Highlights

• Averagedailygainandfeedefficiencyindiseasedpigsmaybeimprovedbyacombinationoffunctionalaminoacidssupplementedaboverequirementsforgrowth

• FunctionalaminoacidsimprovedtheimmuneresponseassociatedwithSalmonellainfection

• Bacterialsheddingandintestinalcolonizationcanbereducedbyfunctionalaminoacidsupplementation

• Dietaryproteinlevelhadlimitedeffectonpigresponse

ResearchconductedatthePrairieSwineCentreandtheUniversityofSaskatchewaninvestigatedtheinteractionbetween

functionalaminoacid(AA)supplementationanddietaryprotein duringdiseasechallengeingrowingpigs.Toachievethis,growingpigswereeitherinoculatedwithanentericpathogen(Salmonellatyphimurium,ST)orreceivedsalinecontrol(CT)andhadadlibitumaccesstodietsdifferingincrudeproteincontent(low(16%,LP)vshigh(20%,HP)containingeitherbasalsupplementationofaminoacidsatrequirementsaccordingtoNRC(2012)(AA-)orsupplementedwithafunctionalaminoacidprofileinwhichthreonine,methionine,andtryptophanwereprovidedat20%aboverequirements(AA+).Dietscontainednoanimalproductsorantibiotics.

Spring 2020Volume26,Number2

Pigs Consume More Water When Stressed ............................. 2

Group Sow Housing Decision Tree poster ................. 5-8

Programfundingprovidedby

Publication # 40010021

InsideThis Edition

Amino Acids can Enhance Pig Robustness

(Amino Acids can Enhance Pig Robustness ... cont’d on page 3)

Heart Health’s Potential Link to Early-life Nutrition ........................ 9

Feeding Mycotoxin Contaminated Grain ....................10

Personal profiles ..........................12

LucasA.Rodrigues,Msc,DVM.DepartmentofAnimalandPoultryScience,UniversityofSaskatchewan

DanColumbus,PhD,ResearchScientist,PrairieSwineCentre

2 Centred on Swine

Pigs Consume More Water When Stressed

Twonoveltechnologiesconsistingofanindividualwaterconsumptionsystem(IWCS)andinfraredthermographysystem(ITHS)wereinstalledinafinishingroom.Theindividualwaterconsumptionsystem(installedineachpen)wascomposedofanippledrinkerattachedtoawaterflowmeter,andanRFIDreader(andantenna)tocaptureindividualpigdata.Theinfraredthermographysystemwascomposedoftwotypesofinfraredcameras,onetocaptureimagesofindividualpigsdrinking,asecondtocaptureanimageofallthepigsinthepen.Toassesswhetherthenovel

technologieswerecapableofdetectingpigsthatmaybestressedduetoroutinepractices,twostressorswereintroducedduringthetrial:(1)movingpigstothebarnhallwayandhandlingthemthroughapre-definedroutefor10minutes,and(2)mixingunfamiliargroupsofpigs.

AspartofalargerSwineInnovationPorcproject(#1237)entitled‘Useofnoveltechnologiestooptimizepigperformance,welfareandcarcassvalue’,varioustechnologiesweredevelopedandpilot-testedindifferentuniversitiesandresearchcentersthroughoutCanada(underCCSIcoordination).Afterpilotstudieswerecompletedbytheoriginaldevelopersofthetechnologies,thenextstepwastoconductcommercialtrialswhereselecteddevelopedtechnologieswereappliedinaproductionenvironmentandevaluatedundertypicalcommercialpractices.Commercialtrialswereacriticalstepaftertheresearchanddevelopmentphase,providingtheopportunitytomakeadjustmentstothetechnologies,facilitatingtheiradoptionincommercialbarns.

Twonoveltechnologies(IWCSandITHS)wereinstalledinagrow-finishroomwithsixpenscontaining14pigsperpen(Figure1).TheIWCSwascomprisedofanippledrinkerattachedtoawaterflowmeter,andRFIDreaderandantennatogetherwithelectroniceartagtransponders.ITHSwascomposedoftwotypesofinfraredcameras:C3camera(FLIRC3CompactThermalImagingCamera)andA325IRTcamera(FLIRA325scInfraredCamera).TheA325IRTcameraswereusedtocapturetheimageofallthepigsinthepenwhiletheC3cameraswereinstalledontopofthedrinkertocapturetheimageofanindividualpigwhiledrinking.Pigsweretransferredintotheroomat20-25kgandremainedintheroomfor10weeksuntilreaching105-110kg.

