bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
222 Effect of electronically controlled floor cooling pad on thermoregulatory performance of Duroc boars during the summer heat stress period
Authors: Licuan Daphne , Schinckel Allan P , Hundley Jamie , Nepomuceno R J , Robins Matt , Crasto Randolph , Didion Bradley A , Kleve-Feld Michael , Stewart Kara R 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of using electronically controlled floor cooling pad (ECP) to reduce physiological heat stress response during the summer season in a boar stud in Scottsville, Kentucky. Boars (n = 60; 526 ± 188 d of age) were placed in two rows of pens (2.06 x 0.66 m) of a 350 head tunnel ventilated boar barn and were randomly assigned to either CONTROL (n = 30; no ECP) or ECP treatments (n = 30). The ECP had 4.25 L cold water flushed through a group of 5 pads connected to each other, when temperature sensors reached 27°C or every 4 min for sensors placed on 5th pad and 24°C or every 4 min for sensors placed on 1st pad. Boars experienced a natural summer heat stress environment (daily temperature, humidity and dew point: mean = 24.03°C, 87.9%, 21.7°C, hourly mean high = 28.9°C, 83.4%, 25.8°C) for a period of 30 d from July 15, 2023 to August 14, 2023 wherein the cooling pad remained on and were flushing based on the set points mentioned above. Daily physiological measurements included respiration rate (RR), rectal temp (RT) and feed refusal (FR) collected during the hottest part of the day (1300 to1600 h) via counting chest or belly rises, using rectal thermometer and visual estimation, respectively. A mixed model in SAS (v.9.4) including the fixed effects of ECP, week, day, boar ID and their interactions with day in the week included as a random effect was used for the statistical analysis. Both RR and RT were decreased by ECP (P &lt; 0.001), week (P = 0.027 and P = 0.005, respectively) and treatment by week interactions (P &lt; 0.001). The overall RR and RT for boars on ECP (Mean = 15.2 breaths/minute, 38°C) were more stable compared with Control (Mean = 43.4 breaths/minute, 38.4°C). Increased RR (Mean = 55.7 breaths/min; daily high = 164 breaths/minute) and RT (Mean = 38.7°C; daily high = 40°C) were noted in wk 30 and 33 for CONTROL group while ECP group remained stable. The wk 30 and 33 RR and RT are caused by increased environmental temperatures and humidity (hourly mean high: temperature = 28.9°C, humidity = 84.9%, dewpoint = 21°C). FR increased as barn temperatures increased and treatment by week interactions were significant (P &lt; 0.001), with a tendency for ECP to be overall less than CONTROL at P = 0.064. CONTROL boars had greater FR than ECP boars for wk 31 (P &lt; 0.001), 32 (P = 0.001) and tendency for wk 33 (P = 0.098). These results indicate that the ECP effectively reduced the RR, RT and FR across the weeks with greater effects seen during the hottest weeks in the 30-d trial.
216 Is weaning body weight more important than early post-weaning feed intake? A meta-analysis exploring electronic feeding stations data
Authors: Fabà Lluís , Hulshof Tetske G , Balemans G B G , van Hees Hubèrt M J 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The present meta-analysis investigated the effects of initial voluntary post-weaning feed intake (FI) and weaning body weight (BW) on daily FI and body weight (BW) development in nursery pigs housed in electronic feeding stations (EFS). In total, 18 studies (2006-2017, Trouw Nutrition, The Netherland) were used containing 1,177 mixed-sex pigs weaned at ~25 d (7.3 ± 1.5 kg BW). Studies lasted for 14 d (3 studies;162 pigs), 21 d (3 studies; 154 pigs), 31 d (7 studies; 467 pigs), or up to 38 to 52 d (5 studies; 394 pigs) post-weaning. Pigs were housed in pens with single-space EFS with 10 to 12 pigs/pen. Daily individual FI and BW at different timepoints were determined. Across studies various dietary treatments were applied by EFS with a feed phase