Cooling of Quark Stars in the Color Superconductive Phase: Effect of Photons from Glueball decay

The cooling history of a quark star in the color superconductive phase is investigated. Here we specifically focus on the 2-flavour color (2SC) phase where novel process of photon generation via glueball (GLB) decay have been already investigated (Ouyed & Sannino 2001). The picture we present here can in principle be generalized to quark stars entering a superconductive phase where similar photon generation mechanisms are at play. As much as 10^{45}-10^{47} erg of energy is provided by the GLB decay in the 2SC phase. The generated photons slowly diffuse out of the quark star keeping it hot and radiating as a black-body (with possibly a Wien spectrum in gamma-rays) for millions of years. We discuss hot radio-quiet isolated neutron stars in our picture (such as RX J185635-3754 and RX J0720.4-3125) and argue that their nearly blackbody spectra (with a few broad features) and their remarkably tiny hydrogen atmosphere are indications that these might be quark stars in the color superconductive phase where some sort of photon generation mechanism (reminiscent of the GLB decay) has taken place. Fits to observed data of cooling compact stars favor models with superconductive gaps of Delta_2SC = 15-35 MeV and densities rho_2SC=(2.5-3.0)rho_N (rho_N being the nuclear matter saturation density) for quark matter in the 2SC phase. If correct, our model combined with more observations of isolated compact stars could provide vital information to studies of quark matter and its exotic phases.Comment: 7 journal pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS (more discussions on photon cooling versus neutrino cooling before and after pairing of quarks

Effects of Increasing Space Allowance by Removing a Pig or Gate Adjustment on Finishing Pig Growth Performance

A total of 256 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 123.1 lb) were used in a 71 d growth study to compare the effects of increasing space allowance by removing a pig or gate adjustment, on finishing pig growth performance. At the initiation of the trial, pens of pigs were blocked by BW and allotted to 1 of 4 space allowance treatments. The 4 treatments included: 1) 9.8 ft2/pig or 2) 6.8 ft2/pig for the entire study with treatments 3 and 4 initially providing 6.8 ft2, but either a gate was adjusted or the heaviest pig in the pen was removed to provide more space. By using the following equation, space adjustments were made to keep the pigs above their predicted minimum space requirement before growth is impacted: space [(m2) = 0.0336 × BW (kg)0.66]. There were initially 8 pigs per pen and 8 pens per treatment.From d 0 to 28, before any gate adjustments or pig removals, ADG tended to be greater (P = 0.076) for pigs allowed 9.8 ft2 compared with pigs stocked at 6.8 ft2. Overall, d 0 to 71, pigs allowed 9.8 ft2 had greater (P = 0.001) ADG compared with pigs with all other space allowances. Removing pigs or adjusting the gating increased (P = 0.001) ADG compared to those maintained at 6.8 ft2; however, both treatments had decreased (P = 0.001) ADG compared with pigs allowed 9.8 ft2. Most of the differences in ADG can be explained by differences in ADFI. Pigs allowed 9.8 ft2 had greater (P = 0.001) ADFI compared with pigs allowed 6.8 ft2; however, intake was similar for pigs allowed increased space by gate adjustment to pigs allowed 9.8 ft2. Pigs allowed increased space by pig removal had similar ADFI to pigs allowed 6.8 ft2. Space allowance did not influence feed efficiency.In summary, as expected, pigs with 9.8 ft2 grew faster and consumed more feed than pigs that were restricted in space. Furthermore, either removing a pig or adjusting the gating as pigs reached the critical k value influenced growth performance similarly. We speculated that along with pig growth, removing the heaviest pigs could have influenced social dynamics of the remaining pigs in the pen; however, our study indicates the performance benefit from removing the heaviest pig from the pen is primarily from the increased space allowance alone. As pigs grew to the minimum predicted space requirement and were subsequently allowed more space, performance was not similar compared to unrestricted pigs. This indicates the industry accepted minimum space prediction equation [m2 = 0.0336 × BW (kg)0.66] doesn’t fully explain the impacts on pig performance across multiple body weight ranges

Foreword and Supplemental Information, Swine Day

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2016 Swine Industry Day Report of Progress. This report contains updates and summaries of applied and basic research conducted at Kansas State University during the past year. We hope that the information will be of benefit as we attempt to meet the needs of the Kansas swine industry

