmycotoxins;conversely,mycotoxinscanbepresentinasamplewithnoobviousmouldcontamination.
ThemycotoxinsofmajorconcerninCanadaarelistedinTable1.Severalfactorscontributetotheproductionofmycotoxinsingrain,includinghumidityandtemperatureduringthegrowingandharvestperiods,oxygenavailabilityduringgrowth,harvest,transportorstorageandinsectorbirddamage.Multiplemycotoxinsmaybepresentatthesametimeandmycotoxinsmaybe“masked”.Thesearemycotoxinsboundtoanothermoleculewhichmaymakethemundetectablebyroutineassays.Theywillhowever,breakdowninthegut,andcauseproblems.
Pigsaremoresusceptibletotheeffectsofmostmycotoxinsthanotherspecies,especiallyruminants.Theageoftheanimalandproductionstatusareimportantconsiderations.Table2outlinesthemycotoxinsofmajorconcern,andtheirimpactonanimalperformance.Inordertodetermineoptimalfeedingstrategies,itiscriticaltoknowwhichmycotoxinsarepresentandtheapproximateconcentration.Manycommerciallaboratoriescananalyzeforthecommonmycotoxins.
Thedifficultyisobtainingasamplethatisrepresentativeoftheentirelot.Whensamplinggrainsorfeeds,subsamplesfrom12-20locationsshouldbecollectedandmixedthoroughly(Whitlowetal.,2014).Onceasampleiscollected,itisalsoimportanttostoreitinadry,coolareatoimpedefurthermycotoxindevelopmentbeforetheanalysis.Mycotoxinsareoftendistributedunevenlythroughouttheload,andverysmallquantities
cancauseproblems(1partpermillion(ppm)isequalto1contaminatedgrainin1millionnon-contaminatedgrains).Themoresubsamplescollected,thebetterthelikelihoodofobtainingalaboratoryanalysiswhichreallyrepresentswhatisinthefeed.
TheCFIAhasregulatoryguidelinesforthefeedingofmycotoxinstolivestock.Thisdocumentremindsusthatmycotoxincontaminationistypicallyhigherinthelighterfractions(graindust,screenings,shrivelledkernels,etc.),andthatwhileremovingthesefractionsfromtheparentstockmayhelptoreduceoverallMycotoxins,whichareproducedfrommoulds,cancontaminateallgrainsandgrain-by-productscommonlyfedtoswineinWesternCanada.Personnelworkingwithgrainsshouldavoidinhalingthedustandwearamask.Dilutionis(onlypartially)thesolution.
Table 1. Legislated maximums, regulatory guidelines and recommended maximums for different mycotoxins into swine diets (adapted from Charmley and Trenholm, 2012)*
Low Target High Mycotoxin Commodity Levels Deoxynivalenol1 Dietsforswine 1ppm Aflatoxins2 Animalfeedingstuffs 20ppb T-2toxin3 Swinediets <1ppm Zearalenone3 Giltdiets <1-3ppm Swinediets <0.25-5ppm OchratoxinA3 Swinediets(kidneydamage) 0.2ppm Swinediets(reducedweightgain) 2ppm ErgotAlkaloids3 Swinediets 4-6ppm Fumonisins3 Swinediets 10ppm
* ppmispartspermillion(mg/kg)andppbispartsperbillion.1Regulatoryguidelines(Worldwideregulationsformycotoxins.FAOFoodandNutritionPaper64,1997)
2Legislatedmaximumtoleratedlevel(Worldwideregulationsformycotoxins.FAOFoodandNutritionPaper64,1997)
3RecommendedtolerancelevelsinCanadaandtheUnitedStates
Feeding Mycotoxin Contaminated Grain
11Spring 2020
1 DecreasedADFIandfeedrefusalshavebeenshownatlevelsaslowas0.5-1ppm(Smithetal.,2005),
2 >2-5ppmisfordecreasedADFIandADG,vomitingandcompletefeedrefusalat>20ppm(Hascheketal.,2002),
3 PierceandDiaz,2014,4 JECFA,2001,5 Nibbelink,1986,6 Whitlowetal.,2014,7 Friendetal.,1990,8 Smithetal.,2005,9 Osweiller,1986,
Deoxynivalenol(DON,vomitoxin)
Affectsserotoninreceptorsandcytokineproduction
Allstages(youngerpigsmaybemoresusceptible)
ReducedADFIandADG1,2
Vomiting2Diarrhea(softorwateryfeces)3Reducedimmunefunction3Mildchangestokidney,thyroid,blood4
Aflatoxins Mutagenicandcarcinogenic
Allstages ReducedADFIandADG5
Reducedmilkproduction5Lethargy6Ataxia(lackofcoordination)6Roughhaircoat6Hemorrhage6Fattyliver6
Zearalenone Estrogenic Pre-pubertalgilts,sowsandpre-pubertalboars
Swellingandreddeningofthevulva7Vaginaland/orrectalprolapse7Anestrus8Reducedlittersize8Fetalresorption8Implantationfailure8Decreasedlibidoandtestosterone9Feminization9
