Searching for "Swine"

This publication offers considerations for swine vaccinations based on disease, stage of production, and time of administration. These are general guidelines and not one-size-fits-all protocols for swine vaccinations. Producers should work with their veterinarians in a valid veterinary client patient relationship (VSPR) to create a final protocol for their operation.

The importance of water in swine production cannot be overstated, as it is essential for normal metabolic function and is the nutrient consumed in the largest quantity by pigs. Water also is critical for regulating body temperature, excreting waste, and is required to maximize feed consumption. Therefore, insuring pigs have access to water adequate in both quality and quantity is paramount.

If concern arises about a possible nutritional deficiency or toxicity in a swine diet, a feed or biological sample can help identify the issue. Since neither feed nor biological tissues are fully homogenous in character, the source of the sample must be accurately portrayed. This means it is imperative to take a suitable and representative sample that accurately represents the parameter of interest and its source.

The introduction of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) in 2013 into the US swine industry pointed toward feed ingredients as the likely route of introduction. Subsequent research trials have documented viruses can survive in feed ingredients and complete feed for transoceanic shipping (30 and 37 days) and transcontinental shipping (23 days.)

Authors of the transoceanic trial concluded:
1. Viruses can survive in feed, but survival is variable and depends on specific properties of each virus
2. Certain feed ingredients or feed products present a better matrix for virus survival than others
3. Select ingredient matrices seemed to enhance the survival of multiple viruses.

The overarching goal of the swine industry is to provide high-quality protein to feed the world’s growing population. Improvements in production efficiency are continually being made to create a better and more sustainable product. Sustainability in the swine industry can be calculated using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). An LCA is a holistic approach to analyze the cumulative environmental impacts of the different phases of swine production. Swine production LCAs can inform producers and consumers how certain production practices impact the environment.

Ventilation air filtration systems for swine facilities, including boar studs, sow farms, and gilt development farms, have been shown to be economically viable due to the reduction of disease outbreaks attributed to airborne disease transmission. This worksheet will go through the process of sizing an air filtration system for a swine facility.

Previously known as AE 3541.

The 2020 growing season brought challenges to Iowa corn growers. Drought and the August derecho wind damage are the two primary events that may have impacted corn quality and feed value. Grain that does not reach maturity or is stressed during the growing season (weather, nutrients, disease, weed competition) may be more prone to quality issues, and thus require different considerations for handling and storage.

This publication is intended for swine producers who grow corn and manufacture feed on-farm, feed mills, and nutritionists.

Concrete is a significant financial cost in every modern swine building. The concrete pit, foundation, columns, beams, and slats are structural parts that should last 25-100 years, but if structural failures occur, they can be catastrophic to livestock and their caretakers. This publication discusses inspection and maintenance for the major components of a swine building, including visual references.

This publication provides best practices for composting swine carcasses.

Proper maintenance of swine facilities can enhance the lifespan of building components and improve the health and safety of both livestock and workers. Such maintenance should be carefully planned and budgeted. This publication discusses design, installation, and maintenance recommendations for common components of swine facilities, including curtains, insulation, and electrical systems.

Maintenance of ventilation system components is often overlooked; however, keeping up with proper maintenance can lower operating costs, preserve mechanical efficiency, improve the animal and worker environment in the building, and reduce the risk of system failure.

Fresh air intake and distribution in a swine ventilation system is critical to providing a good environment for animals, but can have a negative impact on building longevity with certain designs. Air generally will flow into the attic to supply fresh air to the production room ceiling air inlets. A typical design brings air into the attic through soffit intakes at the eave. However, this design can negatively impact the building by contributing to corrosion and deterioration of metal.

Iowa is a diverse agriculture state and is the top producer in corn, soybeans, swine, and eggs in the nation! Iowa hens laid nearly 16 billion eggs each year. That means Iowa farmers are responsible for producing about one in 5 eggs consumed in the United States each year. Create a device that creates a "clucking" sound.

These To Go Lessons can be used to create a "grab and go" style activity with supplies included. Add your local contact information, print, and cut each sheet in half. The left side can be used on the outside of the paper bag or box to identify the activity, and the right side can be placed in the package as an instruction sheet.

Clover Kids lessons are designed for youth in grades K-3.

Youth-serving organizations in Iowa are encouraged to contact their local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county office to explore partnership opportunities in administering this program.

In the swine project area, you can learn about breeds, health care, production, management, showmanship, marketing, and careers in the swine industry.

In 2017, Iowa State University, in collaboration with state pork producer associations, conducted a comprehensive survey of swine producers. The objectives of the survey were to document swine industry characteristics, biosecurity adoption, and how risks to swine health factor into producer decision making. Completed surveys from 371 anonymous producers from 19 U.S. states were received. This summary provides an overview of the survey results.

The Loomis family from northern Iowa has recently completed a successful family farm business transition to the next generation. The transition of their row crop and swine farm spanned the first 22 years of the younger generation's farming career, was well planned and implemented gradually.

This case study highlights the transition planning process and timeline, tools used, the older generation's estate plan, lessons learned, and the Loomis's advice for other farm families considering a farm business transition. Questions about the family's current situation and possible future of the farm are included for family or classroom discussions.

This publication discusses the importance of hydrogen sulfide safety when dealing with swine barn ventilation. It provides information on ventilation strategy for both curtain-sided and tunnel-ventilated barns.

