Gaseous emissions from weaned pigs raised on different floor systems

in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (2009), 130

Gaseous emissions from agriculture contribute to a number of environmental effects. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are greenhouse gases taking part to the global problem of ... [more ▼]

Gaseous emissions from agriculture contribute to a number of environmental effects. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are greenhouse gases taking part to the global problem of climate change. Ammonia (NH3) emissions are responsible of soil acidification and eutrophication and contribute also to indirect emissions of N2O. This work evaluated the influence of the type of floor on the emissions of these gases in the raising of weaned pigs. Two trials were carried out. In the first trial, the animals were kept either on fully slatted floor or on straw-based deep litter and, in the second one, either on fully slatted floor or on sawdust-based deep litter. For each trial and on each type of floor, 2 successive batches of weaned pigs were raised without changing the litter or emptying the slurry pit between the 2 batches. The rooms were automatically ventilated to maintain a constant ambient temperature. The performance of the animals was not significantly different according to the floor type. In trial 1, the nitrogen contents of the straw deep litter (including the substrate) and slurry were respectively 276 and 389 g pig-1. In trial 2, the sawdust deep litter and slurry nitrogen contents were respectively 122 and 318 g pig-1. Raising pigs on straw deep litter produced proportionately around 100% more NH3 than raising pigs on slatted floor (0.61 vs. 0.31 g NH3-N d-1 per pig; P<0.05). Differences in CO2, H2O and CH4 emissions were not significant between systems. Raising pigs on sawdust deep litter produced also proportionately more NH3 (+52%; 0.55 vs. 0.36 g NH3-N d-1 per pig; P<0.01) but also more CO2 (+25%; 427 vs. 341 g d-1 per pig; P<0.001) and H2O (+65%; 981 vs. 593 g d-1 per pig; P<0.001) and less CH4 (-40%; 0.52 vs. 0.86 g d-1 per pig; P<0.001) than raising pigs on slatted floor. Practically no N2O emission was observed from rooms with slatted floor while the N2O emissions were 0.03 and 0.32 g N2O-N d-1 per pig for the straw and sawdust deep litter respectively. The warming potential of the greenhouse gases (N2O + CH4), were about 22, 34 and 168 g CO2 equivalents per day and per pig on fully slatted floor, straw or sawdust deep litter respectively. In conclusion, pollutant gas emissions from rearing of weaned pig seem lower with fully slatted plastic floor system than with deep litter systems [less ▲]

Milk urea content: effects of environmental parameters and relationships with other milk traits

in Biodiversity and animal feed. Future challenges for grassland production. Proceedings of the 22nd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation (2008)

Relationship between leptin content, metabolic hormones and fat deposition in three beef cattle breeds.

in Veterinary Journal (2008), 177

The aim of the study was to determine if cattle breeds differing in their carcass characteristics also differ in the profiles of their leptin and metabolic hormones. Three breeds, Belgian Blue (BB) (n=12 ... [more ▼]

The aim of the study was to determine if cattle breeds differing in their carcass characteristics also differ in the profiles of their leptin and metabolic hormones. Three breeds, Belgian Blue (BB) (n=12), Limousin (L) (n=12) and Aberdeen Angus (AA) (n=12) with varying ability to deposit fat and protein were compared. Blood, muscle and subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue were sampled. Animal performance, carcass and meat characteristics were determined as well as plasma leptin concentration, leptin gene expression in SC adipose tissue, leptin-receptor gene expression in SC adipose tissue and plasma concentration of insulin, tri-iodothyronin (T3), thyroxin (T4) and cortisol. The BB bulls showed the lowest values of leptin gene expression (P<0.05). Values of plasma leptin concentration and of leptin-receptor gene expression tended to be lower in BB than in the other breeds. For a similar amount of adipose tissue (after normalisation), BB bulls showed a higher ratio of plasma leptin (P<0.05), whereas normalised leptin gene and leptin-receptor gene expressions did not significantly differ between breeds. Belgian Blue bulls also differed in their metabolic hormone profile, tending to show lower values of insulin, T3 and T4 than the two other breeds. Cortisol levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) in BB than in L and AA animals. [less ▲]

