Entire male pig production in Europe

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bee ◽  
P. Chevillon ◽  
M. Bonneau
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Good Control ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Boar Taint ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Technical Report ◽  
Consumer Dissatisfaction ◽  
Instrumental Methods ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Entire Male

In Europe the proportion of male pigs that are left ‘entire’ has been high for many years in the British Isles and Iberian Peninsula, and has recently increased in The Netherlands and to a lesser extent in Germany and France. Various European Union partners agreed in 2010 on a road map to abandon piglet castration by 1 January 2018. Despite significant commercial in-confidence research on instrumental methods for detecting boar-tainted carcasses at slaughter plants, nothing is currently being adopted at an industrial scale. A few abattoirs sort out the most heavily tainted carcasses, using human nose methods. However, there are major concerns with their accuracy, which is currently not documented in any publicly available technical report. The importance of androstenone and skatole for boar taint is still debated but a recent study (CAMPIG; G Backus, H Snoek, MA Oliver, M Font i Furnols, M Aluwé, F Tuyttens, M Bonneau, P Chevillon, MD Aaslyng, D Moerlein, L Meier-Dinkel, J Trautmann, J-E Haugen, unpubl. data) has established preliminary equations relating consumer dissatisfaction to androstenone and skatole levels. These equations still need further consolidation to integrate the impact of very high and very low androstenone levels on consumer acceptability. Reducing the incidence of boar taint at a production level and at the same time overcoming possible greater aggressive behaviour of entire male pigs are also critical for abandoning castration. Genetic selection is the most efficient way to reduce androstenone, but the selection of boar-taint-free genetic lines without any adverse consequence on the reproductive and growth performance will take time. Skatole levels can be efficiently reduced via feeding specific feedstuffs and good control of the animals’ environment. Provided that the incidence of boar taint can be reduced to an acceptable level and the residual tainted carcasses can be sorted out at a reasonable price by mutually recognised methods, the abandonment of castration will result in high benefits, up to one-billion euros for both the pork industry, via a drastic reduction of production costs, and society at large, through improved animal welfare and reduced impact on the environment.

scholarly journals Strategies to Meet Nutritional Requirements and Reduce Boar Taint in Meat from Entire Male Pigs and Immunocastrates

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Bee ◽  
Nathalie Quiniou ◽  
Hanne Maribo ◽  
Galia Zamaratskaia ◽  
Peadar G. Lawlor
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Deposition Potential ◽  
Boar Taint ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nutritional Strategies ◽  
Indole Production ◽  
Intramuscular Fat Content ◽  
Entire Male

This paper reviews the current knowledge on the nutritional requirements of entire male and immunocastrated pigs to obtain an efficient growth, low boar taint level, and good carcass and meat quality. We present the reasons for offering entire males ad libitum access to the diets in order to optimize their protein deposition potential. Boar taint is one of the major issues in the production of entire males; therefore, the impact of various skatole- and indole-reducing feed ingredients is discussed regarding their efficiency and the possible mechanism affecting skatole and indole production in the hindgut. Entire males have lean carcasses, so their intramuscular fat content can be lower than that of surgical castrates or females and the adipose tissue can be highly unsaturated. The possible nutritional strategies to counteract these effects are summarized. We conclude that immunocastrates can be fed similarly to entire males until the second vaccination. However, due to the metabolic changes occurring shortly after the second vaccination, the requirements for essential amino acids are markedly lower in immunocastrates than in entire males.

The Impact of Plant Protection Systems on the Productivity of Soybean Varieties under Irrigated Conditions

2019 ◽  
pp. 109-117
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
The South ◽  
Biological Origin ◽  
Chemical Protection ◽  
Protection Systems ◽  
The Impact