RESULTSANDDISCUSSION

Water Consumption and HandlingFigure2showsthecomparisonofaveragewaterconsumptionbeforeandafterthemovingactivity.Regardlessofstressinduction,waterconsumptionincreasedasthetrialprogressed.Atthestartofthetrial,growerpigshadanaveragewaterconsumptionofabout4,014mL/day;thisincreasedto5,876mL/daytowardstheendofthetrialwhenpigswerenearingmarketweight.

BernardoPredicala,PhD,ResearchScientist–PrairieSwineCentre

Figure 1. Floor layout (a) of the grow-finish room used in the study. Details of the pen showing the location of the feeder and drinker – top view (b) and side view (c).

Figure 2. Average water consumption of pigs 24 hours before and 24 hours after the moving activity during the start (n=12), middle (n=12) and end (n=10) of the trial.

Figure 3. Average water consumption of pigs 24 hours before and 24 hours after unfamiliar pigs were introduced into the pen during the start (n=16), middle (n=16) and end (n=12) of the trial.(Pigs Consume More Water ... continued on page 4

Clinicalsign Score Classification 0 NormalconsistencyFecalscore 1 Semisolid,noblood 2 Watery,noblood 3 Bloodtingedfeces 0 NormalbehaviorDemeanor 1 Listless,willstand 2 Recumbent,willnotstand 3 Moderatelydepressed

Clinical signs associated with infection

Thepost-weaningperiodisastressfultimeforgrowingpigs,withincreasedsusceptibilitytoseveralentericpathogens,includingSalmonella.PigsinfectedwithSalmonellaexperienceapronouncedinflammatoryreactioninthegut,consequentlyshowingcompromisedperformance.Theresearchersmonitoredbodytemperature,fecalscoreanddemeanordailyforeach

pigoveraperiodof7days(day-1,1,2,3,4,5and6relativetoinoculation).Fecalscoreanddemeanorwerethenscoredfrom0to3accordingtoseverity(Table1).InoculationwithSalmonellatyphimuriumincreasedbodytemperaturewithin24hwhichremainedelevatedforthedurationofthestudy(Figure1).DemeanorandfecalscorewerenegativelyaffectedbySTinoculationduringthefirst3and5daysafterchallenge,respectively(Figure1).Therewerenodieteffectsonanyclinicalsigns.

High protein diets: are they harmful?

Moresusceptiblepost-weanedpigsalsoexperienceanabruptchangefromamilk-basedtoacereal-baseddiet.Besidesthat,highlydigestiblenutrientsourcesarenotalwaysavailable,andpigsarecommonlyfeddietshighinproteinsourcespotentiallyharmfulforguthealth.Asaresult,currentdietaryrecommendationinthepost-weaningperiodistoprovidelowerproteindietsthathavebeensupplementedwithnecessaryessentialaminoacidstomeetrequirements.Thisreducestheamountofundigestedproteinavailableforfermentation

3Spring 2020Centred on Swine

(Functional amino acids ... continued from pg.1)

Table 1. Scoring of clinical signs

Table 2. Performance parameters of growing pigs challenged or not with Salmonella typhimurium and fed diets differing in protein content and functional amino acid supplementation.

(Functional amino acids ... continued on page 4

Figure 1. Performance parameters of growing pigs challenged or not with Salmonella typhimurium and fed diets differing in protein content and functional amino acid supplementation.

