FEED,HEALTH AND GROWTH OF PIGS.

Precision Livestock Farming is becoming very popular; many technologically driven companies are zooming into data-
collecting methods. Thus focusing on exact needs of the modern pig will allow producers to meet tomorrow's challenges, says Prof Sandra Edwards.“We cannot hope to improve the performance of today's pigs if we continue to rely on the nutritional, feeding and performance data we collected from (traditional) pigs a long time ago," says veteran UK pig researcher and scientist and chair of agriculture at the University of Newcastle, Prof Sandra Edwards. She argues that the type of pig that most commercial producers are working with at the moment is completely different to the animals on pig farms even a decade ago, when consumer demands were totally different.A whole new bank of research data reflecting the needs of the modern pig are urgently required to ensure progress by researchers in pig development on the scientific front. he says research had shown that producers needed to feed sows with arginine and glutamine supplements to help increase the placental quality, which reduced birth weight variation, as well as the number of under-weight piglets born alive.Recent work had also shown that including essential fatty acids such as docosahexanoic acid (DHA), which is found in algae and fish, in sow diets during the last month of their pregnancies led to a significant drop in the number of stillbirths. It also resulted in a longer farrowing duration. Feeding the sows to get their condition right before they go into the farrowing house and even before that. The pre-mating diet can have a big impact on embryo survival and high plane feeding before mating will help reduce embryo mortality. Sows should not be fed to produce bigger litters, but rather fed to meet the challenges of weaning more top quality piglets successfully. Read more ;http://www.pigprogress.net/Home/General/2014/1/Health-feed-growth--Nothing-happens-in-isolation-1392863W/?intcmp=related-content

HOW TO LOWER OCCURRENCE OF BOAR TAINT.

Boars in the value chain have always resulted in tainted pork, which not many people can tolerate.There has been several interventions such as artificial insemination and using castrated males in the chain to reduce the taint,but the success rate has not been high,resulting in more research. Research from the Netherlands are about to publish an extensive research towards the reduction of boar taint when raising and using and entire males in the food chain.The study termed: How to lower occurrence of boar taint. The paper, to be published in the Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences (NJAS) is a summary of a comprehensive study by scientists from various disciplines, attached to the Agricultural Economic Institute (Wageningen UR), Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Vion Fresh Meat and Topigs Research Center IPG. Four themes were aimed at in the research programme: 1)Sensory evaluation of meat from entire male pigs. 2)Preventive measures to reduce boar taint prevalence.3)Accuracy of detection for boar taint.4) The relationship between farm management characteristics and levels of mounting and aggressive behaviour of boars.Using observational and experimental studies data were collected in various segments of the pork supply chain.The researchers conclude that ranking AI boars on their genomic breeding values for low boar taint resulted in a reduction in boar taint prevalence of 40%.The skatole level is lower in boars fed via a long trough than in boars fed by a single space feeder. Few eating places, restricted feeding, a low level of amino acids in the diet, insufficient water supply of the drinking system, illness of the pigs, a suboptimal climate and fear for humans were associated with a higher level of sexual and aggressive behaviour and more skin lesions. A partly open pen wall, clean pens and pigs, wider gaps of the slats, feeding by a long trough, and feeding wet by-products were associated with less sexual and aggressive behaviour and less skin lesions. Having more than 30 animals per pen was associated with a higher probability of high boar taint prevalence levels. Hygienic conditions were associated with lower boar taint prevalence levels. Assessing similarity of the rank order comparison between consumer perception and three selected boar taint detection parameters for the consumer perception attribute odour of meat resulted in the highest Kendall's W values for the human nose scores.In conclusion, boar tainted meat was rated as less pleasant by consumers compared to meat of gilts and non-tainted boar meat, indicating the need of detection as a safety net at the slaughter line. Breeding was an effective preventive measure to reduce boar taint. Farms with appropriate management, feeding and housing conditions have reduced levels of mounting and aggressive behaviour. Human nose scores were a better predictor of the rank order of consumer perception, compared to skatole levels and to androstenone levels. read more here;http://www.pigprogress.net/Growing-Finishing/Management/2016/1/Study-How-to-lower-occurrence-of-boar-taint-2740440W/

AGRIBUSINESS: LAMENESS IN BROILERS LINKED TO BACTERIA.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas have identified a species of bacteria that had never before been associated with lameness in broiler chickens, bringing scientists closer to finding a way to prevent infections. Douglas Rhoads, University Professor of biological sciences and director of the Cell and Molecular Biology interdisciplinary ,used genetic tools and chicken raised on wire flooring to identify staphylococcus agnetis linked to causing lameness in broilers.The bacteria had been associated with inflammation of the mammary gland in cattle but not in the legs of broiler chickens. Lameness causes the chickens to suffer and the diseased birds are not fit for human consumption. Rough estimates are that lameness in the Arkansas poultry industry could cost growers about $20 million a year due the loss of birds.Lameness in broiler chickens is a significant animal welfare and financial issue. Bob Wideman, professor of poultry science at the U of A, had shown that growing young broilers on wire flooring is a contributing factor to lameness in broiler chickens. This study, which included Wideman, shows that S. agnetis is also a contributing factor for lameness in those chickens, Rhoads said. Bio security measures such as cleaning, washing with disinfectants and spraying plays a vital role to prevent diseases.Housing,feeding and medication also are factors to consider in the poultry value chain to ensure disease free stock. pic and portions of story courtesy of world poultry.

