Phosphorus in pig diets

Pig feed is mainly based on cereals where phosphorus (P) is mostly present in inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), which is not readily available to monogastric animals. More available P sources are often added to ensure that pigs’ requirements are fulfilled; this results in high excretion levels of P. The digestibility of P depends on phytase activity and amount of IP6 in feedstuffs. The overall aim was to study effects of liquid feeding, P levels and phytase supplementation on digestibility and performance. Effects of soaking and P levels on digestibility were studied by total collection in metabolic cages, and effects on performance were studied in 192 growing pigs. Effects of soaking fermentation and phytase supplementation on ileal and total tract digestibility were studied with indicator technique on pigs surgically fitted with PVTC cannulas. P levels and phytase supplementation were studied in 104 pregnant sows for two reproduction cycles. All diets were cereal based and included wheat. Basic properties of a cereal mix fermented with whey, wet wheat distillers’ grain and water in different temperatures were also studied. Soaking reduced the level of IP6, whereas apparent digestibility of P was not significantly improved. Soaking increased average daily weight gain, carcass weights and improved the energy conversion ratio in pigs fed a low P diet to the same level as pigs fed high P diets. Low P diets resulted in lower femur density than high P diets. However, soaking of a low P diet resulted in increased femur density. Fermentation degraded IP6 efficiently and improved ileal apparent digestibility of P, organic matter, nitrogen, amino acids and total tract apparent digestibility of organic matter. Microbiological and biochemical properties of fermented liquid diets are strongly affected by feed components and temperature used. Phytase supplementation slightly affected apparent digestibility of P. Supplementing a low P gestation diet with phytase did not significantly affect sow performance. The slight effects of phytase supplementations found may depend on high levels of intrinsic phytase in the diets, and possibly suggest that the provided P level in the sows may have been sufficient. Under typical Swedish conditions of sow management, reduced total P level in gestation diets seems not to negatively affect performance

Kombinerte stillinger kan fremme samarbeid mellom sykepleierutdanning og praksisfelt

Samarbeid mellom utdanningsinstitusjon og praksisfelt er av betydning for studentens læring i praksisstudier. Denne studien er en del av et større prosjekt hvor et overordnet mål er å styrke samarbeidet mellom utdanningsinstitusjon og praksisfelt blant annet ved bruk av kombinerte stillinger. Hensikt med delstudien er å utforske erfaringene lærere og sykepleiere høstet i kombinert stilling. Data er innhentet våren 2021 ved fokusgruppeintervju og analysert ved hjelp av konvensjonell innholdsanalyse jf. Hsieh & Shannon (2005). Resultatene viser at kombinerte stillinger ga et positivt fellesskap om veiledning, basert på utvidet forståelse for hverandres roller, og fremmet samarbeidet mellom utdanningsinstitusjon og praksisfelt. Usikkerhet i begynnelsen av praksisperioden på hva rollene skulle fylles med gikk seg til underveis. Studien ble gjennomført under covid 19-pandemien, noe som påvirket samarbeidet og samarbeidsformene. Sentralt for et vellykket resultat er forankring av stillingene på alle nivå i begge organisasjoner.publishedVersio

Population Diversity of Yeasts and Lactic Acid Bacteria in Pig Feed Fermented with Whey, Wet Wheat Distillers' Grains, or Water at Different Temperatures▿

The diversity of populations of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in pig feeds fermented at 10, 15, or 20°C was characterized by rRNA gene sequencing of isolates. The feeds consisted of a cereal grain mix blended with wet wheat distillers' grains (WWDG feed), whey (W feed), or tap water (WAT feed). Fermentation proceeded for 5 days without disturbance, followed by 14 days of daily simulated feed outtakes, in which 80% of the contents were replaced with fresh feed mixtures. In WWDG feed, Pichia galeiformis became the dominant yeast species, independent of the fermentation temperature and feed change. The LAB population was dominated by Pediococcus pentosaceus at the start of the fermentation period. After 3 days, the Lactobacillus plantarum population started to increase in feeds at all temperatures. The diversity of LAB increased after the addition of fresh feed components. In W feed, Kluyveromyces marxianus dominated, but after the feed change, the population diversity increased. With increasing fermentation temperatures, there was a shift toward Pichia membranifaciens as the dominant species. L. plantarum was the most prevalent LAB in W feed. The WAT feed had a diverse microbial flora, and the yeast population changed throughout the whole fermentation period. Pichia anomala was the most prevalent yeast species, with increasing occurrence at higher fermentation temperatures. Pediococcus pentosaceus was the most prevalent LAB, but after the feed change, L. plantarum started to proliferate. The present study demonstrates that the species composition in fermented pig feed may vary considerably, even if viable cell counts indicate stable microbial populations

Effect of repeated confined single housing of young pigs on faecal excretion of cortisol and IgA

During 48 days four young male, castrated Yorkshire x Landrace pigs (growers) were singly housed alternatively  in standard pig pens (4 x 6 days) and metabolic cages (4 x 6 days). The faecal excretion of cortisol  metabolites and immunoglobulin A (IgA) was quantified by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays  (ELISAs). The first stay in the metabolic cage was associated with an increase in faecal cortisol levels,  which may be interpreted as a symptom of acute stress. But when the pigs’ visits to the metabolic cages  were repeated, the faecal cortisol generally reverted to fairly low levels. Concomitantly, faecal IgA excretion  decreased steadily during the study period suggesting sustained stress. The body weight gain was lower  during periods when the pigs were housed in metabolic cages than when they were in pens. These results  suggest that metabolic cages caused a continued stress condition in pigs. One pig showed consistent high  IgA excretion and a smaller decline in body weight gain during periods in the metabolic cage than the other  pigs. This pig thus appeared to be less stressed than the other pigs, but maintained high cortisol levels  throughout the study period when housed in the ordinary pen. This indicates that cortisol may have a protective  effect against the stress caused by housing in metabolic cages.