CT1 ST1

LP2 HP2 LP HP SEM4 Item AA-3 AA+3 AA- AA+ AA- AA+ AA- AA+

Average daily gain, kg/d

Pre-inoculation 0.423 0.486 0.450 0.463 0.451 0.456 0.460 0.474 0.051

Post-inoculation 0.571A 0.576A 0.586A 0.580A 0.297Bb 0.458Ba 0.300Bb 0.456Ba 0.063

Average daily feed intake, kg/d

Pre-inoculation 0.580 0.602 0.563 0.636 0.614 0.646 0.632 0.648 0.054

Post-inoculation 0.880A 0.906A 0.916A 0.936A 0.738B 0.673B 0.744B 0.686B 0.086

Feed efficiency (gain:feed), kg/kg

Pre-inoculation 0.73 0.81 0.80 0.73 0.73 0.71 0.73 0.73 0.109

Post-inoculation 0.65 0.64 0.64 0.60 0.40† 0.68* 0.40† 0.66* 0.104

1 CT=controlgroup;ST=Salmonella-challengedgroup.2LP=lowproteindiet;HP=highproteindiet.3AA-=basaldietaryaminoacidprofile;AA+=supplementeddietaryaminoacidprofilecontaining120%ofNRC(2012)requirementsforMet,Thr,andTrp.4SEM=pooledSEM.Meansarepresentedasleastsquaresmeans.AB=meanslackingthesameletteraresignificantlydifferent(CTvsST)(P≤0.05)ab=meanslackingthesameletteraresignificantlydifferent(STAA-vsSTAA+)(P≤0.05)*†=meanslackingthesamesignshowedatrendtowardssignificance(STAA-vsSTAA+)(P<0.10)

4 Centred on Swine

inthegut,reducingtheinflammatoryresponse.Therefore,itwashypothesizedthattheseverityandincidenceofdiarrheainSalmonella-challengedpigswouldbeaggravatedbyhighproteindiets.However,therewasnoeffectofdietaryproteincontentonfecalscore.Ontheotherhand,SalmonellacountsincecaldigestawereincreasedinHPpigscomparedtoLPpigs.Thus,loweringdietaryproteinlevelsmaybeusefultosuppressproliferationofmicrobialmetabolitesandconsequentlyminimizeintestinaldisturbancesincommercialsettingswithentericproblems.

Duringanimmuneresponseaminoacidswhichareutilizedforgrowthinhealthyanimals,areredirectedtowardsimmunesupportindiseasedanimals,decreasingtheiravailabilityforproteindeposition.Thus,supplementingfunctionalAAmaybenecessarytosupportboththeimmuneresponseandgrowthperformance,reducingthenegativeeffectsofdiseaseonperformance.

Asexpected,inoculationwithSTresultedinreducedaveragedailygainandaveragedailyfeedintakeinthepost-inoculationperiodcomparedtoCTpigsregardlessofdietarytreatment(Table2).However,STpigsfedtheAA+diethadincreasedADGandatendencyforimprovedfeedefficiency(gain:feed)inthepost-inoculationperiod,regardlessofdietaryproteinlevel.Whilethisperformancewasstillreducedcomparedtohealthypigs,thisshowsthatfunctionalAAsupplementationmayprovideanadditionalstrategyforreducingthenegativeimpactofdiseasechallengeonanimalperformance.

Inadditiontotheimpactonperformance,thesupplementalAAprofileattenuatedtheimmuneresponsethroughmodulationofacute-phaseproteinlevelsinSalmonella-challengedanimals.Disease-challengedanimalsshowedincreasedserumconcentrationofhaptoglobinanddecreasedconcentrationofalbumin,respectively.However,whenfedtheAA+profile,challengedpigsshowedreducedoveralllevelsofhaptoglobinandincreasedlevelsofalbumincomparedtothosefedtheAA-profile.ThesefindingscorroboratetheroleoffunctionalAAasregulatorsofmetabolicpathwaysduringinflammation,particularlythroughregulationofimmuneresponse.

FunctionalAAsupplementationalsodecreasedoverallsheddingofSalmonellacomparedtopigsfedAA-dietsandSalmonellacountsincolonwerereducedinAA+pigscomparedtoAA-pigs.Pathogensheddingisimportantasinfectedfecesareamajorsourceforcrossinfectionbetweenindividualpigsandinacommercialsettingreducedsheddingcouldreflectindecreasedincidenceofnaturalexposure.

Overall,supplementationofkeyfunctionalaminoacids(methionine,threonine,tryptophan)aboverequirementsappearstobeapotentialstrategyforimprovinggrowthperformanceandhealthstatusofpigsexposedtoanentericpathogen.