The application of preparations of biological origin in the protection system of soybean grown under conditions of intensive irrigated crop rotations conforms to the modern tendencies of science and production development. The use of them contributes to solving ecological, production and social-economic problems. The study presents the three-year research on the efficiency of systems protecting soybean from pests and diseases based on biological and chemical preparations. The research was conducted in typical soil and climate conditions of the South of Ukraine. Zonal agricultural methods and generally accepted research methodology were used. The purpose of the research was to create a soybean protection system based on preparations of biological origin, ensuring high productivity of high-quality products reducing a negative impact of the crop production on the environment. The study emphasizes that, under irrigated conditions of the South of Ukraine, the application of biological preparations has a positive impact on the indexes of growth, development and formation of the elements of soybean yield structure. There was an increase in the crop biological weight by 13.8 % and 22.1 % and the number of seeds per plant rose by 11.6 and 14.6 % as a consequence of eliminating harmful organisms with the plant protection systems. The larger ground mass was formed by medium-ripe varieties Danai and Svyatogor, on which the increase from protection measures was higher. Weight 1000 pcs. the seeds did not undergo significant changes. It is established that the larger seeds were formed by Danaya and Svyatogor varieties, in which the average weight is 1000 pcs. seeds were 142 and 136 g, respectively, while in the variety Diona this figure was 133 g. There was an increase in the height of the lowest pod when the total plant height rose. For medium-ripe varieties was characterized by a higher attachment of beans, where the highest values of this indicator acquired in the variety Svyatogor. The medium maturing soybean variety Danaia formed the maximum yield of 3.23 and 3.35 t/ha respectively, when biological and chemical protection systems were applied. The research establishes that the application of the bio-fungicide Psevdobakterin 2 (2.0 l/ha) in the crop protection system at the beginning of soybean flowering and the bio-fungicide Baktofit (2.5 l/ha) with the bio-insecticide Lepidotsid-BTU (10.0 l/ha) at the beginning of pod formation does not reduce the productivity of the soybean varieties under study considerably, when compared to the application of chemical preparations. The research determines that the soybean protection system under study ensures a decrease in the coefficient of soybean water uptake by 7.2-13.0 %, increasing the total water intake to an inconsiderable degree. Biologization of the soybean crop protection system leads to a reduction in production costs compared to the chemical protection system. Taking into account the needs for the collection of additional products, costs increase by an average of 1 thousand UAH/ha, while for chemical protection systems by 1.8 thousand UAH/ha. At the same time, the cost is reduced by 220-360 UAH/t and the profitability of growing crops is increased by 3.8-7.8 %. There has been a reduction in the burden of pesticides on the environment and the production of cleaner products. This indicates the prospect of using the biofungicides Pseudobacterin 2 and Bactophyte and the bioinsecticide Lepidocid-BTU on soybeans to protect plants from pests.

Preservice Music Teacher Identity Construction Through Metaphor

2020 ◽  
pp. 105708372098227
Author(s):  
Cynthia L. Wagoner
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Identity Construction ◽  
Teacher Identity ◽  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Context Learning ◽  
Instrumental Methods ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Authentic Context

I investigated how preservice instrumental music teachers understand and describe their teacher identity through the use of metaphor in a one-semester instrumental methods course emphasizing authentic context learning. Twenty-five third-year instrumental methods course music education students created a personal metaphor to explore their professional identity construction. Preservice teacher metaphors were revisited throughout the semester, while students participated in an authentic context learning experience in an urban instrumental music classroom. Data sources included student artifacts, informal interviews, and observation/field notes. The impact of teaching within an authentic learning context appears to enrich the ways in which preservice teachers are able to articulate details of their metaphor descriptions. Through their reflections across the semester, preservice teachers demonstrated how personal metaphors were used to restructure their understandings of teacher identity and capture some of the complexities of becoming teachers.

scholarly journals Recent genetic advances on boar taint reduction as an alternative to castration: a review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene Ana Souza Duarte ◽  
Martine Schroyen ◽  
Rodrigo Reis Mota ◽  
Sylvie Vanderick ◽  
Nicolas Gengler
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Boar Taint ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Fat Tissue ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
Unpleasant Odor ◽  
High Heritability ◽  
Pig Meat ◽  
Or Genes ◽  
Synthesis And Degradation

