AGR 2350 Study Page Final PDF

AGR 2350 Study Page Final (lect 14) Alternative Livestock Popular species farmed in Canada and Ontario: Cervids Bison Water Buffalo -Elk and deer species Camelids Rabbits...

AGR 2350 Study Page Final (lect 14) Alternative Livestock Popular species farmed in Canada and Ontario: Cervids Bison Water Buffalo -Elk and deer species Camelids Rabbits Ratites - Llamas and Alpacas - Ostrich, Emu and Rhea Fur bearing species Wild Boar Poultry - Mink and fox - Pigeons, Pheasants, Quail, etc. Others (insects) - Crickets, ants, black soldier fly larvae Common themes (pointers) ❖ Limited markets Niche or cottage industries. Many relay on producer marketing own products ❖ Fragmented industry infrastructure - Constant supply/quality. Lack of distribution, processing facilities ❖ “Boom and Bust” - Sometimes follow fads ❖ Small number of producers ❖ Limited market info Rabbits: Raised for meat: Fryers < 2.34 kg (young) - reach market weight at 8-10 weeks Roasters >2,35 kg, (mature) - 172,500 meat rabbits in 2016, Slaughtered 621,000 head. - ~3,800 producers in 2016, ON: 950 (largest), QB: 539, AB:470 Does = Female rabbits Bucks = Male rabbits Kits = young rabbits Main breeds: New Zealand White and Californian Reproduction – Gestation 30-33 d – Kindling = rabbits giving birth – Does produce 5 to 7 litters per year, 8-10 kits/litter Rabbit Meat: Strengths Challenges Established-traditional market Expanding demand?: – Cdn. consumption ~ 25 grams per capita – Consumers accessing rabbit meat – Product development Existing processing/ marketing new consumer friendly/convenient infrastructure products ~23 provincially & 1 federally licensed abattoirs Nutritional attributes Reduce mortality - Lean protein Strong leadership in Ontario Limited marketing options – 2 main buyers Livestock Alliance (Ontario Rabbit, Ontario Goat & Ontario Veal) Rabbit sector generally steady after major decrease in 1980’s  Bison Primarily raised for meat: Low in fat and calories, high in protein, iron and Vit. B-12 Bulls – 1,500-2,000 lbs (680-910 kg) Cows – 800-1,200 lbs (365-545 kg) Calves – 40-60 lbs (18-27 kg) at birth – Marketed at 24-30 months of age at 1,000 – 1,100 lbs (455-500 kg.) Beefalo = fertile hybrid between domestic cattle and bison Buffalo vs. Bison Native to Asia and Africa Native to North America Water Buffalo Plains Bison Cape Buffalo Wood Bison Bison Meat Leaner than beef Higher moisture Cooks faster Bison Meat Grading: Not Graded on Marbling History of Bison in North America: →1800 → →1900 → Today 60 million head 1000 head 400,000 head < 1990’s most bison were in conservation reserves >1990 farming began expanding Bison Production Bison are browsers (leaves fruits, twigs, other woody plants) – Challenge for feeding grain Strong fencing – Handling facilities Seasonal breeders – Calve in April-May Bison have a national traceability program that use White RFID tags Bison Industry: Number of Farms total: 989 1st: Alberta 2nd: Saskatchewan 3rd: Manitoba ON BC QB Number of Animals: 149,529  Camelids Alpacas: ❖ Breeding stock ❖ Fibre (5-10 lbs/animal/yr) – prime blanket fleece only 3-4 lbs. ❖ Pets - Crea = young alpaca - Hembra = female alpaca - Macho = male alpaca Huacaya Suri – More popular (90%) – Long silky and straight – “Fluffy” fibres (no crimp) Alpaca - Fibre Strong, light weight, fine & warm fleece. “Oil free” Graded by fibre size (microns) and staple length Marketing raw fleece/fibre via producer cooperatives – Alpaca Fibre Cooperative of Ontario – Alpaca Fibre Coop of North America Small custom fibre mills process fibre into: – quality yarn: sell to niche/artisan/cottage industry (hand spinners/weavers/knitters) – value-added products Active associations – Alpaca Canada Llamas - Livestock guard animals for sheep flocks (guarding) - Fibre - Meat - Very limited in Canada – Challenge? - Pets Ostriches: - Raised for meat, leather, oil feathers and eggs, large creature adults weigh 115-165 kg, hens law 40-100 eggs per season (late Feb-Oct.) - In 2006 about 2700 birds in Canada, down almost 15,000 in 1996. - Boom and bust: