The effects of floor space on the trailer and journey time during transport from the farm to the packing plant on indicators of stress (open-mouth breathing, muscle tremors, and skin discoloration) and on the incidence of transport losses (dead on arrival, nonambulatory, noninjured, and nonambulatory, injured) were evaluated in a study involving 160 loads of market-weight pigs (BW 124.7 ± 4.38 kg) using a split-plot design with a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) journey time [main plot; short (<1 h) and long (3 h)] and 2) floor space (subplot; 0.396, 0.415, 0.437, 0.462, 0.489, and 0.520 m(2)/pig, which is equivalent to 0.317, 0.332, 0.350, 0.370, 0.391, and 0.416 m(2)/100 kg of BW, respectively). Two consecutively loaded trailers were randomly allotted to journey time treatment. Floor space treatments were compared in the front 3 compartments on the top and bottom decks of the trailer and were created by varying the number of pigs per compartment, which confounds the effect of floor space with group size. Of the 17,652 pigs transported in 954 test compartments, 0.24% died or became nonambulatory. Neither journey time nor floor space had an effect (P > 0.05) on the incidence of dead and nonambulatory, injured pigs, or on total transport losses. There were interactions (P < 0.05) between journey time and floor space treatments for the incidences of nonambulatory, noninjured pigs and open-mouth breathing. For 2 of the smallest floor spaces (0.415 and 0.437 m(2)/pig), the incidence of nonambulatory, noninjured pigs was greater on short than on long journeys; for the other 4 floor spaces there was no effect (P > 0.05) of journey time. The incidence of open-mouth breathing for the 3 smallest floor spaces was greater (P < 0.05) for short than long journeys, whereas there was no effect (P > 0.05) of journey time for the 3 greatest floor spaces. The frequency of skin discoloration was greater (P < 0.001) for pigs transported at the 2 smallest floor spaces compared with the other 4 floor spaces. In summary, short journey time increased the frequency of indicators of stress after unloading at the plant for pigs transported at smaller floor spaces and also increased the incidence of nonambulatory, noninjured pigs at 2 of the 3 smallest floor spaces. However, neither transport floor space nor journey time had an effect on total losses.

Crossbred pigs (n = 1,296) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate three stocking rate treatments (22, 27, or 32 pigs pen(-1)) on growth performance from weaning [5.0 +/- 0.01 kg body weight (BW); 15 +/- 1 d of age] to 24 wk post-weaning. Floor and feeder spaces per pig were 0.78 m(2) and 4.2 cm, 0.64 m(2) and 3.4 cm, and 0.54 m(2) and 2.9 cm for group sizes of 22, 27, and 32, respectively. During the first 8 wk post-weaning there was a tendency for average daily gain (ADG) (511, 505, and 497 g d(-1), respectively; P = 0.07) and BW (35.1, 34.7, and 34.3 kg, respectively; P = 0.08) to decrease linearly as stocking rate increased. Moreover, from week 8 to 18, week 18 to 24, and for the overall period (weaning to week 24) both ADG (688, 660, and 635 g d-1 for the overall period, respectively) and BW (121.8, 117.1 and 113.1 kg at week 24, respectively) decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing stocking rate. There were no treatment differences in the coefficient of variation in pig BW within a pen at any stage of the study. Morbidity and mortality rates increased linearly (8.5, 10.2, and 12.7%; P < 0.05) with increasing stocking rate. In conclusion, decreasing group size, thereby increasing floor and feeder space pig(-1), reduced morbidity and mortality and increased growth rate after 8 wk post-weaning resulting in heavier pigs at 24 wk post-weaning for the smaller groups.