Acknowledgments: Funding for this project was provided by Swine Innovation Porc. Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH, and MITACS. Prairie Swine Centre receives program funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, Sask Pork, Alberta Pork, Manitoba Pork, and Ontario Pork.

Atthestartandmiddleofthetrial,pigstendtoconsumemorewaterafterthemovingactivity.Onaverage,pigsconsumedabout3,890and5,226mL24hoursbeforestresswasinducedatthestartofthetrialandmiddleofthetrialrespectively,increasingto4,138and5,878mLafterthestresswasinduced.Theseresultsmayimplythatgrowerpigsconsumedmorewaterwhenstressed.Noapparenttrendwasobservedforwaterconsumptiontowardstheendofthetrial.

Water Consumption and Mixing

Acomparisonofaveragewaterconsumptionofpigs24hoursbeforeand24hoursafterunfamiliarpigswereintroducedintothepenisshowninFigure3.Incontrasttothemovingactivity,waterconsumptiongenerallydecreased24hoursaftermixingunfamiliarpigsintothepen.Pigsconsumedanaverageofabout5,387mL/dayofwaterpriortothemixingactivity;thisdecreasedto4,738mL/day24hoursaftermixingoccurred.Thedecreaseinwaterconsumptionmightbeduetoaggressionthatoccurredaftermixing,whichsubsequentlypreventedsomeofthepigsfromdrinking.Thisobservationmayhavealsocausedthenoapparentincreaseinwaterconsumptionfromthestarttotheendofeachtrial.

Infrared Thermography - Handling

Duringthestartandmiddleofthetrial,noconsiderablechangeinbodytemperatureswasobserved.Towardstheendofthetrialwhenpigswereclosetomarketweight,aslightincreaseinbodytemperaturewasobservedafterthemovingactivity.Pigaveragebodytemperaturewas36.5°Cbeforethemovingexercise;thisincreasedto36.8°Cafterthemixingactivity.Thisminimalchangeinbodytemperaturecouldindicatethatthemovingactivitywasnotstrenuousenoughtocauseamarkedchangeinbodytemperatureofpigs.

CONCLUSION

1.Usingtheindividualwaterconsumptionsystem,itwas observedthatgrowerpigstendtoconsumemorewaterwhenstressed.Thesystemalsoconfirmedthatwaterconsumptionincreasedasthepiggrewregardlessofstressinduction.

2.Ascapturedbytheinfraredthermographysystem,aggressionasaresultofmixingunfamiliarpigstothepencausedanincreaseintherecordedbodytemperatureofpigs.Thesystemalsoshowedthatthepigs’bodytemperaturewasaffectedbychangesinroomtemperatures.

3.Inthisstudy,installationoftheindividualwaterconsumptionsystemandinfraredthermographysystemandinducingstressduetomovingandmixinghadnoconsiderablenegativeimpactonpigproductionperformance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe would like to acknowledge the financial support for this research project provided by Swine Innovation Porc. The authors would also like to acknowledge the collaboration of researchers from CCSI, CDPQ, and Lacombe Research Centre in carrying out this study. Strategic program funding provided by Saskatchewan Pork Development Board, Alberta Pork, Ontario Pork, the Manitoba Pork Council and the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund is also acknowledged. In addition, we also wish to acknowledge the support of the production and research technicians at Prairie Swine Centre that make it possible to conduct this research.

(Pigs Consume More Water ... continued from page 2) (Amino Acids can Enhance Pig Robustness ... cont’d from pg.3)

Non-com

petitive Feeding System

• Lowest conversion cost

• Need solid areas for feed drops

Com

petitive Feeding System• Suitable for sm

all static groups of 10 to 20 sows

• Good stockm

anship required: form sm

all, uniform groups and m

onitor sows daily at feeding

• Expect variation in body condition, feed wastage and production challenges due to com

petition• Sm

all pens require more space per pig in pens and m

ore alleyways for access

• Feeding aggression is reduced in shoulder stalls compared to floor feeding

• Static pens of 20 to 60 sows

• Individual feeding is electronic• M

oderate conversion cost• Effi

cient use of space

Prairie Swine C

entre would like to acknow

ledge the Ontario M

inistry of Agriculture,

Food & R

ural Affairs sw

ine team for their assistance in developing this decision tree.