change on d 4-8 (13 studies) or d 14 (5 studies). Classes were created with pigs above or below their respective study median on a) cumulative FI over the initial 4 d post-weaning (Fid 0-3; Hfi and Lfi), and b) BW0 (Hbw and Lbw). Mixed models were used to analyze data including FId0-3 and BW0 classes, time post-weaning, and their interactions as fixed effects while study and pen were random effects and pig was repeated measure over time. In a separate model, the FI before and after change from phase 1 to phase 2 was studied in the 2 × 2 with the diet change day as covariate. Pigs with Hfi showed greater (P &lt; 0.05) daily FI until d 14 than their Lfi counterparts (Figure 1). Thereafter, LfiHbw pigs showed a greater FI to an intermediate level with HfiHbw being greatest and LfiLbw least (P &lt; 0.001). Between d 20-28, LfiLbw pigs had the least FI among groups (P &lt; 0.001). From d 28 onward, HfiHbw showed greater daily FI than the other groups (P &lt; 0.05) with LfiLbw often having the lowest FI (P &lt; 0.05) or similar to HfiLbw and LfiHbw (P &gt;0.05). The BW0 was similar between FId0-3 classes (P &gt;0.05), i.e., 8.26, 8.26, 6.85 and 6.77 kg BW for HfiHbw, LfiHbw, HfiLbw and LfiLbw, respectively whereas final BW were all different (i.e., 23.9, 21.8, 20.8 and 18.4 kg BW, respectively; P &lt; 0.001). In absolute figures, all groups had 10 g similar decrease of FI the day of feed phase change followed with 8 g increase the day after (P &gt; 0.05). Time spent eating per feeder visit, steadily increased from d0 (14 min) to d5 (170 min), being greater for Hfi than Lfi (P &lt; 0.05). From d 6 onward, it remained ~172 min/visit showing some tendencies (P &lt; 0.10) for HfiHbw spending less time. In conclusion, the present study pointed out the relevance of weaning BW and initial post-weaning FI as independent factors influencing both daily feed intake behavior and growth performance for the nursery phase.
221 Impact of parity on stall use in free access stall systems
Authors: Collier Simon A , Luttman Andrea M , Siegford Janice M , Ernst Catherine W 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Consumer pressure is leading producers to transition to gestational group-housing systems. One such system, free access stalls, allows the unique opportunity to investigate the preference of the animal for individual or group-housing. The objective of this study was to describe stall use by gestating gilts and parity 1 (P1) sows in a free access stall system. A gilt pen and a P1 pen, each with 8 stalls and 1 pig allocated per stall space (n = 16 total), were used for this study. Pigs were locked in the stalls 5 d before mixing (30 dg) to allow acclimation to the new pen environment and feeding schedule. On the day of mixing, females were moved out of their stalls at noon and continuous overhead video was captured for 72h post-mixing. To characterize stall use, videos were manually decoded sows time of entry into and exit from stalls. Time spent in stalls was analyzed using a Gaussian linear mixed model with fixed effects of parity, day, interaction between parity and day, and a random effect of individual animal. On average gilts spent significantly more time in stalls compared with P1 sows (20.9 h vs 16.4 h, P = 0.050). Overall, there was no change in stall utilization over the 3 d post-mixing but there was a significant interaction of parity and day (P = 0.008). On d 1, time spent in stalls did not differ between gilts and P1s (P = 0.743). However, on d 2 and 3 we observed significant differences between parities, with P1 sows spending less time in stalls than gilts (P = 0.032, P = 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, gestating females spent more time in stalls than in loafing areas. Ongoing research will explore how gestating females use their time in each space. The observed parity differences may suggest that P1 sows adapt more quickly to group housing systems compared with gilts.
