151 A Web Application to Establish Customized Feeding Program and Nutrient Specifications for Highly Prolific Sows

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 144-145
Author(s):  
Kevin S Jerez-Bogota ◽  
Christian D Ramirez-Camba ◽  
Ron A Navales ◽  
Carine M Vier ◽  
Ning Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract A web application was developed to provide a dynamic feeding program for PIC maternal dam lines during gilt development, gestation, peri-partum, lactation and wean-to-service interval (WSI). These recommendations for each production phase are based on peer-reviewed large-scale commercial research. The tool was developed using the Shiny package of R and includes CSS themes, html widgets, and JavaScript actions. Inputs, include pigs weaned per sow per year (PWSY), farrowing rate (FR), total born (TB), replacement rate, the existing feeding program of the breeding herd and the diet energy and standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) levels. Outputs include the feeding program, nutrient specifications and estimates of economic opportunity and performance improvement. The feeding program is based on user-defined energy and SID Lys levels for the gestation and lactation diets and the PIC nutrient recommendations for the breeding herd. Correspondingly, recommended specifications of other nutrients in the diets are provided and calculated based on the recommended feeding program. The tool provides economic and productivity opportunity analysis by comparing the PIC recommendations and the current user feeding programs. Improvement in PWSY is driven by the energy intake impact on caliper score during breeding and farrowing and consequently to FR and TB. This web application can be used by nutritionists and production managers to compare their current feeding practices to PIC recommendations for highly prolific sows. This will aid in their decision-making process regarding nutrition and feeding programs considering productivity and profitability outcomes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 9-10
Author(s):  
George Foxcroft ◽  
Jenny Patterson

Abstract Recently published research on gilt development using contemporary commercial dam-lines has confirmed: 1) That the growth performance of gilts is rarely below the lifetime growth rate of 0.55 kg.d that would limit the onset of sexual maturity; 2) The majority of gilts provided direct daily contact with mature boars from 160 days of age reach puberty by 200 days of age and represent a normal distribution of “early responders”; 3) Gilts that respond later to boar stimulation have poorer lifetime fertility and tend to be over weight at breeding; 4) Pubertal responses to direct boar contact are significantly higher than responses to fenceline contact with boars; 5) Even if pubertal responses to direct boar contact are delayed in particular cohorts of gilts, good pubertal responses to exogenous, low-dose eCG/hCG treatments (PG600) allow efficient replacement gilt flows to be maintained in most commercial situations; 6) Delaying breeding until second observed estrus, and providing at least 10 days of acclimation to individual stall accommodation, maximizes first litter performance. When gilts were managed in purpose designed facilities that allowed daily records of vulval and behavioral responses to effective boar stimuli to be recorded, the lifetime reproductive performance of know pubertal gilts entering the breeding herd exceeded industry benchmarks. Of 2,374 naturally cyclic and 741 PG600-induced gilts delivered to the breeding herd, 97.6 and 95.7%, respectively, were bred, 94.7 and 92.0%, respectively, farrowed a first litter and 70.6 and 65.3%, respectively, farrowed a fourth litter. In terms of key factors other than reproductive performance that affect retention rate, another recent large-scale study of commercial replacement gilts derived from multiplication sows with a known litter birth weight phenotype confirmed data based on individual gilt birth weight, in that high growth rates linked to heavy weights at breeding were a major risk factor for early removal from the breeding herd. Therefore, poor gilt management must still be viewed as a major factor limiting breeding herd performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 175-175
Author(s):  
Nicole Gregory ◽  
Chantal Farmer ◽  
Robert Friendship ◽  
Lee-Anne Huber