OchratoxinA Disruptsphenylalanine(anaminoacid)metabolism
Allstages Kidneydamage10DecreasedADFIandADG11
Immunosuppression,increasedriskofinfection12
Fumonisins Disruptslipidmetabolism
Allstages,especiallyyoungpigs
Pulmonaryedema3Reducedimmunity3DecreasedADFIandADG13
Shortnessofbreath3Weakness3Cyanosis(blue/purplecolourofskin/membranes)3
T-2andHT-2Toxins
Inhibitsproteinsynthesis
Allstages Unthriftiness6LowADFIandADG6
Reproductivefailure6Gastricupset(diarrhea)6Cellularnecrosis6Immunosuppression6
ErgotAlkaloids Neurological Allstages,especiallythereproductiveherd
Lameness14Gangrene14DecreasedADG14
Abortion14Agalactia(absenceofmilkproduction)14Ataxia14
Mycotoxin PrimaryEffect StageAffected ClinicalSigns
Table 2. Major effects of mycotoxins on swine performance“Eventually,wewouldlookintobringinginhumanhealthexperts[suchas]dietitians,andusethisinformationtodevelopthoseprotocolsandresources,”saysColumbus.“Andthoseprogramsarealreadyoutthere.Weknowthatgoodfoodisessential,butweknowthatitcanbeaproblemeveninregularbirth-weightinfants.Andsohowdowepromotethatevenmore”?
Thestudy’sresultswillalsogiveCanadianswineproducersinsightaboutwhetheryoungpigletsthatarelesscompetitiveatnursingandreceivelessnutritionfromtheirmotherswillbeabletorespondtonutritionaltherapieslaterinlifeandrecover—maturingtofully-grownhealthyanimals.
AsColumbusexplains,theanalysiscouldshowwhetherthesepigsbenefitfromextramanagementandfeed,andwhethertheyneedabetterdietoncetheyareweaned.
“Orisitjusttheywillalwaysbesmallsowejusthavetoacceptthatandthenincorporatethatintothe[pigs’]productionandmanagement?”headds.
InadditiontotheresearchbeingdonebyColumbusandWeber,severalotherUSaskresearchersareworkingwiththesamegroupofpigletstooptimizetheiruseandtheamountofknowledgegainedfromtheproject—aOneHealthapproachtoresearchthat’sacriticalpartoftheuniversity’sresearchprogram.
“Webroughtinsomanyresearchersonthisonestudy,”saysColumbus.“[We]aretryingtogetasmanysamplesandanalysesdoneaspossiblebecausethenitgivesallthesepeopleideasastowhatcanwepursueinthefuture—beyondthecardiovascular,beyondthemuscledevelopment.”
TheNaturalSciencesandEngineeringResearchCouncilofCanada(NSERC)providedfinancialsupportforthisUSaskresearchstudy.
BreannaPattonofCalgary,Alta.,isasecond-yearveterinarystudentattheWCVM.HerstoryispartofaseriesofarticleswrittenbyWCVMsummerresearchstudents.
10 Kidneydamageoccursatlevelsaslowas0.5ppm(Lippoldetal.,1992),
11 Performanceisaffectedatlevelsof 2ppmorgreater(Lippoldetal.,1992;Stoevetal.,2000),
12 Canoccurwhenlevels>2ppmarefedforlongerperiodsoftime(Harveyetal.,1992),
13 ADGreducedby11%when10ppmfumonisinB1wasfedtostarterpigsfor 8weeks(Rotteretal.,1996),
14 Stricklandetal.,2011
(Heart Health ... cont’d from page 9)
BeforeobtainingherdegreeinVeterinaryMedicinein2019fromtheFederalUniversityofSantaMaria,Cristinaalwaysshowninterestinanimalwelfare.In2015shewenttotheUniversityofGuelphforanexchangeyearwhereshewasaninterninthePathobiologyDepartmentunderDr.RobFosterandDr.BrandonLillie,supervisionandvolunteeratGuelphHumaneSociety.BacktoBrazilin2017,shejoinedtheAnimalRights
ResearchGroupandalsotheDepartmentofVeterinaryPathologyasaninternattheFederalUniversityofSantaMaria.Aspartofthelastsemesterofgraduationin2018,CristinawasaninternattheDefenseandAnimalProtectionNetworkDepartmentoftheCuritibacity,assistingveterinariansintheanimalcrueltyinvestigationsundertheguidanceofDr.RitadeCassiaMaria.CristinaiscurrentlyaM.Sc.studentunderDr.JenniferBrownsupervisionandherprojectwillbeexaminingfactorsaffectingsowmortalityintheCanadiansowherd,andunderstandfactorsinfluencingsowremovals/culling.TheprojectisfundedbySwineInnovationPorc.
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