Piglets given oral vitamin D3 between ages 1-5 days had much higher levels of vitamin D in their blood than non-supplemented piglets when measured 23 days later.  Similarly, pigs given oral vitamin D3 at weaning had higher blood levels of vitamin D 28 days after supplementation. ...

Reduction of the pig production through novel feeding strategies is currently an active research topic.  A study by Kees de Lange that was conducted under controlled conditions at the University of Guelph’s Arkell Research Station, indicated that lower-cost, reduced animal-protein...

Providing piglets with supplemental iron is a widely adopted practice on modern swine farms. Recently, University of Guelph researchers questioned whether current iron supplementation practices are sufficient for the requirements of the modern pig. They studied piglets on 20 Ontario farms, all...

Feed cost is by far the greatest cost of pig production (65-70%) and growing-finishing pigs account for about 80% of feed consumed. The continued high cost of feed demonstrates the need to develop cost-effective feeding strategies for growing-finishing pigs to ensure the long-term...

Feed costs are the single largest contributor to the cost of pork production.  After energy, amino acids and protein are the largest contributors to nutrient costs of pig diets. Researchers at the University of Guelph investigated the digestibility and efficiency of feeding growing pigs...

With the combination of lean genetics and hyperprolific sows, producers may be faced with the challenge of first parity sows becoming too thin during lactation, which can reduce their future reproductive performance and longevity in the herd.  To alleviate this problem, producers...

The actual cause of in-transit losses of swine is complex as they are likely the result of a combination of risk factors and situations the pigs may have been exposed to.  The commonly cited risks of high temperature and stocking density are part of the problem but do not fully explain all...

As of July 1, 2016 the Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs states that piglets must be provided with appropriate pain control during castration and tail docking. The timing of these procedures often coincides with iron supplementation for piglets, leading many producers...

Facial behaviours such as ear position, are increasingly being used to assess pain in animals. The development of a facial behaviour scale could lead to an easy and quick way to help producers to determine subtle cases when an animal is in pain and needs treatment.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) causes disease and economic losses on swine farms. Producers strive to eradicate the virus if geographically feasible or “stabilize” the sow herd through vaccination or intentional field virus exposure. A cornerstone of any PRRS...

In a project funded both by Ontario Pork and Swine Innovation Porc, University of Guelph researchers demonstrated that a less expensive nursery diet (low complexity), had no adverse effect on growth rate and health of pigs at all production phases nor on carcass characteristic.

Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC) is a patented cell wall composition. MCC is a human treatment being studied for its effectiveness as a treatment against some cancers as well as a stimulatory activity on immune cells. In an attempt to improve sow productivity, researchers from...

The influenza virus continues to have a major impact on Canadian swine production. Significant genetic diversity and the emergence of new variants have complicated the control of this virus. In this project, jointely funded by Ontario Pork and Swine Innovation Porc, researchers analyzed the...