Pigs (n = 240) were allotted in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement with 5 levels of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS): 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60%, and 2 ractopamine ( RAC) levels: 0 and 5 mg/kg. Four pigs per pen ( 2 barrows, 2 gilts) closest to pen mean BW were used for meat quality evaluation. Loins ( n = 119) were evaluated for objective color; moisture and fat; subjective color, marbling, and firmness; and drip loss. Bellies ( n = 119) were evaluated for weight, length, width, thickness, objective fat color, and firmness. Cured bellies were evaluated for pump yield, cook loss, and sliced bacon cook loss. Loin thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were evaluated on enhanced ( salt and phosphate) boneless chops held in modified atmosphere (80% O-2/20% CO2) packages for 0, 7, 14, and 21 d. Bacon TBARS were evaluated on sliced bacon held in vacuum packages for 0, 28, 56, and 84 d. Fat samples were collected from each jowl and belly and evaluated for fatty acid profile and iodine value (IV). Increasing DDGS decreased subjective marbling (P = 0.0134) and firmness (P = 0.0235), and increased drip loss (P = 0.0046). Distillers dried grains with solubles did not affect loin pH, subjective or objective color, percent moisture, or percent fat (P > 0.05). The RAC decreased subjective color (P = 0.0239), marbling (P = 0.0445), and a* (P = 0.0355). Increasing DDGS decreased belly weight (P = 0.0155), length (P = 0.0008), thickness (P = 0.0019), and firmness (P = 0.0054); decreased belly fat L* (P = 0.0818); and increased belly cook loss (P = 0.0890). Ractopamine did not affect any belly measurements, and there were no DDGS x RAC interactions (P > 0.05). Distillers dried grains with solubles did not affect loin TBARS at 0, 7, or 14 d. At 21 d, loin TBARS from 30, 45, and 60% DDGS groups were increased compared with 0 and 15% groups (P < 0.05). Ractopamine did not affect (P > 0.05) loin TBARS, and there were no (P > 0.05) DDGS x RAC interactions. Distillers dried grains with solubles and RAC did not affect bacon TBARS ( P > 0.05). Increasing DDGS increased belly (P = 0.0207) and jowl (P < 0.0001) IV, and decreased MUFA: PUFA in belly (P < 0.0001) and jowl ( P < 0.0001) fat. Ratio of SFA: unsaturated fatty acids decreased in jowl (P = 0.0002) and belly fat (P = 0.2815). Ractopamine did not affect fatty acid profiles or IV, and there were no DDGS x RAC interactions (P > 0.05). Results indicate that increased DDGS have minimal effects on loin quality, but decrease belly quality, bacon processing characteristics, and fat stability. Ractopamine does not negatively affect these characteristics and does not interact with DDGS.

A total of 396 gilts (PIC 337×C22 [synthetic white-line dam], 22.4±2.3kg body weight) was used in a four-treatment trial to investigate the effect of two phytase utilization strategies on growth performance, bone ash and nutrient excretion. Pigs were housed in an environmentally controlled building that contained multiple manure pits. Three contiguous pens housing 11 pigs each were located above each pit. Pens were weighed individually and an average weight for each pit was calculated. Blocks of three pits were then formed based on body weight and randomly allotted to dietary treatments, totaling three pits (nine pens) per treatment. Dietary treatments included (1) a phosphorus (P)-adequate maize–soybean meal control diet (PC), (2) PC less 1.3ginorganicP (iP)/kg (NC), (3) NC plus 500FTU phytase (OptiPhos, Phytex LLC)/kg, and (4) a diet devoid of iP with phytase supplemented to meet the P requirements of the pigs. Thus, phytase levels of 1000, 500 and 300FTU/kg were supplemented from 22 to 49, 49 to 91 and 91 to 130kg body weight, respectively. The P-releasing values utilized for 300, 500 and 1000FTU/kg phytase were 1.0, 1.3 and 2.0g/kg, respectively. Bone ash (metacarpals III and IV; g/100g and g) was measured on one pig per pen at approximately 74kg and on three pigs per pen at the end of the trial. Overall, pigs fed the NC diet tended to have lower (P<0.10) weight gains than the other pigs. Additionally, pigs fed the diet devoid of iP with graded phytase supplementation tended to have greater (P<0.10) gain/feed ratios than pigs fed the P-adequate diet. Bone ash (g and g/100g) was highest (P<0.05) for control and NC+phytase pigs, whereas the NC pigs had the lowest (P<0.05) values, regardless of sampling time. Overall, P excretion was reduced (P<0.01) by 69g/100g from pigs fed the diet devoid of iP with graded phytase utilization. Complete replacement of iP with an E. coli-derived phytase maintained growth performance in growing-finishing gilts when diets were formulated to a similar available P concentration using accurate P-releasing efficacy estimates for phytase.

