Research | Ontario Pork • Ontario Pork - Completed Research

Completed Research

Ontario Pork has a call for research proposals once a year. These projects were approved for funding by the board on recommendation of the research committee. If you have questions or need further information about the research posted here please contact Jessica Fox at [email protected]

Completed Research

Precision Feeding of Gestating Sows: Use of Electronic Sow Feeders to Reduce Feed Costs and Nutrient Losses into the Environment, While Improving Sow Productivity and Welfare

Project 16-004 - Researchers: Ira Mandell and Lee-Ann Huber, University of Guelph

The ultimate goal of this work is to examine how sow management using ESF can influence lifetime sow productivity and retention in the herd, and carry-over effects on to her progeny.

Comparison of single timed artificial insemination (AI) in gilts using OvuGel-ELANCO (triptorelin acetate) or PG600-MERCK (eCG/pLH) to synchronize ovulation

Project 16-003 - Lead Researcher: Bob Friendship

Optimal sow fertility is during the 24-hour period before ovulation. Use of the ovulation synchronization protocols may be a good tool for producers looking for options to improve overall herd reproductive performance or reduce their time in the breeding barn

Benchmarking performance in Ontario swine nursery barns

Project 16-002 - Researchers: Robert Friendship, Terri O’Sullivan, Zvonimir Poljak, Vahab Farzan, Tim Blackwell

The overall conclusion of this work is that there is wide variation in nursery performance which suggests that there is opportunity for herds to improve. Likewise disease status varies considerably and there needs to be efforts made to improve the immune status of newly weaned pigs and to...

Relationship between feed, genetics, health, and growth performance up to market weight in pigs

Project 15-015 - Researchers: Brandon Lillie and Vahab Farzan, University of Guelph

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...

Dynamics of influenza infection in swine populations

Project 14-010 - Researcher: Zvonimir Poljak

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...

Nutritional strategies for improved market hog competitiveness - SIP Initiative

Project 14-009 - Researchers: James Squires, Ira Mandall, Julang Li

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...

Epidemiology study: impact of simple nursery diet under commercial farming conditions - SIP Initiative

Project 14-008 - Researchers: Kees de Lange, Vahab Farzan

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.

An epidemiological investigation of the early phase of the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) outbreak in Canadian swine herds in 2011

Project 14-007 - Researcher: Dr. Terri O’Sullivan

In January 2014, the first case of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was reported in an Ontario swine herd; which was soon followed by a series of other cases. Feed from a single feed company was implicated as a source of the virus during the early phase of the outbreak. The...

Evaluation of analgesia efficacy in piglets undergoing castration and processing through the scoring of pain related behaviours

Project 14-006 - Researcher: Dr. Pat Turner

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.

Maximizing high value pigs at weaning with the use of an inexpensive supplemental milk feeder

Project 14-005 - Lead Researcher: Tim Blackwell and Cristiane Mesquita, OMAFRA

This project was undertaken to develop a cost-effective milk replacer feeding system to minimize labour and investment for producers interested in feeding milk replacer.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Suckling Piglets

Project 13-012 - Researchers: Bob Friendship and Terri O’Sullivan, University of Guelph

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...

An investigation into the effects of in-feed zinc oxide on antimicrobial resistant bacteria

Project 13-011 - Lead Researcher: Bob Friendship

Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria that is the leading cause of skin infections and pneumonia in people. The increase in drug-resistant bacteria such as Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have increased the burden on healthcare systems due to an inability to find an...

Canadian Health Claim Feasibility Assessment Report for Pork Products

Project:13-008 - Researchers: Krista Coventry-Nutrasource Diagnostics

Identifying possible opportunities to make health claims and the steps needed to position pork as a healthful and nutritious protein option may be one way to promote and increase domestic pork consumption. In particular a proven health claim to pork could be used to contest recent research...

Evaluation of Compounding Iron-dextran with NSAIDs for Use in Piglets at Time of Castration

Project 13-003 - Researcher: Ron Johnson

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...

Minimum duration of teat use required in first lactation to ensure optimal milk yield in second lactation

Project 13-001 - Researchers: Dr. Chantal Farmer (AAFC) and Dr. Bob Friendship, University of Guelph

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...

Identifying the Cause of Death and Factors Associated with Hogs that Perish in Transit

Project 12-019 and 13-006 - Researcher: Kathy Zurbrigg

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...

Vitamin D3 supplementation in suckling and weaned piglets

Project 12-009 - Researchers: Bob Friendship, University of Guelph, Tim Blackwell, OMAFRA, Terri O’Sullivan, OMAFRA

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. ...

Enhancement of Litter Size in Commercial Swine using an Immune Stimulant

Project 12-002 - Researcher: Dr. Chandra Tayade

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...

Project:11-228 - Researcher: Heather Wilson

The most significant protective response provided was seen in body systems like the bloodstream, similar to traditional vaccines, but some protective responses were also seen at digestive surfaces. With these positive results, researchers then focused on trying this new type of oral vaccine...

A Comparison of the Multi-class, Multi-residue Drug Analysis (MRD) and the Charm Kidney Inhibition Swab (KIS) Test Supporting Detection and Identification of Antimicrobial Drugs.

Project 11-225 - Researcher: Mark Mitchell

The results demonstrate that the KIS test is able to acuratly indicate the presence of antimicrobial residue if it is at the acceptable residue limit or greater but the MRD test can identify antimicrobial residue at low levels and can name the specific drug found and the amount present.

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