220 Litter performance, serum collagen, and hormone concentrations in prolapsed and non-prolapsed sows
Authors: Harshman Jared A , Carter Scott D , Coble Kyle 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Pelvic organ prolapse is one of the top leading causes of sow mortality today and widely considered a multifactorial issue. Previous reports observed prolapsed sows having decreased serum concentrations of various trace minerals and increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha compared with non-prolapsed sows. Additionally, collagen, hormones, and previous litter performance are other factors proposed to be associated with POP. A study was completed to determine differences in serum collagen type 1 (COL1), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), as well as relaxin and estradiol differences in the serum concentration between prolapsed and non-prolapsed sows. Furthermore, previous litter performance, lactation days, pigs born, stillborns, mummified, and pigs weaned on prolapse rate were evaluated. The study utilized 44 prolapsed sows and 44 non-prolapsed sows of similar parity, location, management, and stage of production. Blood was collected from the prolapsed and non-prolapsed sows upon discovery. Serum samples were analyzed using radioimmunoassay for estradiol content. Additionally, COL1, MMP-1, TIMP-1, and relaxin concentrations were determined from the serum using ELISA testing. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure in SAS. Prolapsed sows had decreased (P &lt; 0.05) COL1 and TIMP-1 concentrations in the serum compared with the non-prolapsed sows. Prolapsed sows had marginally greater (P &lt; 0.10) MMP-1 concentration compared with non-prolapsed sows. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.10) between prolapsed and non-prolapsed serum concentraions of sows for estradiol and relaxin. Prolapsed sows had longer lactation days (P &lt; 0.05) in the litter before prolapsing compared with non-prolapsed sows. Additionally, stillborns in the previous litter were marginally greater (P = 0.06) in prolapsed sows when compared with the non-prolapsed sows. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.10) in pigs born, mummified, or pigs weaned between prolapsed and non-prolapsed sows. This study suggests that there is a reduced concentration of serum COL1 and TIMP-1 found in prolapsed sows compared with non-prolapsed sows and a marginally increased MMP-1 concentration in prolapsed sows. This could influence the structural integrity of the connective tissue that supports the pelvic organs. We found no differences in serum estradiol or relaxin levels. Additionally, lactation days and stillborn pigs in the litter prior to prolapsing could be contributing factors to prolapse. This work further supports the idea that prolapse is a multifactorial issue.
291 An evaluation of soybean meal inclusion rate in pigs fed from wean to market
Authors: Weaver Eric , Hong Jinsu , Samuel Ryan S , Levesque Crystal L , Kramer Autumn , Thaler Robert C 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Soybean meal (SBM) supply may result in decreased relative costs of SBM compared with other ingredients. Net energy of SBM closer to the NE of corn has been reported which may increase its relative value in formulations (Boyd and Gaines, 2023). To evaluate the effect of SBM level in two common diet formulation strategies, Corn-DDGS-SBM (DDGS) or Corn-SBM (SBM) in wean-to-market pigs (WTM). A total of 540 pigs (PIC X Duroc, 18 d of age, 5.3 kg) were weaned and blocked by body weight (BW) and sex for allocation. Six dietary treatments were assigned to 90 pens to give 15 replications per treatment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Individual BW for average daily gain (ADG) and pen feed disappearance (ADF) were collected every 2 wk for 18 wk and carcass data were collected at average market weight of 129 kg (18 to 20 wk after placement). The mash diets were formulated to a SID lysine:NE target in 7 phases using current NE estimates for SBM, 2087 Kcal/kg, and to meet or exceed NRC requirements (2012). The NE level used for DDGS was 2,343 Kcal/kg. The treatments consisted of Low (LO), Medium (MED), and High (HI) SBM levels by providing 0.5%, 0.25% and no added lysine (AA) in SBM- or DDGS (30%)-based diets. Data were analyzed using pen as the experimental unit for performance data and the pig as the experimental unit for carcass data. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) and P &lt; 0.05 was considered significant and 0.05 ≤ P &lt; 0.10 considered a tendency. The ADF tended to be less from wk 0 to 18 for pigs fed SBM than DDGS diets. SBM diets increased wk 6 BW and ADG compared with DDGS (P &lt; 0.05). HI and MED SBM additions increased wk 6 BW and wk 0 to 6 ADG vs LO SBM (P &lt; 0.05). SBM diets increased wk 14 and 18 BW, gain to feed ratio (G:F) and ADG compared with DDGS (P &lt; 0.05) except for MED in DDGS diets, which was not different. HI and MED SBM additions increased wk 14 and 18 BW and 0 to 18 wk ADG vs LO SBM (P &lt; 0.05). Carcass data indicated SBM diets increased hot carcass weight by 2 kg, loin depth, back fat and calculated lean weight, compared with DDGS (P &lt; 0.05). LO SBM resulted in more back fat, less loin depth and lean weight compared with the use of HI or MED SBM (P &lt; 0.05). SBM improved growth, feed and caloric conversion, and increased carcass value in high-performance WTM pigs compared with the use of DDGS. MED and HI SBM level tended to improve ADG and carcass characteristics.