This study evaluated effects of trailer design and season on physical indicators of stress during loading and unloading and transport losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) in market-weight pigs (BW = 129.6 +/- 0.40 kg). A total of 109 trailer loads of pigs (n = 17,256 pigs) from 1 farm were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) trailer design (potbelly vs. straight-deck) and 2) season (spring vs. summer vs. fall vs. winter). A subset of loads (n = 42) was used to examine effect of distance pigs were moved during loading [short (<24 m) vs. long (47 to 67 m)] on physical indicators of stress and transport losses. This study was conducted on 7 d per season at 1 farm with 4 loads (2 on potbelly and 2 on straight-deck trailers) being transported each day to 1 commercial packing plant. Pigs from different farm groups were mixed on the trailer and provided with 0.45 m(2)/pig floor space during an approximately 4-h journey to the plant. The percentage of pigs exhibiting open-mouth breathing, skin discoloration, and muscle tremors was recorded during loading and unloading. Additionally, dead pigs on arrival at the plant and nonambulatory pigs at the farm and at the plant were recorded. Effects of trailer design on open-mouth breathing and skin discoloration during unloading were dependent on season (trailer design x season interaction; P < 0.05). Pigs unloaded from potbelly trailers had a greater (P < or = 0.05) incidence of open-mouth breathing in the spring and summer and a greater (P < 0.05) incidence of skin discoloration in the spring, summer, and winter than pigs unloaded from straight-deck trailers. The incidence of total nonambulatory pigs at the plant was greater (P < 0.05) in the winter than in the spring and summer. The long compared with short distance moved treatment resulted in a greater (P = 0.001) incidence of open-mouth breathing and skin discoloration during loading and tended (P = 0.06) to increase the incidence of nonambulatory pigs at the farm. However, there was no effect of trailer design, season, or loading distance on total losses at the plant. In summary, physical indicators of stress (open-mouth breathing and skin discoloration) were increased with the long distance moved during loading treatment and were greater during unloading for potbelly than straight-deck trailers; however, trailer design, season, and loading distance had minimal effects on total transport losses.

Effects of distance moved during loading and floor space on the trailer during transport on the incidence of transport losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) on arrival at the packing plant were evaluated in a study involving 42 loads of pigs (average BW = 131.2 kg, SD 5.05). A split-plot design was used with a 2 x 6 factorial arrangement of the following treatments: 1) distance moved from the pen to the exit of the building [short (0 to 30.5 m) vs. long (61.0 to 91.4 m)] and 2) transport floor space (0.396, 0.415, 0.437, 0.462, 0.489, or 0.520 m(2)/pig). Loading distance treatments (sub-plots) were compared within transport floor space treatments (main plot). Pigs were loaded at the farm using sorting boards and, if necessary, electric goads, transported approximately 3 h to a commercial packing plant and unloaded using livestock paddles. The number of nonambulatory pigs during loading and the number of dead and nonambulatory pigs at the plant were recorded. Nonambulatory pigs were classified as fatigued, injured, or injured and fatigued. In addition, the incidence of pigs exhibiting signs of stress (open-mouth breathing, skin discoloration, and muscle tremors) during loading and unloading was recorded. There were no interactions (P > 0.05) between distance moved and transport floor space treatments. Moving pigs long compared with short distances during loading increased (P < 0.001) the incidence of open-mouth breathing after loading (24.9 vs. 11.0 +/- 1.03%, respectively) and tended to increase the incidence of nonambulatory pigs during loading (0.32 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.09%, respectively; P = 0.09) and of nonambulatory, injured pigs at the plant (0.24 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.07%, respectively; P = 0.06). However, distance moved did not affect other losses at the plant. Total losses at the plant were greater (P < 0.05) for the 3 lowest floor spaces compared with the 2 highest floor spaces, and pigs provided 0.462 m(2)/pig during transport had similar transport losses to those provided 0.489 and 0.520 m(2)/pig (total losses at the plant = 2.84, 1.88, 1.87, 0.98, 0.13, and 0.98 +/- 0.43% of pigs transported, for 0.396, 0.415, 0.437, 0.462, 0.489, and 0.520 m(2)/pig, respectively). These data confirm previous findings that transport floor space has a major effect on transport losses and suggest that these losses are minimized at a floor space of 0.462 m(2)/pig or greater.

