Piglets need water as much as they need feed.

Piglets need water as much as they need feed.Providing water to suckling and weaned piglets does not stop at having one water outlet per pen as these animals undergo significant digestive development during this period. Sow’s milk contains about 80 percent water, and therefore it is often assumed that suckling piglets cover their daily water requirements without supplemental water. As a result, on many farms, farrowing crates are not equipped with a water delivery system for piglets, and water is provided for the first time only after weaning. In such cases, it is quite common to observe piglets trying to reach the water devices installed for sows. Nevertheless, most experts agree that supplemental water actually benefits suckling piglets, and these benefits greatly outweigh the cost of providing water for piglets in farrowing crates. Dehydration during the first few days after birth is a common cause of death in newborn pigs, especially among light and weak piglets that fail to consume enough milk. It has been suggested that provision of drinking water may reduce pre-weaning mortality from dehydration, especially when environmental temperature is excessive. It should be noted that water loss (mainly from evaporation) in piglets housed under common heaters is about 155 g/day per kg body weight, and that piglets housed at 28 C (82.4 F) consume four times more water than piglets housed at 20 C (68 F). Therefore, when milk intake is limited or environmental temperature is excessive, a source of fresh drinking water should be provided to reduce dehydration and sustain life. Supplemental water may also be beneficial to suckling piglets suffering from diarrhea, which causes severe water loss from the gut. It is interesting to note that newborn pigs are able to drink water within the first 2 hours after birth, indicating a need for water in addition to that supplied by sow’s colostrum or milk. It is also essential to provide drinking water to suckling piglets that actively consume solid feed. It has been demonstrated that piglets with free access to water eat more creep feed than piglets without supplemental water (3,215 versus 2,166 g/pig, respectively). The importance of drinking water in supporting vigorous intake of dry feed increases with weaning age. In production systems practicing very early weaning, creep intake is rather trivial and, thus, the effect of water on feed intake is minimal. But, in production systems that wean pigs about 3 to 4 weeks of age, creep intake can be substantial, and supplemental drinking water must always be provided. Piglets need water as much as they need feed.

Russian Agriculture: The Importance of Biotechnology.

Russian Agriculture: The Importance of Biotechnology.This year Russia collected a record grain harvest. A total of 132 million tons of grain were harvested this season. As the experts note, that’s going to be the best result for 100 years, and in fact, for the entire history of the country. In recent years, there has been a real grain boom. In the past season, Russian agriculture companies managed to harvest 120 million tons of grain. Although in 2015 the harvest did not exceed more than 104 million tons. However, bumper crops have a downside. The thing is that giant harvests require a large amount of infrastructure: grain storage facilities, machinery for sowing operations, transport and logistics support. And Russia faces some lack of such infrastructure.

Dangote feels Nigeria should focus on agriculture.

Dangote feels Nigeria should focus on agriculture.In an interview granted on the sidelines of the Alaghodaro investment summit recently organized by the Edo State Government, billionaire industrialist, Aliko Dangote revealed why he has intensified his group’s investments in the agricultural sector. Food security is an important aspect of this administration’s national security agenda. any person involved in smuggling of food items is a threat to our national security and will therefore be dealt with accordingly.Keying into an a sector supported by the government, gives the Dangote Group access to grants and subsidies. Essential in doing business in a harsh climate like Nigeria. In addition to creating jobs, investing in agriculture reduces Nigeria’s reliance on foreign food imports which act as a drain on the nation’s foreign reserves. Interventions in rice farming have led to a drop in rice imports in the country. Dangote feels Nigeria should focus on agriculture.

How to feed your pigs for less.

Feed accounts for 65-85% of the cost of commercial pig production. The more a farmer knows about their pigs' feed need, the better he can meet this need efficiently. . The use of none conventional and cheap pig feed ingredients that are available in Africa e.g.Banana, Plantain, Pawpaw, sweet potatoes, coco-yam makes a difference in the profit margin.

Domestic pigs are acting as potential sources of sleeping sickness in sub-Saharan Africa.

Domestic pigs are acting as potential sources of sleeping sickness in sub-Saharan Africa.Many of the domestic pigs kept by subsistence farmers across sub-Saharan Africa are carrying the cause of fatal human diesease human African Trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, millions of people rely on subsistence farming to survive. Pig keeping is becoming more popular, as they can be maintained in a free-roaming, zero input system requiring little investment of time or money. However the increase in pig farming is also increasing the risk of human infection with a number of pathogens, including the causative agent of acute human African trypanosomiasis (HAT); Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. T. rhodesiense is a vector borne disease that occurs in discrete foci across East Africa and is transmitted by the tsetse fly. T. b. rhodesiense infection in pigs is usually asymptomatic. As a result they can often tolerate infection for most of their lives, and without clinical signs, the animals will not be treated. In contrast the course of infection in humans is very different; T. b. rhodesiense is a rapidly fatal infection, with death ensuing in as little as six months after becoming infected.

Hero rats sniff (and snuff) out landmines and TB.

Hero rats sniff (and snuff) out landmines and TB. Traditionally, you wouldn't gift someone a rat -- not someone you like, anyway. And even if a gift-wrapped rodent was in the cards, you'd likely shy away from the giant African pouched rat, which -- as the name suggests -- is rather large (think cat-sized). Tanzania-based NGO Apopo, however, thinks rats make excellent gifts. So much so that they've launched an adopt-a-rat program, which allows participants to sponsor the animal. "It's great for the giving season. It also works on Valentine's Day. Many people love to give their love, er, a rat," says Bart Weetjens, Apopo's founder. Weetjens' rodents have many talents. Mostly, though, they are highly trained to sniff out land mines and detect tuberculosis -- two scourges that have had a tremendously negative impact across the African continent.And his rats are fast. A single rat can clear 200 square feet in an hour (done manually, the same area would take 50 hours to clear). A TB-detection rat can evaluate 50 samples in eight minutes (almost a day's work for a lab technician

Anti-malaria soap could save thousands of lives in rural areas.

The past decade has led to some amazing progress in the fight against malaria, especially in Africa. But despite this, the mosquito-borne disease remains a threat. Experts now believe creative ideas are needed to eradicate malaria for good. In Burkina Faso one student has come up with a soap that repels mosquitoes.