AbstractBoar taint is an unpleasant odor in male pig meat, mainly caused by androstenone, skatole, and indole, which are deposited in the fat tissue. Piglet castration is the most common practice to prevent boar taint. However, castration is likely to be banished in a few years due to animal welfare concerns. Alternatives to castration, such as genetic selection, have been assessed. Androstenone and skatole have moderate to high heritability, which makes it feasible to select against these compounds. This review presents the latest results obtained on genetic selection against boar taint, on correlation with other traits, on differences in breeds, and on candidate genes related to boar taint. QTLs for androstenone and skatole have been reported mainly on chromosomes 6, 7, and 14. These chromosomes were reported to contain genes responsible for synthesis and degradation of androstenone and skatole. A myriad of work has been done to find markers or genes that can be used to select animals with lower boar taint. The selection against boar taint could decrease performance of some reproduction traits. However, a favorable response on production traits has been observed by selecting against boar taint. Selection results have shown that it is possible to reduce boar taint in few generations. In addition, modifications in diet and environment conditions could be associated with genetic selection to reduce boar taint. Nevertheless, costs to measure and select against boar taint should be rewarded with incentives from the market; otherwise, it would be difficult to implement genetic selection.

scholarly journals The Impact of Environmental Regulation on the Location of Pollution-Intensive Industries in China under Agglomeration Effect

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4045
Author(s):  
Yinhao Wu ◽  
Shumin Yu ◽  
Xiangdong Duan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Regulation ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Agglomeration Effect ◽  
The Government ◽  
Pollutant Discharge ◽  
The Impact

Pollution-intensive industries (PIIs) have both scale effect and environmental sensitivity. Therefore, this paper studies how environmental regulation (ER) affects the location dynamics of PIIs under the agglomeration effect. Our results show that, ER can increase the production costs of pollution-intensive firms (PIFs) by internalizing the negative impact of pollutant discharge in a region, and thus, directly reduces the region’s attractiveness to PIFs. Meanwhile, ER can indirectly reduce the attractiveness of a region to PIFs by reducing the externality of the regional agglomeration effect. Moreover, these influences are regulated by the level of local economic development. Based on the moderated mediating effect model, we find evidence from the site selection activities of newly built chemical firms in cities across China. The empirical test shows that compared with 2014, the proportion of the direct effect of ER to the total effects significantly decreased in 2018, while the proportion of indirect effects under the agglomeration effect increased significantly. Our findings provide reference for the government to design effective environmental policies to guide the location choice of new PIFs.

scholarly journals Examining the Role of Disruptive Innovation in Renewable Energy Businesses from a Cross National Perspective

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4447
Author(s):  
Hokey Min ◽  
Yohannes Haile
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Disruptive Innovation ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Sustainable Value ◽  
National Perspective ◽  
The Impact

With a growing demand for safe, clean, and affordable energy, countries across the world are now seeking to create and rapidly develop renewable energy (RE) businesses. The success of these businesses often hinges on their ability to translate RE into sustainable value for energy consumers and the multiple stakeholders in the energy industry. Such value includes low production costs due to an abundance of natural resources (e.g., wind, water, sunlight), and public health benefits from reduced environmental pollution. Despite the potential for value creation, many RE businesses have struggled to create affordable energy as abundant as that which is produced by traditional fossil fuels. The rationale being that traditional RE sources emanating from natural resources tend to rely on unpredictable weather conditions. Therefore, to help RE businesses deliver sustainable value, we should leverage disruptive innovation that is less dependent on natural resources. This paper is one of the first attempts to assess the impact of disruptive innovation on RE business performances based on the survey data obtained from multiple countries representing both emerging and developed economies.

scholarly journals Farmer Field Schools (FFSs): A Tool Empowering Sustainability and Food Security in Peasant Farming Systems in the Nicaraguan Highlands

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esperanza Arnés ◽  
Carlos G. H. Díaz-Ambrona ◽  
Omar Marín-González ◽  
Marta Astier
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Farmer Field Schools ◽  
Basic Services ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Field Schools ◽  
The Impact