Data on 74 trailer loads of finishing pigs (mean BW = 129.0, SEM = 0.63 kg) from wean-to-finish buildings on 2 farms within 1 production system were collected to investigate the effect of amount of floor space on the trailer (0.39 or 0.48 m2/pig) during transport on the incidence of losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) at the packing plant and to study the relationships between transport conditions and losses. Pigs were loaded using standard commercial procedures for pig handling and transportation. Two designs of flat-deck trailers with 2 decks were used. Floor space treatments were compared in 2 similarly sized compartments on each deck of each trailer type. Differences in floor space were created by varying the number of pigs in each compartment. The incidence of nonambulatory pigs at the farm during loading and at the plant after unloading, average load weight, load number within each day, event times, and temperature and relative humidity in the trailer from loading to unloading were recorded. Of the 12,511 pigs transported, 0.26% were non-ambulatory at the farm, 0.23% were dead on arrival, and 0.85% were nonambulatory at the plant. Increasing transport floor space from 0.39 to 0.48 m2/pig reduced the percentage of total nonambulatory pigs (0.62 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.13%, respectively; P < 0.05), nonambulatory, noninjured pigs (0.52 vs. 0.15 +/- 0.11%, respectively; P < 0.01), and total losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) at the plant (0.88 vs. 0.36 +/- 0.16%, respectively; P < 0.05) and tended to reduce dead pigs (0.27 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.08%, respectively; P = 0.06). However, transport floor space did not affect the percentage of nonambulatory, injured pigs at the plant. Nonambulatory pigs at the farm were positively correlated with relative humidity during loading and load number within the day (r = 0.46 and 0.25, respectively; P < 0.05). The percentage of total losses at the plant was positively correlated to waiting time at the plant, unloading time, and total time from loading to unloading (r = 0.24, 0.51, and 0.36, respectively; P < 0.05). Average temperature during loading, waiting at the farm, transport, waiting at the plant, unloading, and average pig weight on the trailer were not correlated to losses. These results suggest that floor space per pig on the trailer and transport conditions can affect transport losses.

of space per sow. Environmental conditions were similar for both groups. ESF sows had shorter gestation lengths, were heavier at weaning, and had heavier litters at birth and weaning. But, ESF sows took longer to return to estrus than C sows when limiting returns from 0 to 10 d. However, a higher % of C sows had delayed estrus (>10 d.) follow- ing weaning. There was no difference in the number of pigs born and weaned. This shows that pen gestation with ESF feeders keeps sows in better condition for farrowing, thus resulting in larger pigs born and weaned. Sows used in this study were English Belles from GAP Genetics, Win- nipeg, MB Means, standard errors, and t-test significance levels of sow condition, litter performance, and re-breeding performance of C and ESF sows. (ESF)n=332 SE (C)n=334 SE P Sig. ESF n=332 SE Crate n=334 SE P Sig. Gest Length d. 116.0 0.1 116.6 0.1 0.000 <.001 Wean. Wt, kg. 231.1 1.4 216.3 1.2 0.000 <.001 N. Born Alive 10.3 0.2 10.5 0.2 0.544 NS Litter Birth Wt., kg. 16.5 0.2 15.9 0.2 0.037 <.05 N. Weaned 9.4 0.2 9.6 0.2 0.337 NS Litter Wean Wt., kg. 60.8 0.6 58.7 0.6 0.008 <.01 Days to Estrus, <10 d. 5.1 .05 4.9 .05 0.000 <.001 (n) % Delayed Estrus, >10 d. (10) 3.0 0.9 (21) 6.3 1.3 0.045 <.05