popular in the 1900s ad industry grew, fad transition, demand wasn't there and industry shrunk. Emu and Rhea: - Emu: native to New Zealand, bigger than Rhea, large fowl, raised for meat, leather, oil. - Rhea: Native to S.America - Also went through boom and bust, down from 59,000 in 1996 and most in ontario. Mink Mink Production Cycle: Breeding Season – Early March – Long-photoperiod, delayed implantation – Gestation period: 40 to 75 days Whelping and weaning – Mid-April to early May – Wean in June Growing and furring – July  Grading and pelting – Late November and December Feeding and Nutrition Carnivores 80 - 90% of diet is meat/meat byproducts/dairy byproducts – stored in large freezers – Use food waste? 10 - 20% of the diet is cereal based Feeding Feed transferred from Feeding mixer to feed cart Feed pumped from feeder to wire on tops of pens/nest boxes Feed consistency is important - Too wet: will fall through wire onto ground - Too dry: will bridge up on top of wire & mink will not be able to access it Sheds: Breeding/Whelping Pens: “Whelp” (birth) Raise kits until weaning/splitting of litters Comprised of pen & nest box Recommended Code of Practice - pens ≥ 12” high ≥ 325 in^2 including nest box Ontario pens – 12 or 15” high – 24” long – 14-18” wide Pen dividers either solid or wire Mink Sheds: - long open sided, width 2-8 rows of pens, 4 & 6 most common, natural and artificial light, natural ventilation, no supplemental heat, high biosecurity. Facilities and Equipment: - perimeter fence: prevents escapes and minimizes revenue loss, disease transmission to wildlife and cross breeding with wild mink. Enhanced bio-security and security to minimize contact with dogs, cats, wildlife and trespassers. Breeding: - Breeding season first 3 weeks or march, ratio of 4-5 females : 1 male. Goal to breed females 1-3 times, induced ovulation and delayed implantation, first egg may be fertilized but bounce around the uterus till the female mink decides to start pregnancy, 40-70d. Gestation period 51 days in average, ranges 40-70 days due to delayed implantation, can be shortened by extending day length using artificial lighting after breeding season. Mid April: - prepare for the whelping season: bedding (chopped straw, shaving) for the nest, plastic or wire with a false bottom so kids dont fall through manure will build up on false bottoms so needs to be removed regularly. Late April and Early May- Whelping Season: - kits born in nest boxes, average 5-6 kits/litter, kits readily fostered by other females to balance. Late May to June, False Bottoms out and Weaning: - False bottoms removed at 4-5 weeks, kits large enough to not fall through, cleaner environment as manure falls through. Kits weaned at 6-8 weeks, females taken from kits, so kits remain in breeder pens until separation to reduce stress of weaning. July/August, Separate lItters: - June: wean kits 6-8 weeks old, move/separate kits from breeder pens to furring pens about 8-10 weeks of age, initially split litter mates/pen to minimize stress or separation, 2 mink in every other pen if eventually splitting into 1 mink per pen, shed summer fur Furring/Growing/Pelting Pens’ - Litter split and kits transferred to furring pens - Nest: drop in nest box/overhead nesters October/November: Breeding Selection/Live Grading - Breeder selection: records: pedigree, litter size, litter weight, animal health temperament, live grading for size, fur quality, fur colour. Late November and Early December Pelting season - Pelting season for seasonal mink, implanted with melatonin, mink produces fur early because they think it’s later in season, euthanized on farm using mobile euthanasia box charge with carbon monoxide. November and December Pelt Preparation - Pelted: skinned to separate pelt from carcass - Fleshed/Scraped: removes remaining fat from pelt - Drummed to remove residual fat - Boarded for drying 36-49 hours, ready for shipping to market January to April - Marketing - Majority pelt marketed by 2 main fur actions in N/A both producer owned, - N/A fraction, rexdale: owned by Canada MInk Breeder Ass’n Canada fox breeder Ass’n, AMerican Mink COuncil and wild fur shippers council - American Legend COPP/Seattle fur exchange, seattle - Pelts graded for sex, size, color, clarity, quality and damage, bundles of petals that are consistent in all aspects auction hold 2-3 sales/year for mink, fox and wild fur Animal Welfare: - Farmed fur is a polarized topic, very strict code of practice, - Groups target farms and try to release farmed mink, actually worse for them as they aren't adopted. Creates inbreeding and disease in wild populations.  