Efficacy of energy supplementation on growth performance and immune response of suckling pigs.

Three studies were performed to determine the effects of oral energy sources on the performance, immune status, and intestinal morphology of piglets. In Exp. 1, 50 litters were selected based on genotype and parity order to determine the optimum amount of supplemental energy for neonatal pigs. They were distributed according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, in which columns were represented by 5 sows and rows were represented by 5 newborn weight categories. Treatments consisted of 2 oral doses of 0, 2, 4, 8, or 16 mL of rice bran oil (RBO). There was a positive response of RBO on BW with a numerical difference (P = 0.12) and a significant linear effect (P = 0.04) at weaning. In Exp. 2, litters (n = 340) were randomly allotted to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: RBO supplemented either through oral doses (without supplementation or with 2 mL of RBO) or through prestarter feed (without supplementation or with 2% of RBO replacing 2% of soybean oil). Piglets orally receiving RBO showed a numerical increase in BW at weaning (P = 0.101) compared with the control group. Moreover, piglets supplemented by prestarter feed tended to increase feed intake (P = 0.084). In Exp. 3, litters (n = 245) were selected based on genotype and parity order and they were distributed according to a 7 × 7 Latin square design planed in the same way as in Exp. 1. Each neonatal pig within a litter was randomly assigned to 1 of 7 treatments: 1) control (no supplementation), 2) 2 mL of RBO enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, 3) 2.33 mL of pure glycerin, 4) 1.3 mL of soybean oil, 5) 1.4 mL of linseed oil, 6) 1.68 mL of coconut oil, and 7) 2 mL of RBO. Animal performance was analyzed using 2 data sets: all data (average initial BW of 1.479 kg) and low birth weight (LBW) piglet data (≤1.220 kg initial BW with average of 0.985 kg). Body weight or BW gain (BWG) were not different among treatments (P > 0.10) when all data were analyzed. However, LBW piglets fed coconut oil tended to increase BW (P = 0.099) during the first week. In conclusion, the oral use of RBO may increase BW at weaning and the supplementation by prestarter feed may enhance the feed intake of piglets. In addition, coconut oil may increase BW of LBW piglets in the first week of life without affecting mortality, immune response, or gut morphology. The routine practice of oral supplementation of energy for newborn pigs could be an important tool in swine production.

Eficiência do SISCODE e da aeração passiva no tratamento de resíduos da produção animal no município de Capão do Leão/RS / Efficiency of SISCODE and passive aeration for treating residues of animal production in Capão do Leão City - Rio Grande do Sul State

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência do sistema de compostagem de dejetos e da aeração passiva no tratamento de resíduos da produção animal no município de Capão do Leão, no Rio Grande do Sul. Utilizou-se uma estrutura coberta com filme de polietileno de baixa densidade e aberta nas laterais, que recebeu seis caixas de plástico reforçado com fibra de vidro. O estudo foi realizado com dois tratamentos, os quais foram constituídos pela mistura de dejetos líquidos de bovinos leiteiros e maravalha, e de bovinos leiteiros e cama de aviário de dois lotes de frangos de corte. O SISCODE é eficiente na transformação dos resíduos líquidos em sólidos da produção animal, já que a alta umidade relativa e a baixa temperatura ambiente no município não afetam tal sistema de tratamento. A aeração passiva não é eficiente na evaporação do excedente de água e na oxigenação dos substratos compostados, não devendo ser utilizada na compostagem da mistura de resíduos líquidos e sólidos da produção animal.

A trial was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of composting of residues system and passive aeration for treating animal residues in Capão do Leão, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A low-density polythene film covered up a laterally opened structure was used. Such structure was to protect six plastic and glass fiber boxes. The study was carried out with two treatments, which were constituted by a mixture of liquid bovine residues and wood shaving; and a mixture of liquid bovine residues and poultry litter. SISCODE is efficient for transformation of the liquid in solid residues, given that local high-relative humidity and the low environmental temperature do not affect such residues treatment system. Passive aeration is not efficient for both evaporating excess of water and oxygenating composting substrates. Therefore, it should not be used for composting a mixture of liquid and solid residues from animal production.