For more inform

ation on group sow housing visit

ww

w.groupsow

housing.com

Free-Access ESFESF

Free-Access Stalls

Low Tech

High Tech

Com

petitive Feeding System

Floor Feeding

• Low conversion cost

• Can use existing feed lines

Shoulder Stalls

Non-C

ompetitive Feeding System

s• Individual feeding allow

s for more uniform

body condition• Reduced feed costs due to less w

astage and overfeeding• C

an still have competition at the feeder stall

• Small pens require m

ore space per pig in pens and more alleyw

ays for access• Potential for precision feeding as technology and data m

anagement im

prove

• Static pens of 50 to 60 sow

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of 60 to >300 sows

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cient use of space

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Non-com

petitive Feeding System

• Lowest conversion cost

• Need solid areas for feed drops

Com

petitive Feeding System• Suitable for sm

all static groups of 10 to 20 sows

• Good stockm

anship required: form sm

all, uniform groups and m

onitor sows daily at feeding

• Expect variation in body condition, feed wastage and production challenges due to com

petition• Sm

all pens require more space per pig in pens and m

ore alleyways for access

• Feeding aggression is reduced in shoulder stalls compared to floor feeding

• Static pens of 20 to 60 sows

• Individual feeding is electronic• M

oderate conversion cost• Effi

cient use of space

Prairie Swine C

entre would like to acknow

ledge the Ontario M

inistry of Agriculture,

Food & R

ural Affairs sw

ine team for their assistance in developing this decision tree.

For more inform

ation on group sow housing visit

ww

w.groupsow

housing.com

Free-Access ESFESF

Free-Access Stalls

Low Tech

High Tech

Com

petitive Feeding System

Floor Feeding

• Low conversion cost

• Can use existing feed lines

Shoulder Stalls

Non-C

ompetitive Feeding System

s• Individual feeding allow

s for more uniform

body condition• Reduced feed costs due to less w

astage and overfeeding• C

an still have competition at the feeder stall

• Small pens require m

ore space per pig in pens and more alleyw

ays for access• Potential for precision feeding as technology and data m

anagement im

prove

• Static pens of 50 to 60 sow

s OR dynam

ic pens

of 60 to >300 sows

• Individual feeding is

electronic• H

igh conversion cost• Effi

cient use of space

• Static pens of 20 to 40 sows

• All sows in a pen receive

the sam

e amount of feed

• Minim

al aggression and

competition

• High cost

9Spring 2020

Heart Health’s Potential Link to Early-life Nutrition

Whileresearchersarewellversedinthecardiovascularrisksassociatedwithabaddiet,alackofexercise,andsmoking,they’restilllearningaboutanotherpossibleriskfactorthatcouldleadtopoorcardiachealth:whatyouconsumeinthefirstfewweeksofyourlife.

Dr.DanielColumbus,anadjunctprofessorattheUniversityofSaskatchewan’s(USask)CollegeofAgricultureandBioresources,islookingattheeffectsofearlylifenutritionandassociatedlong-term

healthoutcomesinpeopleandanimals.

“Wearelearningmoreandmorethatinagricultureaswellasinhumans,early-lifenutritionreallysetsthemupfor[long-termhealth]successorfailure,”saysColumbus,whoisalsoaresearchscientistatthePrairieSwineCentrenearSaskatoon,Sask.

HeartdiseaseisthesecondleadingcauseofdeathinCanadians,accordingtothePublicHealthAgencyofCanada.Onein12adultsovertheageof20arediagnosedandlivingwiththischroniccondition.

ColumbusandateamofUSaskresearchersarelookingatcardiacdevelopmentduringtheperiodimmediatelyafterbirthwhenmanyorgansarestillmaturing—astageofdevelopmentthathasn’tbeenthoroughlystudiedbefore.

Columbus,alongwithWesternCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine(WCVM)researcherDr.LynnWeber,havecreatedateamofhumanandanimalhealthresearcherstolookathowpoornutritionaffectsthiscriticalperiodofheartdevelopment.Usingpigsasmodels,theteamisinvestigatinghowthisstudyofearly-lifemalnutritioncouldtranslatetohumanhealth.