Farmer field schools (FFSs) emerged in response to the gap left by the worldwide decline in agricultural extension services. With time, this methodology has been adapted to specific rural contexts to solve problems related to the sustainability of peasant-farming systems. In this study we draw upon empirical data regarding the peasant-farming system in the Nicaraguan highlands to evaluate whether FFSs have helped communities improve the sustainability of their systems and the food security of their residents using socioeconomic, environmental, and food and nutrition security (FNS) indicators. In order to appreciate the long-term impact, we studied three communities where FFSs were implemented eight, five, and three years ago, respectively, and we included participants and nonparticipants from each community. We found that FFSs have a gradual impact, as there are significant differences between participants and nonparticipants, and it is the community that first implemented FFSs that scores highest. The impact of FFSs is broad and long lasting for indicators related to participation, access to basic services, and conservation of natural resources. Finally, this paper provides evidence that FFSs have the potential to empower farmers; however, more attention needs to be paid to critical indicators like production costs and the use of external inputs in order to scale up their potential in the future.

scholarly journals Aspects of chemical training of the personnel for organic farming

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-165
Author(s):  
M. D. Grigorieva ◽  
S. L. Belopukhov
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Safety Control ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Russian State ◽  
Qualified Personnel ◽  
Products Analysis ◽  
Instrumental Methods ◽  
The Impact

Organic farming is aimed at providing the population with high-quality safe agricultural products and preserving the ecological well-being of agrocenoses and adjacent territories. The implementation of this project is currently associated with a number of problems, for the solution of which educational institutions must train qualified personnel. The authors investigated the aspects of chemical training of specialists necessary for the development of organic farming. The article considers three groups of specialties: 1) farm specialists working with soil and plants (agronomists, soil scientists, ecologists); 2) specialists engaged in product processing (food production technologists, medicinal and essential oil raw materials technologists, biotechnologists, etc.); 3) specialists of laboratories for quality control of raw materials and finished products. Analysis of the labor functions of specialists, the goals and objectives of organic farming, as well as the experience of cooperation of the Department of Chemistry of the Russian State Agricultural University-Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K. A. Timiryazev with agricultural farms for the implementation of organic technology, showed that the most important components of chemical education are as follows: 1) basic chemical training that allows to understand and manage the dynamic processes occurring in the agrosphere; 2) modern instrumental methods of analysis necessary for quality and safety control of raw materials and products, agrochemical diagnostics of soils and water sources; environmental monitoring to assess the impact of agriculture on soil fertility; research activities; evaluation of processing, storage, packaging methods. Laboratory specialists should have the competence to perform physico-chemical determinations of test samples. Other groups of specialists should know the purpose of the methods, be able to interpret the results of determinations. The article presents educational programs of different levels (bachelor’s, master’s, qualification enhancement), which allow to form the necessary chemical competencies.

scholarly journals Impact of Distance between Strip Roads on Productivity and Costs of a Forwarder in Commercial Thinning of Pinus Taeda Stands

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-249
Author(s):  
Oscar Manuel de Jesús Vera Cabral ◽  
Eduardo da Silva Lopes ◽  
Carla Krulikowski Rodrigues ◽  
Afonso Figueiredo Filho
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Working Cycle ◽  
Time Motion ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Selective Harvest ◽  
Thinning Operations ◽  
The Impact

Demand for higher value-added wood products stimulates research for new, mainly mechanized, thinning operations in order to increase productivity and reduce production costs. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of distance between strip roads on forwarder productivity and costs of thinning operations in Pinus taeda stands. The study was carried out in 10-year-old Pinus taeda stands located in Parana State, Brazil. Two thinning methods were evaluated: (1) TH5: systematic harvest in every fifth tree row and selective harvest in adjacent rows; and (2) TH7: systematic harvest in every seventh tree row and selective harvest in adjacent rows. Working cycle times, productivity and costs were determined through a time-motion study of the forwarder. The additional variables evaluated were wood assortments (industrial wood and energy wood) and extraction distances (50, 100, 150 and 200 m), and mean values were compared between thinning methods using t tests for independent samples (α=0.05). Loading and unloading elements consumed the most time in the working cycle, with lower participation time in TH7 due to greater availability of logs along the strip roads (higher pile volumes), influencing total cycle time up to the mean distance of 150 m for both assortments. TH7 consequently showed 6% higher productivity, its energy yield was 5.3% lower and its production cost was 3.0% lower.

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