Abstract Sixty-three gilts were recruited at 90 days of age to evaluate the effects of a high-fiber gilt development feeding program on body weight and composition at breeding. Gilts (initial BW 50.9 ± 0.9 kg) were housed individually and randomly attributed to one of four feeding programs: [1] commercial diet fed ad libitum (CON), [2] commercial diet fed 10%, or [3] 20% below ad libitum, and [4] a high-fiber diet fed ad libitum (25% more fiber than the commercial diet and energy density reduced by 5%; FIB). Gilts received the feeding program between 90 days of age and breeding at ~190 days of age. Body weight and feed disappearance were determined weekly. Backfat depth was determined at 90, 145 (puberty), 160, and 190 (breeding) days of age. Over the entire experimental period, CON and FIB gilts had greater ADFI (mean of 3.50 ±0.07 kg) compared to 10% (2.95 ± 0.06 kg) and 20% gilts (2.70 ± 0.07kg; P < 0.05). The FIB feeding program reduced total energy and lysine intakes to amounts similar to 10%; both intakes were less than CON but greater than 20% gilts (P < 0.05). The ADG of FIB was less between days 145 (puberty) and 160 of age compared to CON gilts (0.86 vs. 1.09 ± 0.07 kg; P < 0.05). At breeding, FIB and 10% weighed less (146.5 ± 1.6 kg) than CON (152.7 ± 1.6 kg) and more than 20% gilts (138.7 ± 1.5 kg; P < 0.05). The FIB had less backfat than CON at breeding (14.9 vs. 16.7 ± 0.5 mm; P < 0.05), but did not differ from 10% or 20% gilts. In conclusion, the FIB feeding program limited energy intake, growth, and body fatness of gilts at breeding, even though gilts were offered feed ad libitum. Therefore, high-fiber feeding programs could be a practical means to control growth rates of developing gilts in commercial scenarios.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branko Angjelovski ◽  
Aleksandar Cvetkovikj ◽  
Slavcho Mrenoshki ◽  
Ivica Gjurovski ◽  
Toni Dejanoski ◽  
...  

AbstractThe objectives of the present study were to determine the production performances of sows on commercial pig farms in the Republic of Macedonia, to compare the differences in sow productivity data between small and large farms and to examine interrelationships of key production parameters among farms with different sizes. The study was retrospectively based and included the annual (2012) analyses of the sow productivity data in small (<200 sows, n=4) and large (200-1000 sows, n=5) commercial pig farms. The data was statistically evaluated and compared with the known literature. Sows productivity was greater on the small farms compared to the large ones. The small farms had larger litter per sow (PBL), more pigs born alive (PBA), higher weaning weight (WW) and more pigs weaned per sow per litter (PWSL) than the large ones (p<0.001). Small farms also had greater farrowing rate (FR) (p<0.01). Higher replacement rate (RR), lower average parity (AP), greater number of litters per sow per year (LSY) and higher sow death rate (SDR) were observed in large farms (p<0.001). The large farms also had less non-productive days (NPD) than the small farms (p<0.001). Different intensity of correlations also were observed for several productive parameters among the farm groups. The data obtained in this study show that sow productivity on Macedonian pig farms is lower than in EU countries. Small herds are more efficient than the large herds. Despite all limitations, our study provides information for veterinarians regarding reproductive parameters of sows and their interrelationships on Macedonian pig farms. Further investigation should be made in order to identify whether specific management factors have effect on the productivity of the breeding herd.


1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 176-176
Author(s):  
A.R. Peters ◽  
L.A. Dwyer ◽  
A. Dawson ◽  
P.A. Canham ◽  
J.D. Mackinnon

The problem of seasonal infertility in pigs has been recognised for many years. The infertility complex can may be manifested by increased returns to service, prolonged weaning to oestrus intervals and decreased litter size. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effects of Buserelin treatment on fertility in sows and gilts during the seasonally infertile period.A total of 1231 mixed parity sows and gilts from five outdoor herds in East Anglia were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Any sows not presented for service at first post weaning oestrus were excluded. All sows and gilts judged to be in adequate health and condition to be kept in a commercial breeding herd were included. Group C sows and gilts were given no treatment. Group R1 sows and gilts were injected i.m. with 8μg Buserelin (2.0ml Receptal; Hoechst Roussel Vet UK Ltd) on the day of service.