287 The effect of cooling pad and Moringa oleifera on lactating sows under heat stress
Authors: Stansberry McKeeley C , Ogundare Wonders , Beckett Linda M , Reis Leriana Garcia , Fisher Elizabeth G , Tobolski Evy M , Richert Brian T , Casey Theresa M , Schinckel Allan P , Minor Radiah C 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Lactating sows and their litters are particularly vulnerable to heat stress (HS). HS decreases sow fertility, feed intake, milk production, and litter growth. Approaches are needed to mitigate the negative effects of HS on animal welfare and reduce oxidative damage to tissues associated with HS. Recently, electronic cooling pad (ECP) were designed to remove heat through conductive cooling. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of ECP and feeding an antioxidant, Moringa oleifera (4% of the diet, M), to sows from late gestation to weaning on their welfare and production performance. A study was conducted using a 2 by 2 factorial arrangements of treatments with mixed parity Yorkshire x Landrace sows (n = 48) mated to Duroc sires. The sows were exposed to moderate HS conditions from gestation d 100 to d 21 of lactation (weaning). To achieve moderate HS analogous to a summer day, farrowing room temperature was increased incrementally from 800 to 1100 h to 32º C and slowly decreased to 26 ºC from 1700 to 2000 h. Sows were limit-fed their specific diets during gestation (1.36 kg 2X/d) and fed for ad-libitum feed intake post farrowing. Treatments included HS+control corn-soy meal diet (CS), HS+M, ECP+CS, ECP+M (n = 12/treatment). Sow RR and RT were measured four times daily (0600, 1300, 1600, 1900 h) and sow feed intake during lactation was measured along with body weight (BW) change from farrowing to weaning. Birth litter size was determined, and growth of standardized litters (n = 13 piglets/sow) was measured. Milk was collected during active farrowing (d 0) and on d 3 and d 14 post-farrowing and analyzed for macronutrient content. The use of ECP decreased lactating sow RR (Lsmeans HS = 66.5 bpm, ECP = 28.2 bpm, P ≤ 0.0001), RT (Lsmeans HS = 39.2 ºC, ECP = 38.8 ºC, P = 0.003), and lactation BW loss (Lsmeans HS = -21.67, ECP = -5.1 kg P = 0.002). ECP by time-of-day interactions (P &lt; 0.01) existed for RR and RT with ECP having a greater impact from 1300 to 1900 h than at 0600 h. ECP increased lactation feed intake (P &lt; 0.02). An ECP by diet interaction (P = 0.0004) indicated ECP increased lactation feed intake for the sows fed the CS diet (6.48 kg/d vs 4.42 kg/d, P = 0.0004) but did not affect feed intake of sows fed the M diet. Treatment did not affect litter weaning weight (P = 0.14). M increased percent fat in milk (Lsmeans M = 12.28, CS = 11.06, P = 0.05) across all days of lactation. The reduction in sow RR and RT combined with increased feed intake and decreased loss of BW during lactation indicate that ECP improved sow wellbeing in the HS environment. Neither cooling nor M affected litter growth, despite increased fat content of milk of M supplemented sows and increased feed intake of ECP-CS sows.