Riverside farm - a high tech robotic farm in Northern Ireland

Riverside farm - a high tech robotic farm in Northern Ireland

Agriculture: farming robots and food security.

Robotics has been incorporated to livestock and general farming to increase productivity and also increase revenue by preventing losses.Africa needs to embrace more of technology-based agriculture to produce more and ensure food security. 

 Africa needs to make greater investments in science and technology to become more efficient and competitive in agriculture, says the African Development Bank (AfDB). 

According to the Bank, science and technology are critical in transforming the agriculture industry from one that manages rural poverty to a wealth creating sector. “There cannot be a secure Africa unless we first and foremost revive the rural economies. 

We must turn these areas into zones of economic prosperity. And for that to happen, we must transform the main source of livelihoods – agriculture – into a wealth-creating sector,” said Dr Adesina. The use of robots in agriculture will not only guarantee more harvest,but smart production methods.

 New agricultural practices such as hydroponics farming, biocrops and selective breeding will not only ensure food security but provide more jobs. read more

Agribusiness: Agricultural robots.

The release of the film Terminator,which featured a cyborg with the sole aim to destroy mankind really shook the box office. Little did we know it was an introduction into the future of possibilities. The world has evolved over time with the introduction of phones,internet and robots.

The machine actually called a cyborg was actually flesh over iron and steel programmed for an assignment. 

 The cyborg was really a type of computer; with a microchip with million of information that can be easily accessed.This cyborg could be anybody and could do any thing; he could change form, voice and was extremely powerful with laser-sharp focus.

The follow up was a build up to the first with more advanced technology;this time exploring the power of liquid metal to achieve the purpose of destruction.

 WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ROBOTS!!!!. Technology is dynamic, really evolving over time and helping us get things done.Did you know that the cyborg was actually a super-duber computer with a microchip of stored data?

 Do you know that the same principle is being harnessed today to ensure safety, food security/food safety ,provide entertainment and employment. 

 Robots are used now a days to carry out activities on the farm, these are programmed and set up to supply food and water to animals .This reduces labor costs as a robot can serve so many animals with a time frame .There is also the assurance that the animals are fed. Read how a pig farm is using robots;http://www.wattagnet.com/articles/902-robot-takes-the-strain-out-of-strawing. 

The use of robots is not limited to any specie or function, as they operate according to specification. Read how robots work on dairy Precision farming , a method to ensure food security, also uses robots to ensure maximum production Precision Farming techniques, aim to vary the inputs in production systems so the output is optimized from both an economic and environmental perspective.

  Read Robots are also involved in food safety when you talk about the QR codes, this reading system works on the basis of stored data,information and analysis.

The robots basically operate on data, analysis and data generation which is basically what the computer world offers. Did you know that robots, biotech and mash up are intertwined???? Robots function on data/information; so does genetic engineering.

The scientific mixing and matching of desired traits(DNA) into another to produce a more stable and viable specie that is usually more productive.

The mashup is the same technique of mixing and matching to produce content from various sources. The future is really wrapped around technology to ensure food security and safety 

.In the world today, robots have been assigned more tasks than you imagine; ;

Nadine, a "receptionist" at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She is friendly, and will greet you back. Next time you meet her, she will remember your name and your previous conversation with her. She looks almost like a human being, with soft skin and flowing brunette hair. She smiles when greeting you, looks at you in the eye when talking, and can also shake hands with you,and she is a humanoid. Read more (photo credit; internet)

PUERTO RICO REPORTS FIRST CASE OF ZIKA VIRUS.

The mosquito-transmitted disease has been confirmed in countries including Brazil, Panama, Venezuela, El Salvador, Mexico, Suriname, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guatemala and Paraguay, according to public health officials. Brazilian authorities in November linked Zika to a surge in babies born with microcephaly, a birth defect that seriously limits a child’s mental and physical abilities. Brazil has reported nearly 2,000 cases of babies born with microcephaly, or unusually small brains, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this month. The WHO said the cause of the outbreak in Brazil had yet to be determined. Between three and 12 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, three out of four people come down with symptoms including mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, headaches and joint pain. Puerto Rico has reported its first case of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that has been spreading across South America and the Caribbean and has been linked by Brazilian authorities to a serious birth defect. Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, said in a statement his office had been in touch with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which had confirmed the single case of Zika on the island. Read more here;http://newsdaily.com/2015/12/puerto-rico-reports-first-case-of-zika-virus-spread-by-mosquitoes/#yTtRkcB7Hp3vTkif.15