Columbusexplainsthatifanewbornanimalorhumanisn’tgettingenoughnutrition,itwillusetheenergyitdoeshavetoprotectorgandevelopmentatthecostofbuildingupmuscle.Whatscientistsarediscoveringisthatit’snotjustskeletalmusclethat’slostwhenunder-nutritionoccurs—it’salsocardiacmuscle.

Butcanahealthydietandlifestyleallowapigorahumantorecoverfromthisearlyperiodofunder-nutrition?That’sanotherimportantmysterytheUSaskteamisworkingtosolve.

Previousresearchusingmicemodelsshowedthatpoornutritioninthefirstweeksofliferesultedinimpairedheartdevelopment.Micethathadpoornutritionasinfantsperformedpoorlycomparedtotheirnormally-fedcounterparts,evenafterbeingfedahealthydietlaterinlife.

Forthisstudy,USaskresearchersareworkingwithpigs—ananimalmodelthat’sclosertohumansinanatomyandphysiologythanmice.Pigletsalsohaveasimilarperiodoforgandevelopmentinearlyinfancyashumans.

TheUSaskresearchersarecomparingthecardiovascularhealthanddevelopmentinpigletsthathavehadaccesstoadequatenutritiontopigletsthathavehadpoornutrition.Aswell,they’reinvestigatingwhetherthechangesseenfrompoornutritionarereversiblebyexaminingpigletsthathavebeenfedaproperdietafteracertainamountoftimeonthelow-nutritiondiet.

Tomakethesecomparisons,theresearchersareusingechocar-diographytoanalyzethepiglets’cardiovascularhealth,alongwithexamsoftheanimals’heartsandotherorgans.

Theteam’sworkwillhelptofillsomegapsinresearchers’understandingabouthowcardiovasculardiseasesdevelopandhowtheycanbepreventedinpeople.Moreinformationaboutthediseases’origincanalsohelpscientistsinvestigatetheeffectsofnutritionaldeficitsandcreateapushforbetterpublichealthprogramstoeducateandguidenewparentsabouttheimportanceofearlyinfantnutrition.

BreannaPatton,UniversityofSaskatchewan

“Analysis could show whether these pigs benefit from extra management and feed.”

(Heart health potential ... continued on page 11)

10 Centred on Swine

Mycotoxinsarechemicals(secondarymetabolites)producedbymouldsorfungiinfectinggrains.Thereareover400knownmycotoxins;howeveronlyasmallnumberoftheseprobablyaffectpigperformanceonaregularbasis.Itisimportanttonotethatthepresenceofthemouldorfungidoesnotguaranteethepresenceofmycotoxins;conversely,mycotoxinscanbepresentinasamplewithnoobviousmouldcontamination.

ThemycotoxinsofmajorconcerninCanadaarelistedinTable1.Severalfactorscontributetotheproductionofmycotoxinsingrain,includinghumidityandtemperatureduringthegrowingandharvestperiods,oxygenavailabilityduringgrowth,harvest,transportorstorageandinsectorbirddamage.Multiplemycotoxinsmaybepresentatthesametimeandmycotoxinsmaybe“masked”.Thesearemycotoxinsboundtoanothermoleculewhichmaymakethemundetectablebyroutineassays.Theywillhowever,breakdowninthegut,andcauseproblems.

Pigsaremoresusceptibletotheeffectsofmostmycotoxinsthanotherspecies,especiallyruminants.Theageoftheanimalandproductionstatusareimportantconsiderations.Table2outlinesthemycotoxinsofmajorconcern,andtheirimpactonanimalperformance.Inordertodetermineoptimalfeedingstrategies,itiscriticaltoknowwhichmycotoxinsarepresentandtheapproximateconcentration.Manycommerciallaboratoriescananalyzeforthecommonmycotoxins.