293 Effects of Saccharmyces yeast postbiotics on pig feed performance and carcass characteristics when included in an elevated protein diet
Authors: Li Xiaohan , Paulk Chad B , Gonzalez John M , Vaughn Matthew , Alambarrio Daniela A , Zedonek Siara 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The study objective was to determine effects of Saccharmyces yeast postbiotics (CT; celluTEIN; Puretein Bioscience LLC, Minneapolis, MN, USA) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed an increased protein diet during growing and finishing. Pigs [PIC Camborough×PIC 337; n = 51 barrows; 57 gilts; initial body weight (BW) 28.3 ± 0.1 kg] were weighed, stratified by BW within sex, and within each two-pig strata, randomly assigned to a pen (n = 18; n = 6 pigs/pen). Pens were randomly assigned one of two dietary treatments (Diet) consisting of 0 or 100 ppm CT mixed in a four-phase dietary regimen (phase1 d 0 to 21, phase2 d 22 to 42, phase3 d 43 to 63, phase4 d 64 to 84). Weekly, feed consumption and pigs were weighed to calculate performance. On d 91, 98, and 105, the heaviest male and female from each pen was harvested and carcass data were collected. Performance data were analyzed as a completely randomized design, carcass data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design, and pen was the experimental unit). Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05 and tendencies were declared between 0.05&lt; P &lt; 0.10. At all four phases, there was no Diet effect on BW, average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI; P &gt; 0.12), except CT pigs consumed less (P = 0.04) feed during phase4. There was no Diet effect on Phase2 gain to feed ratio (G:F), but CT pigs had greater Phase1 and 4 G:F and smaller Phase 3 G:F (P &lt; 0.04). From d 0 to 84, there were no Diet effects on ADG and ADFI (P &gt; 0.13), but CT pigs had greater (P = 0.02) G:F. celluTEIN carcasses tended to have greater (P = 0.09) weight and had greater (P &lt; 0.01) dressing percent than control carcasses. There were no Diet effects for 10th or last rib fat thickness, but CT carcasses tended to have less (P = 0.07) first rib fat thickness. There were no Diet effects on loin eye area, National Pork Board (NPB) color score, Japanese color score, and L*, a*, and b* values (P &gt; 0.24). celluTEIN carcasses had smaller NPB marbling and Japanese marbling color scores than control carcasses (P &lt; 0.02). When supplemented to an increased protein diet, Saccharmyces yeast postbiotics improve feed conversion while positively affecting several important carcass measures.
285 Impact of feeding strategies on semen concentration, motility, and morphology of the mature AI boar
Authors: Scaff Taw , Denton Alicia , ford Ally , Zaicow Emma , Stewart Kara R , Richert Brian T 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to determine if varying feeding strategies of maintenance requirements of boars impacts semen concentration, motility, morphology, and cortisol of the working boar. This experiment was conducted at Purdue University over two 9-wk periods with 1-wk before each 9-wk period serving as baseline for analysis. Boars (n = 28; Acuity and Topig Norvsin) from two age groups (9 and 15 mo) and two genetics (maternal and terminal) were used. Boars were blocked by breed and age and randomly allocated to receive one of three feed intake levels of a corn-soybean meal-based diet formulated to meet NRC (2012) maintenance requirements: HIGH (150% maintenance, n = 9); MAIN (100% maintenance, n = 10); and LOW (80% maintenance, n = 9) during the first 9-wk period. During the second 9-wk period remaining HIGH and LOW boars were crossed-over to opposite treatments (HIGH-LOW, n = 9; LOW-HIGH, n = 7), and maintenance boars were unchanged (MAIN-MAIN, n = 8). Semen was collected once/wk using the gloved hand method and 3 mL of ejaculate was diluted in 27 mL of extender (Androhep Plus, Minitube). Semen concentration (Nucleocounter SP-100), motility (Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis, CASA, CEROS II), and sperm cell morphology (phase-contrast, bright-field microscopy) were analyzed. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS 9.4 with boar as experimental unit with main effects of feed intake and age with phase (3-wk period) as repeated measure. Significance was determined at P &lt; 0.05 and a trend 0.05 &lt; P ≤ 0.10. Three-way interactions for the first 9-wk period of feed intake*age*phase was observed for total sperm (P &lt; 0.10) and total normal sperm (P &lt; 0.05) with old boars fed HIGH treatment increasing sperm production, but old boars fed MAIN and LOW decreasing sperm production while young boars had minimal changes in sperm production regardless of feeding levels in the first 9-wk period. No other interactions or main effects were observed for the first period. During the second 9-wk period two-way interactions were observed for total sperm (FI*Age; P &lt; 0.05) and total normal sperm (FI*Age; P &lt; 0.01) with old LOW-HIGH boars having the highest total sperm and total normal sperm concentrations and young LOW-HIGH boars having the least total sperm and total normal sperm concentrations. HIGH-LOW fed boars had the greatest decrease in semen volume compared with the other treatments (FI*Phase; P &lt; 0.01). Boars fed MAIN had minimal impacts on semen parameters compared with HIGH and LOW feed intake treatments. HIGH and LOW feed intake was observed to impact semen parameters in old boars faster than young boars with neither age being able to return to their baseline semen parameters observed at the start of the trial. Future research is needed with varying ages and feed intakes to better understand how nutritional strategies impact semen quantity and quality in the boar stud.