The learning objectives are as follows: Recognize how the swine industry is divided. Differentiate between management strategies at each stage of swine production. Explain different types of housing used for swine production. Explain different feeding practices for each life stage within the swine industry. Describe major diet components used for swine for each life stage. This grain module is brought to you by the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, and was produced by the former Crop Adviser Institute.

Click here to access the Swine Industry Module

Learning objective: Understand how the swine industry is organized. Differentiate between management strategies and housing types used in swine production.

Introduction: The swine industry is highly integrated and has found many non-meat uses for swine by-products. In order to protect animals and keep food and by-products safe, swine operations have high biosecurity measures in place.

Animal flow: There are two major animal flow processes utilized in the swine industry: continuous and all-in-all-out. Continuous operations constantly have pigs moving into, within, and off the operation. All-in-all-out operations will completely empty housing facilities for cleaning and disinfecting before the next group of pigs arrive.

Personnel: Personnel required on a grow/finish operation include a farm site manager and a stockperson. The personnel required for a farrowing operation includes a sow farm manager, a breeding and gestation lead, a farrowing lead, and a nursery lead with stockpersons working under each lead position. A farrow to finish site will have each of the employees required for grow/finish and farrowing operations.

Housing types: Pigs can be housed in confinements or outdoors. Confinement housing is in climate controlled buildings that have proper temperature, ventilation, and lighting. Outdoor housing for swine consists of outdoor pens and hoop buildings that provide shelter from harsh weather conditions. The labor input for outdoor facilities is much higher, and the growth and conception rates are lower than those in confinement operations.

Supporting information:

• An Introduction to Animal Husbandry and Nutrition

Understanding energy consumption in swine facilities can help managers know how much energy is being used and how much should be used. Tools for calculating optimal energy use are included in the publication, as well as tips for what to do if usage is higher than the suggested goals.

This educational document is a collaborative project between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH), Iowa State University to provide a brief introduction of basic animal husbandry and nutrition. This material is intended for readers with little background in livestock production. The information will focus on some customary management and husbandry practices in commercial production facilities for swine, cattle and poultry. In addition, information is included on horses, sheep and goats.

Using heat lamps, heat mats, and brooders for localized heating can improve energy efficiency in swine housing. Learn about small adjustments and management considerations for implementing localized heating.

Ventilation is by far the largest source of heating energy loss in swine facilities. To maintain air quality, it is essential to provide proper minimum ventilation without losing excessive energy from the building. Learn how modern controllers interlock equipment operation to avoid conflicts that waste energy.

Wasted heating energy due to over-ventilation is a costly problem for hog producers. Proper sizing of ventilation and use of variable speed fans can improve energy efficiency.

Ventilation fans are the driving force behind the exchange of air that is necessary to create a healthy environment for animals and farm employees.

This publication has practical, accurate, basic information on ventilating swine nursery buildings. Find out how much air is needed, heating needs, winter ventilation control, pit ventilation, pre-heating ventilation air, and more.

Swine producers have found that composting is a flexible and reasonably priced disposal method that can be used year round. Find out about facilities and equipment, procedures, and regulations.

One way to avoid long-term storage of manure in swine buildings is to use gravity drain gutters to remove manure to outside storage. This publication deals specifically with flat bottom gutters.

Nipple waterers are popular because they do not foul as easily as cup or bowl waterers. The flow rate needs to be monitored to determine if it is within the flow need for satisfactory water intake.

This editable PDF can be filled out online, saved, and then printed; or it can be printed and completed manually. For more information visit our webpage on using 4-H forms and documents.

Learn about Swedish deep-bedded group nursing systems for feeder pig production.

Barley, oats, rye, triticale, and wheat can be useful in swine feeding programs. This publication provides guidelines common to inclusion of these grains in swine diets, information specific to the feeding of each grain to the various swine classes, and summarized guidelines.

Swine Breeding and Gestation Facilities Handbook is a great resource where producers and builders can learn everything needed to plan, construct, and manage a swine breeding and gestation facility.

Contents

• Housing Management Options
• Building Layout and Equipment
• Manure Handling
• Environmental Control Systems
• Utilities

More than 90 figures, photographs, and tables plus 11 examples complement the text. Five breeding herd inventory worksheets and a boar usage chart complete the book.

Proper ventilation design helps ensure healthy and productive animals, healthy employees, and an efficient facility. This worksheet is intended to guide you through a simplified procedure for selecting the components of a ventilation system.

Poor ventilation in modified open-front buildings often causes pigs to give less than optimal performance. Read about and view figures of how to modify open-front buildings.

Topics include

• Housing and management options
• Building layout and equipment
• Manure handling systems
• Environmental control systems
• Utilities, and safety

More than 50 drawings and photographs of building layouts and equipment—including configurations for manure handling systems and designs for environmental control systems—tables and examples are included.

Planning, design factors, animal environment, manure management, utilities, construction, and remodeling are major topics of this work.

Concepts from nine MWPS farrowing building plans plus space use guidelines, layout alternatives, and construction techniques are featured.

Mechanical Ventilating Systems for Livestock Housing is a complete guide that will help in evaluating existing systems. It looks at alternative systems, and has a section on troubleshooting to help diagnose problems.

Handbook includes

• air requirements
• insulation
• fan types
• controls
• maintenance

Applications and examples are provided for beef, dairy, calves, equine, poultry, rabbits, sheep, and swine.