Swine Production Definitions: Gilt: Young Female: until slaughter or first farrowing - Sow: Reproducing Female Farrowing: A Sow giving birth - Boar: Reproducing Male - Barrow: A castrated male pig - Nursing Pigs: 1 kg at birth, weaning age 2-5 weeks. - Weaner Pigs: Newly weaned, about 3 wks old, about 6 kg. - Starter/Nursery Pigs: From weaning to approximately 25 kg - Hog: Growing/Finishing pig - Grower pig: 25-60 kg - Finisher Pig: 60+ kg to market at 105-110 kg, about 6 months old Nursing pig → Weaner pig → Starter/ nursery pig → Hog Breeds: - Yorkshire: Erect ears and a light pink coat color. Although originally a bacon breed they rose to prominence in the lean meat category during the 20th century in the States. TL;DR, was bacon, now lean meat - Landrace: Floppy ears, they are known for their ability to cross well with other breeds as well as their lengths or body, high carcass weight percent in ham and loin and ideal amount of finish. - Duroc: Domestic pig, varying in colour from golden to dark-reddish brown, known for its superior meat quality. - Hampshire: Erect ears with a black body and white band around the middle covering their front legs. Known for their lean muscle, high-quality carcasses and mothering abilities. Pig Production Cycle: Breeding → 114d gestation → farrowing → Weaning (~21d) → Replacements or Nursery (~42d) → Grow-finish (~ 84-100d) → market times (~150-160d) Reproduction: Sows: First estrus about 120 kg body weight, target breeding at 2nd estrus ~150 kg. ~21d estrus cycle Sows have ~2.3 litters per year ○ 114-115d gestion ○ 17-28 days of lactation ~ 5 liters per lifetime 9-12+ pigs are born alive per litter ○ Can range 6-24 piglets Sows are re-bred 4-7 days after weaning Signs of Estrus in Sows: ❖ Swollen red vulva mucous discharge ❖ Stand to be mounted By boars, pen mates, or back pressure tests ❖ Actively seek boars increased vocalizations. Breeding Using AI: See Tools Lab…. Use a small tube with varying size ends-depending on virgin sows or not. Inserted into the cervix. Boars:  - About 1 boar per 20 sows with natural breeding - much higher ratio with AI - 85% of breeding is AI (teaser boars are still used) Teaser Boars: Help with estrus detection Help stimulate sows to ovulate ○ Pheromones shown to increase reproductive performance Goals of Reproduction: - Maximize number of pigs born alive - Minimize pre-weaning mortality - Increase longevity. Pig Breeding Companies: Specialize in maximizing genetic progress (using advanced tech) and producing specific lines of healthy breeding pigs that can be used effectively in cross-breeding programs. Best lines of gilts and board and suggests cross-breeding program will vary with production facilities and market situations Compete favorably with on-farm selection of breeding stock Companies become increasingly multi-national, capitalizing on advanced technologies and large gene pools. Genetic Improvement: - Eg. # piglets per litter (LECTURE 17) Problem: Gestation Stalls Gestation stalls create a strong social hierarchy Insatiable appetite during gestation leads to the sow’s feed intake being limited Due to limiting feed intake and a insatiable appetite, sow’s become more aggressive From Swine Code of Practice, 2014: For all Holdings newly built, rebuilt or brought into use for the first time after July 1st, 2014, mated gilts and sows must be housed in groups. Individual stalls may be used for up to 28 days after the day of last breeding and an additional period of up to 7 days is permitted to manage