Evaluation of swine gestation-farrowing facility space and management for improving production, welfare, and infectious disease containment

The United States (US) swine industry plays an important role in providing a safe and reliable source of animal proteins for a growing world population. As the industry evolves and society advances, producers face new and complex challenges such as optimizing animal production, welfare, and health. This dissertation contributes novel evidence-based knowledge to address current swine housing and management challenges in several key areas that formed the objectives of this dissertation, which were to: develop a computer vision system to monitor sow behavior in farrowing stalls (Chapter 2), evaluate the impacts of farrowing stall layout and number of heat lamps on sow and piglet productivity (Chapter 3) and behavior (Chapter 4), quantify the static and dynamic space usage of late gestation sows (Chapter 5), and determine supplemental heat requirements to implement ventilation shut down plus and virus inactivation (Chapter 6). The research presented in this dissertation contains the following discoveries. In Chapter 2, a large-scale computer vision system was established and implemented to simultaneously and continually monitor 60 farrowing stalls. The semi-automatic image processing algorithm achieved sow posture classification accuracies of \u3e99.2% (sitting: 99.4%, standing: 99.2%, kneeling: 99.7%, lying: 99.9%) and \u3e97% accuracy for sow behaviors (feeding: 97.0%, drinking: 96.8%, other: 95.5%). The computer vision system provided the foundation for carrying out the subsequent study concerning the impact of farrowing stall layout and management strategies. It was revealed in Chapter 3 that farrowing stall physical dimensions and number of heat lamps for localized heating did not significantly impact the percentage of pre-weaning mortality, overlay, number of piglets born alive, number weaned, average daily weight gain, or litter uniformity. Stall layout did significantly influence percent stillborn; however, the difference was not of practical significance. While experimental treatment did not significantly impact production outcomes, there were significant sow and piglet behavioral differences which are reported in Chapter 4. It was found that sows in wider stalls spend more time lying down and less time sitting. Piglets in stall layouts with expanded creep areas spent more time in the creep and less time near the sow compared to traditional stall layouts. Further, when two heat lamps were used sows spent significantly more time lying and piglets spent a greater proportion of time in the heated areas. Static and dynamic space usage of individually housed gestating sows was quantified and reported in Chapter 5. An average 228 kg sow requires stall dimensions of 196 × 115 × 93 cm (L × W × H) to provide uninhibited space. To accommodate average to 95th percentile (267 kg) sows, minimum stall dimensions need to be 204 × 112 × 95 cm. The 95th percentile sow space usage had a 4% decrease in length, 84% increase in width, and 5% decrease in height compared to typical gestation stall dimensions. Chapter 6 describes the development of a model to predict minimum supplemental heat requirements for ventilation shut down plus and virus inactivation (VSD+). Tables are presented with heating values needed to achieve greater than 95% mortality within 1 h of VSD onset, as well as for virus inactivation for African Swine Fever (ASF). Requirements of supplemental heat for various pig body weights, ambient conditions, facility air tightness, and stages of production are estimated. Overall, this dissertation provides information to fill knowledge gaps regarding current challenges in the US swine industry. Results can be used to guide producers as they strive to provide safe and reliable pork for the growing world population while safeguarding wellbeing of the animals

Effects of Farrowing Stall Layout and Number of Heat Lamps on Sow and Piglet Production Performance

Most farrowing facilities in the United States use stalls and heat lamps to improve sow and piglet productivity. This study investigated these factors by comparing production outcomes for three different farrowing stall layouts (traditional, expanded creep area, expanded sow area) and use of one or two heat lamps. Data were collected on 427 sows and their litters over one year. Results showed no statistical differences due to experimental treatment for any of the production metrics recorded, excluding percent stillborn. Parity one sows had fewer piglets born alive (p \u3c 0.001), lower percent mortality (p = 0.001) and over-lay (p = 0.003), and a greater number of piglets weaned (p \u3c 0.001) with lower average daily weight gain (ADG) (p \u3c 0.001) and more uniform litters (p = 0.001) as compared to higher parity sows. Farrowing turn, associated with group/seasonal changes, had a significant impact on most of the production metrics measured. Number of piglets born influenced the percent stillborn (p \u3c 0.001). Adjusted litter size had a significant impact on percent mortality (p \u3c 0.001), percent over-lay (p \u3c 0.001), and number of piglets weaned (p \u3c 0.001). As the number of piglets weaned per litter increased, both piglet ADG and litter uniformity decreased (p \u3c 0.001). This information can be used to guide producers in farrowing facility design

Effects of Farrowing Stall Layout and Number of Heat Lamps on Sow and Piglet Production Performance

Most farrowing facilities in the United States use stalls and heat lamps to improve sow and piglet productivity. This study investigated these factors by comparing production outcomes for three different farrowing stall layouts (traditional, expanded creep area, expanded sow area) and use of one or two heat lamps. Data were collected on 427 sows and their litters over one year. Results showed no statistical differences due to experimental treatment for any of the production metrics recorded, excluding percent stillborn. Parity one sows had fewer piglets born alive (p \u3c 0.001), lower percent mortality (p = 0.001) and over-lay (p = 0.003), and a greater number of piglets weaned (p \u3c 0.001) with lower average daily weight gain (ADG) (p \u3c 0.001) and more uniform litters (p = 0.001) as compared to higher parity sows. Farrowing turn, associated with group/seasonal changes, had a significant impact on most of the production metrics measured. Number of piglets born influenced the percent stillborn (p \u3c 0.001). Adjusted litter size had a significant impact on percent mortality (p \u3c 0.001), percent over-lay (p \u3c 0.001), and number of piglets weaned (p \u3c 0.001). As the number of piglets weaned per litter increased, both piglet ADG and litter uniformity decreased (p \u3c 0.001). This information can be used to guide producers in farrowing facility design

Optical Spectroscopy of Supernova 1993J During Its First 2500 Days

We present 42 low-resolution spectra of Supernova (SN) 1993J, our complete collection from the Lick and Keck Observatories, from day 3 after explosion to day 2454, as well as one Keck high-dispersion spectrum from day 383. SN 1993J began as an apparent SN II, albeit an unusual one. After a few weeks, a dramatic transition took place, as prominent helium lines emerged in the spectrum. SN 1993J had metamorphosed from a SN II to a SN IIb. Nebular spectra of SN 1993J closely resemble those of SNe Ib and Ic, but with a persistent H_alpha line. At very late times, the H_alpha emission line dominated the spectrum, but with an unusual, box-like profile. This is interpreted as an indication of circumstellar interaction.Comment: 19 pages plus 13 figures, AASTeX V5.0. One external table in AASTeX V4.0, in landscape format. Accepted for publication in A

Testimony Regarding the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA)

My testimony today is delivered on behalf of twenty leading legal scholars who have joined me in providing an in depth analysis of the meaning and likely effects of the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), were it to become law. We feel particularly compelled to provide testimony to this Committee because the first legislative finding set out in FADA declares that: “Leading legal scholars concur that conflicts between same-sex marriage and religious liberty are real and should be addressed through legislation.” As leading legal scholars we must correct this statement: we do not concur that conflicts between same-sex marriage and religious liberty are real, nor do we hold the view that any such conflict should be addressed through legislation. On the contrary, we maintain that religious liberty rights are already well protected in the U.S. Constitution and in existing federal and state legislation, rendering FADA both unnecessary and harmful