Thedifficultyisobtainingasamplethatisrepresentativeoftheentirelot.Whensamplinggrainsorfeeds,subsamplesfrom12-20locationsshouldbecollectedandmixedthoroughly(Whitlowetal.,2014).Onceasampleiscollected,itisalsoimportanttostoreitinadry,coolareatoimpedefurthermycotoxindevelopmentbeforetheanalysis.Mycotoxinsareoftendistributedunevenlythroughouttheload,andverysmallquantities

cancauseproblems(1partpermillion(ppm)isequalto1contaminatedgrainin1millionnon-contaminatedgrains).Themoresubsamplescollected,thebetterthelikelihoodofobtainingalaboratoryanalysiswhichreallyrepresentswhatisinthefeed.

TheCFIAhasregulatoryguidelinesforthefeedingofmycotoxinstolivestock.Thisdocumentremindsusthatmycotoxincontaminationistypicallyhigherinthelighterfractions(graindust,screenings,shrivelledkernels,etc.),andthatwhileremovingthesefractionsfromtheparentstockmayhelptoreduceoverallMycotoxins,whichareproducedfrommoulds,cancontaminateallgrainsandgrain-by-productscommonlyfedtoswineinWesternCanada.Personnelworkingwithgrainsshouldavoidinhalingthedustandwearamask.Dilutionis(onlypartially)thesolution.

Table 1. Legislated maximums, regulatory guidelines and recommended maximums for different mycotoxins into swine diets (adapted from Charmley and Trenholm, 2012)*

Low Target High Mycotoxin Commodity Levels Deoxynivalenol1 Dietsforswine 1ppm Aflatoxins2 Animalfeedingstuffs 20ppb T-2toxin3 Swinediets <1ppm Zearalenone3 Giltdiets <1-3ppm Swinediets <0.25-5ppm OchratoxinA3 Swinediets(kidneydamage) 0.2ppm Swinediets(reducedweightgain) 2ppm ErgotAlkaloids3 Swinediets 4-6ppm Fumonisins3 Swinediets 10ppm

* ppmispartspermillion(mg/kg)andppbispartsperbillion.1Regulatoryguidelines(Worldwideregulationsformycotoxins.FAOFoodandNutritionPaper64,1997)

2Legislatedmaximumtoleratedlevel(Worldwideregulationsformycotoxins.FAOFoodandNutritionPaper64,1997)

3RecommendedtolerancelevelsinCanadaandtheUnitedStates

Feeding Mycotoxin Contaminated Grain

11Spring 2020

1 DecreasedADFIandfeedrefusalshavebeenshownatlevelsaslowas0.5-1ppm(Smithetal.,2005),

2 >2-5ppmisfordecreasedADFIandADG,vomitingandcompletefeedrefusalat>20ppm(Hascheketal.,2002),

3 PierceandDiaz,2014,4 JECFA,2001,5 Nibbelink,1986,6 Whitlowetal.,2014,7 Friendetal.,1990,8 Smithetal.,2005,9 Osweiller,1986,

Deoxynivalenol(DON,vomitoxin)

Affectsserotoninreceptorsandcytokineproduction

Allstages(youngerpigsmaybemoresusceptible)

ReducedADFIandADG1,2

Vomiting2Diarrhea(softorwateryfeces)3Reducedimmunefunction3Mildchangestokidney,thyroid,blood4

Aflatoxins Mutagenicandcarcinogenic

Allstages ReducedADFIandADG5

Reducedmilkproduction5Lethargy6Ataxia(lackofcoordination)6Roughhaircoat6Hemorrhage6Fattyliver6

Zearalenone Estrogenic Pre-pubertalgilts,sowsandpre-pubertalboars

Swellingandreddeningofthevulva7Vaginaland/orrectalprolapse7Anestrus8Reducedlittersize8Fetalresorption8Implantationfailure8Decreasedlibidoandtestosterone9Feminization9