grouping. Time in stalls can only be extended to protect the welfare of individual sows on the advice of a competent stockperson. ➔ After July 1st 2014: all new installations and replacements of existing individual stalls must be appropriately sized to: ◆ Stand up at rest in a stall without Simultaneously touching both sides of the stall ◆ lie down without their udders protruding into adjacent stalls ◆ Stand up without touching the top bars ◆ standing a stall without simultaneously touching both ends of the stall (front- back) ➔ As of July 1st 2024: mated gilts and sows must be housed: ◆ In groups or individual pens, or ◆ Installed if they are provided with the opportunity to turn around or exercise periodically, or other means that allow greater freedom of movement. Suitable options will be clarified by the participating stakeholders by July 1st 2019 as informed by scientific evidence. Sow Housing During Gestation ❖ Open Housing More space per pig, allow sow to move around if pleased  ❖ Gestation Stalls Stalls made from metal bars. Are large enough to barely fit sow (outdated) Large enough for Sow to stand without any sides touching the wall. Sow should be able to lie down without their udders protruding into adjacent stalls ❖ Free-access stalls Hybrid of open and gestation ❖ Electronic feeding system Feeding systems that control doors that allow sows to eat Feeding Management of Gestating Sows: Keep and feed sows in individuals stall - important welfare concern Manage sows in groups: ○ Large pens with individual feeding stalls that can closed ○ Computerized feeding stalls + sow identification ○ Sort sows; various small, uniform groups ○ Slow (bio-fix) feeding system ○ Skip a day feeding ○ Feeding high fiber diets that induce satiety? Sow Housing: - Slatted Floors with lots of walls and partitions European Designs: - Lower density group housing - Enriched with straw beddings packs Enrichment: Enrichment can reduce skin lesions, increased activity, reduce aggression and penmate manipulation. improve bone biomechanic. Can also reduce biting penmates, ear and tail damage Burlap, Cotton rope, chain Sow Housing During lactation: Stay in crate about 21-28 days - Farrowing Crates - Reduces risk of piglets being crushed by the mother - COmponents: Sow barrier, warming area, piglet laying area, piglet creep feeder, enrichment, feeders and waterers - Encirclement: Burlap, Cotton rope, chain, - Straw: fewer posture changes - Ellipsoid crate Managing Piglets at Farrowing - Identification: Tagging Ear Notching - Teeth ClipingéFilling: piglets are born with 8 sharp needle teeth, removed to prevent biting udders - Iron Injection - Tail DOcking: hot iron tool, reduces biting of tails and cannibalism. - Castration is done surgically, this is to avoid boar taint, an unpleasant odour or taste in pork of non castrated mature boars. - Watch for anemia, scours, starvation - Offer creep feed to reduce the post-weaning growth lag, Starter pigs: - Ease weaning process - Move from complex weaning diets to dry inexpensive feed - Newly weaned pigs have poorly developed digestive capavity - Newly weaned pigs show growth lag as much as 2 weeks - Minimize disease transfer - Wean early, move weaners to separate, clean location - Use space and feed efficiently Grower - Finisher Pigs Fast Lean growth (accretion of muscle or lean meat in the pig's body); results in: - Fast body weight gains - Good feed efficiency - High carcass lean yield - Feed Cost (#1 factor) - Reduced feed usage per unit of body weight gain - Reduce feed price - Space - Optimize amount of space per pig - Climate controlled Transported to Slaughter  ❖ Get attention of animals right gups ❖ Good Handling: Minimize stress “Fit” for transport Well bedded Temperature Quality vs Quantity: - Current reading schemes reward Quantity not Quality - Consistent high quality pork producers should be rewarded. Alternatives to Formula Price Direct to consumer Niche markets Value added products ○ Organic, “naturally” raised, etc. Challenge: Ractopamine Beta-agonist, marketed as Paylean in Canada ○ Promotes