Qualité nutritionnelle de la viande bovine : influence des facteurs de production

Conference (2008)

Milk urea content: effects of environmental parameters and relationships with other milk traits

in Biodiversity and animal feed. Future challenges for grassland production. Book of abstracts. 22nd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation (2008)

Essential fatty acids content in beef meat as influenced by crushed, flaked or extruded linseeds

in book of abstract of the 59th Annual meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (2008)

Les oligo-éléments dans l’alimentation des ruminants : état des lieux, formes et efficacité des apports avec une attention particulière pour le sélénium

in CRA-W - Fourrages Actualités 2007 (2007)

Development of indicators to quantify nitrogen rejections of grazing dairy cows according to fertilisation types

in Permanent and temporary grassland plant, environment and economy; A. De Vliegher and L. Carlier (Eds); Proceedings of 14th symposium of the European Grassland Federation (2007)

Nitrogen (N) rejections are a problem of importance in cattle production. In pasture, the amounts of N rejected by the cattle are large since grass N content exceeds the ‘animals’ requirements. The ... [more ▼]

Nitrogen (N) rejections are a problem of importance in cattle production. In pasture, the amounts of N rejected by the cattle are large since grass N content exceeds the ‘animals’ requirements. The present study aims to quantify, with dairy cows in a rotational system, N rejections from urine. The trial paddocks were fertilized with compost, slurry or mineral N and grazed during 7 days by 35 dairy cows in late lactation. Milk urea concentration was determined in tank milk samples every day. Urine samples were taken from each cow at the 3rd and the 5th day after the entry in the grazing plot. Urine N and creatinin were determined to quantify urine N excretion. These observed values were compared to urine N excretion data obtained from dry matter intake and grass N content. The mean observed urine N excretion of 312 g N day-1 was similar to the mean calculated urine N excretion of 330 g N day-1. The correlation between calculated urinary N excretion and observed urinary N excretion was significant (P<0.001; r2= 22.4%) and the correlation between observed urinary N excretion and milk urea content tended to be significant (P<0.10; r2 =60%). From these data, it appears that urine N excretion prediction can be more precise with tank milk urea than with urine N excretion calculated from N intake. This research has to be continued and to be repeated during other grazing periods and with cows at different lactation periods to validate the results. [less ▲]

Milk urea content as influenced by geographical area and season in Wallonia

in Permanent and temporary grassland plant, environment and economy; A. De Vliegher and L. Carlier (Eds); Proceedings of 14th symposium of the European Grassland Federation (2007)

Milk urea concentration is routinely determined in commercial dairy farms along with the official milk analyses carried out on milk samples for the dairies by the “Comité du lait”. The milk urea content ... [more ▼]

Milk urea concentration is routinely determined in commercial dairy farms along with the official milk analyses carried out on milk samples for the dairies by the “Comité du lait”. The milk urea content do not modify milk price but can be useful for the farmers for diet calculation, milk urea content being related to the energy-protein ratio in the diet. The aim of this paper was to study the evolution of the milk urea content according to the months and the areas. Milk urea concentration changed according to the months owing to the diet: the summer diets, mainly composed by grass in many farms, were characterized by higher nitrogen content which as result an increase in milk urea concentration. The geographic areas can also influence milk urea concentration due to dietary difference. For example, in the Hesbaye area, beet and cereals are produced while in the Ardennes, grasslands are dominant. The urea content in milk can be an useful measurement for the diet calculations in order to decrease nitrogen waste and to reduce the feed costs. [less ▲]

Inclusion of cereals, hay and straw naturally enriched in selenium by use of fertilizers in horses diets: overtime effects on antioxidant markers

in 11th Congress of the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (2007)