OchratoxinA Disruptsphenylalanine(anaminoacid)metabolism

Allstages Kidneydamage10DecreasedADFIandADG11

Immunosuppression,increasedriskofinfection12

Fumonisins Disruptslipidmetabolism

Allstages,especiallyyoungpigs

Pulmonaryedema3Reducedimmunity3DecreasedADFIandADG13

Shortnessofbreath3Weakness3Cyanosis(blue/purplecolourofskin/membranes)3

T-2andHT-2Toxins

Inhibitsproteinsynthesis

Allstages Unthriftiness6LowADFIandADG6

Reproductivefailure6Gastricupset(diarrhea)6Cellularnecrosis6Immunosuppression6

ErgotAlkaloids Neurological Allstages,especiallythereproductiveherd

Lameness14Gangrene14DecreasedADG14

Abortion14Agalactia(absenceofmilkproduction)14Ataxia14

Mycotoxin PrimaryEffect StageAffected ClinicalSigns

Table 2. Major effects of mycotoxins on swine performance“Eventually,wewouldlookintobringinginhumanhealthexperts[suchas]dietitians,andusethisinformationtodevelopthoseprotocolsandresources,”saysColumbus.“Andthoseprogramsarealreadyoutthere.Weknowthatgoodfoodisessential,butweknowthatitcanbeaproblemeveninregularbirth-weightinfants.Andsohowdowepromotethatevenmore”?

Thestudy’sresultswillalsogiveCanadianswineproducersinsightaboutwhetheryoungpigletsthatarelesscompetitiveatnursingandreceivelessnutritionfromtheirmotherswillbeabletorespondtonutritionaltherapieslaterinlifeandrecover—maturingtofully-grownhealthyanimals.

AsColumbusexplains,theanalysiscouldshowwhetherthesepigsbenefitfromextramanagementandfeed,andwhethertheyneedabetterdietoncetheyareweaned.

“Orisitjusttheywillalwaysbesmallsowejusthavetoacceptthatandthenincorporatethatintothe[pigs’]productionandmanagement?”headds.

InadditiontotheresearchbeingdonebyColumbusandWeber,severalotherUSaskresearchersareworkingwiththesamegroupofpigletstooptimizetheiruseandtheamountofknowledgegainedfromtheproject—aOneHealthapproachtoresearchthat’sacriticalpartoftheuniversity’sresearchprogram.

“Webroughtinsomanyresearchersonthisonestudy,”saysColumbus.“[We]aretryingtogetasmanysamplesandanalysesdoneaspossiblebecausethenitgivesallthesepeopleideasastowhatcanwepursueinthefuture—beyondthecardiovascular,beyondthemuscledevelopment.”

TheNaturalSciencesandEngineeringResearchCouncilofCanada(NSERC)providedfinancialsupportforthisUSaskresearchstudy.

BreannaPattonofCalgary,Alta.,isasecond-yearveterinarystudentattheWCVM.HerstoryispartofaseriesofarticleswrittenbyWCVMsummerresearchstudents.

10 Kidneydamageoccursatlevelsaslowas0.5ppm(Lippoldetal.,1992),

11 Performanceisaffectedatlevelsof 2ppmorgreater(Lippoldetal.,1992;Stoevetal.,2000),

12 Canoccurwhenlevels>2ppmarefedforlongerperiodsoftime(Harveyetal.,1992),

13 ADGreducedby11%when10ppmfumonisinB1wasfedtostarterpigsfor 8weeks(Rotteretal.,1996),

14 Stricklandetal.,2011

(Heart Health ... cont’d from page 9)

BeforeobtainingherdegreeinVeterinaryMedicinein2019fromtheFederalUniversityofSantaMaria,Cristinaalwaysshowninterestinanimalwelfare.In2015shewenttotheUniversityofGuelphforanexchangeyearwhereshewasaninterninthePathobiologyDepartmentunderDr.RobFosterandDr.BrandonLillie,supervisionandvolunteeratGuelphHumaneSociety.BacktoBrazilin2017,shejoinedtheAnimalRights

ResearchGroupandalsotheDepartmentofVeterinaryPathologyasaninternattheFederalUniversityofSantaMaria.Aspartofthelastsemesterofgraduationin2018,CristinawasaninternattheDefenseandAnimalProtectionNetworkDepartmentoftheCuritibacity,assistingveterinariansintheanimalcrueltyinvestigationsundertheguidanceofDr.RitadeCassiaMaria.CristinaiscurrentlyaM.Sc.studentunderDr.JenniferBrownsupervisionandherprojectwillbeexaminingfactorsaffectingsowmortalityintheCanadiansowherd,andunderstandfactorsinfluencingsowremovals/culling.TheprojectisfundedbySwineInnovationPorc.

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