lean muscle gain ○ Fed in the diet, last few weeks before slaughter ○ NOT a hormone All most ALL Canadian pigs are ractopamine-free Certification programs Important for trade Non-tariff trade barrier Canadian Pork Excellence Programs (QAP) CPE is a national platform that covers 3 major components of on-farm programs: traceability, food safety and animal care Quality Assurance Programs (QAP) Demonstrate to consumers a standard of quality. – Food safety and animal care What other livestock have similar programs? ○ Cow, bison, goats, sheep Meat Characteristics Extremes of Sensory Meat Quality DFD meat: dark, firm, dry PSE meat: Pale, soft, exudative meat Challenge: Animal Health - PEDv: Porcing Epidemic Diarrehea Virus - Coronavirus, attacks intentional villi. Spread through direct contact or via fomites. Highly contagious - Moratilty close to 100% in young piglets. - Post-weaning, illness but lower mortality, Lerge economic losses, mental stress on producers, First outbreak in ONtario in 2014 - PDCoV: Porcine Deltacoronavirus - Similar symptom to PED - Trends to be less severe than PEDv - PRRS: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome - In Canada since the mid 1990s, highly contagious but herds can becomes less susceptible to severe illness - Teo main symptoms: - Reproductive failure/anestrus an abortions, stillborn and mummified piglets - Respiratory diseases in pigs of any age. - High prevalence in ONtario, most costly deiases in N.America. Over 600 million in the USA, more than 120 million in Cnanada (ontario finisher pigs, 4million$/year) - Her management: - vaccines (lomited success), - creating PRRS-free herd ceticatisoncation. - Prevention: - Early ID - Biosecurity - Foreign Animal Diseases - E.g ASF: Foot and mouth disease - Usually highly infectious and usually high mortatiliy/mobidirty - Federally reportable - Canada and other countries have surveillance for these dieases, Control usually involves euthansia. HotTopic: African Swine Fever - Highly contagious, fatal, viral dieases, found in wild boar. - Non-zoonoic, not a food safety concern - Known to survive cooking, imortant meats and animal feeds can spread virus - First domestic cases reported in 2007 in Europe. Kajor breakout in China in Aug 2018. IN 2019 estimated to have killed ⅓ of pigs in Chine, since spread throughout all of asia - Created a short fall in global supply. No cases of ASF in Canada or USA but cases have appeared in Caribbean.  - ASF action plan, new compartementalization strategy. - INcrease in biosecurity on canadian farms Biosecurity: - Critical to health, safety, welfare of pigs. - Protection of Candiam Swine Industry - Showe-in, shower-out, plastic boots and coverall - Trauck wash etc. - Canadian Swine Health Network: National far,-level biosecurtity protocols. Challenge: Wild pigs - Highly reproductively effeincet - Destroy crops, ecologically sensitive areas - Huge biosecurity risk. Sustainability - Manure: Phosphorus, Methane - Emission intensity: Emissions per KG of meat produced CHallenge to Industry: Welfare and SOcalLiscense - Swine Industry often target or animal rights groups - Sow housing and transportation are main area of concern - Welfare standrds/audist from private companies - Maple Leaf, Cargill, SMithfield - McDonald’s, Wendy;s, Burkery King, A&W, Costco Challenges Facing the Canaduan Pork Infustry: - COntagious disease - COmpetitiveness on world markets - Animals Welfare - Proper Assessment of Qulaity and Value - Tren toward multiple sit production and integrated pork production. Canadian Pork Industry Free Market: - Large price volatility, heavily export dependent, no supply management. - Pork marketed through Provincial Pork Marketing boards (mostly), rule changed in 1020. - Priced on “value” of 7 markets cutouts, rib, belly, butt, loin, picnic, ham, carcass. - Farm cash receipts; 5.9$ billion, 5.8% of total in 2023 - Live Exports 735.3$ million, 6.75 million hogs, 60% are wanting to be finished in the USA. - Pork exports 4.71 billion, 21.76 million hogs processed domestically, 2.29 million tonnes of pork.