Technologies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Hossam A. Gabbar ◽  
Ahmed M. Othman ◽  
Muhammad R. Abdussami

The evolving global landscape for electrical distribution and use created a need area for energy storage systems (ESS), making them among the fastest growing electrical power system products. A key element in any energy storage system is the capability to monitor, control, and optimize performance of an individual or multiple battery modules in an energy storage system and the ability to control the disconnection of the module(s) from the system in the event of abnormal conditions. This management scheme is known as “battery management system (BMS)”, which is one of the essential units in electrical equipment. BMS reacts with external events, as well with as an internal event. It is used to improve the battery performance with proper safety measures within a system. Therefore, a safe BMS is the prerequisite for operating an electrical system. This report analyzes the details of BMS for electric transportation and large-scale (stationary) energy storage. The analysis includes different aspects of BMS covering testing, component, functionalities, topology, operation, architecture, and BMS safety aspects. Additionally, current related standards and codes related to BMS are also reviewed. The report investigates BMS safety aspects, battery technology, regulation needs, and offer recommendations. It further studies current gaps in respect to the safety requirements and performance requirements of BMS by focusing mainly on the electric transportation and stationary application. The report further provides a framework for developing a new standard on BMS, especially on BMS safety and operational risk. In conclusion, four main areas of (1) BMS construction, (2) Operation Parameters, (3) BMS Integration, and (4) Installation for improvement of BMS safety and performance are identified, and detailed recommendations were provided for each area. It is recommended that a technical review of the BMS be performed for transportation electrification and large-scale (stationary) applications. A comprehensive evaluation of the components, architectures, and safety risks applicable to BMS operation is also presented.


MRS Bulletin ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph E.H. Sims

AbstractSome forms of renewable energy have long contributed to electricity generation, whereas others are just emerging. For example, large-scale hydropower is a mature technology generating about 16% of global electricity, and many smaller scale systems are also being installed worldwide. Future opportunities to improve the technology are limited but include upgrading of existing plants to gain greater performance efficiencies and reduced maintenance. Geothermal energy, widely used for power generation and direct heat applications, is also mature, but new technologies could improve plant designs, extend their lifetimes, and improve reliability. By contrast, ocean energy is an emerging renewable energy technology. Design, development, and testing of a myriad of devices remain mainly in the research and development stage, with many opportunities for materials science to improve design and performance, reduce costly maintenance procedures, and extend plant operating lifetimes under the harsh marine environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wahid Palash ◽  
Yudan Jiang ◽  
Ali S. Akanda ◽  
David L. Small ◽  
Amin Nozari ◽  
...  

A forecasting lead time of 5–10 days is desired to increase the flood response and preparedness for large river basins. Large uncertainty in observed and forecasted rainfall appears to be a key bottleneck in providing reliable flood forecasting. Significant efforts continue to be devoted to developing mechanistic hydrological models and statistical and satellite-driven methods to increase the forecasting lead time without exploring the functional utility of these complicated methods. This paper examines the utility of a data-based modeling framework with requisite simplicity that identifies key variables and processes and develops ways to track their evolution and performance. Findings suggest that models with requisite simplicity—relying on flow persistence, aggregated upstream rainfall, and travel time—can provide reliable flood forecasts comparable to relatively more complicated methods for up to 10 days lead time for the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and upper Meghna (GBM) gauging locations inside Bangladesh. Forecasting accuracy improves further by including weather-model-generated forecasted rainfall into the forecasting scheme. The use of water level in the model provides equally good forecasting accuracy for these rivers. The findings of the study also suggest that large-scale rainfall patterns captured by the satellites or weather models and their “predictive ability” of future rainfall are useful in a data-driven model to obtain skillful flood forecasts up to 10 days for the GBM basins. Ease of operationalization and reliable forecasting accuracy of the proposed framework is of particular importance for large rivers, where access to upstream gauge-measured rainfall and flow data are limited, and detailed modeling approaches are operationally prohibitive and functionally ineffective.


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