Swine Day 2015 Supplements

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2015 Swine Industry Day Report of Progress. This report contains updates and summaries of applied and basic research conducted at Kansas State University during the past year. We hope that the information will be of benefit as we attempt to meet the needs of the Kansas swine industry

Effect of Soy Protein Sources on Nursery Pig Performance

A total of 480 nursery pigs (PIC C-29 × 359, initially 12.9 lb) were used in a 38-d growth trial to determine the effects of soy protein sources on pig performance. There were 10 pigs per pen and 8 replications per treatment. The 6 dietary treatments were a negative control, corn-soybean meal-based diet (30.1% soybean meal), and diets containing five different specialty protein sources including: Nutrivance, HP 300, soy protein concentrate (SPC), or NF8 or fish meal replacing 10% of the soybean meal in the negative control diet. Experimental diets were fed in two phases (5 lb per pig on d 0 to approximately d 14 and d 14 to 24) with a common diet fed from d 24 to 38. Diets contained 25 and 10% dried whey in phases 1 and 2, respectively. From d 0 to 14, pigs fed diets containing Nutrivance or NF8 had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed the negative control, high SBM diet. Also, pigs fed the NF8 diet had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed diets containing SPC or fish meal. The growth response was a result of greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADFI for pigs fed the Nutrivance diet and improved (P \u3c 0.05) feed efficiency for the NF8 diet. From d 14 to 24, pigs fed the diets containing fish meal or HP 300 had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed NF8, with pigs fed NF8 having poorer (P \u3c 0.05) F/G compared with pigs fed all other treatments. From d 0 to 24, pigs fed the diet containing HP 300 had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed the negative control, high SBM diet, with other treatments being intermediate. Pigs fed the diet containing HP 300 had improved (P \u3c 0.05) F/G compared with pigs fed all other protein sources except fish meal. Pigs fed the fish meal diet also had improved (P \u3c 0.05) F/G compared with pigs fed the diet containing NF8. The improvement in performance from d 0 to 14 for pigs fed the diet containing Nutrivance resulted in a 0.5 lb heavier (P \u3c 0.05) pig on d 14 as compared to the negative control diet. The 0.5 lb advantage in BW over the negative control was maintained to the end of the trial (d 38) and was similar to the final BW of pigs fed the HP 300 diet; however, the weight advantage was no longer statistically significant

Effects of different zinc oxide sources on weanling pig growth performance

A total of 192 pigs (initially 13.61b and 18 d of age) were used in a 27-d growth assay to determine the effects of different ZnO sources on weanling pig growth performance. The four experimental treatments consisted of a control diet or three diets containing Zn from ZnO from one of three different sources. For the entire trial, no differences occurred in growth performance of pigs fed the different ZnO sources; however, all sources increased ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed the control diet. Economics and ingredient availability should dictate which ZnO source to use in weanling pig diets to promote growth.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 18, 199

Swine Day 2016 Full Report

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2016 Swine Industry Day Report of Progress. This report contains updates and summaries of applied and basic research conducted at Kansas State University during the past year. We hope that the information will be of benefit as we attempt to meet the needs of the Kansas swine industry

Finely Grinding Cereal Grains in Pelleted Diets Offers Little Improvement in Nursery Pig Growth Performance

Five experiments were conducted to determine the effects of corn particle size and diet form on nursery pig performance and feed preference. In Exp. 1, 192 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 14.7 lb and 26 d of age) were used in a 35-d experiment. Pens of pigs were balanced by BW and allotted to 1 of 4 treatments with 6 pigs per pen and 8 pens per treatment. The same corn and soybean meal-based diet formulation was used for all treatments. The 2 × 2 factorial consisted of the main effects of corn particle size (400 vs. 700 μm) and diet form (mash vs. pelleted). Pigs fed mash diets had improved overall ADG and greater ADFI during all periods (P \u3c 0.05) and particle size did not impact (P \u3e 0.10) performance. In Exp. 2, a study utilized 96 pigs to evaluate feed preference of pigs consuming mash diets with either 400 or 700 μm corn. Pigs overwhelmingly (P \u3c 0.05) preferred to consume 700 μm corn compared to 400 μm corn (79.3 vs. 20.7%). In Exp. 3, 224 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 24.1 lb and 40 d of age) were used in a 10-d experiment to determine the effects of corn particle size in pelleted diets on nursery pig performance. Experimental treatments were formed by grinding corn to 1 of 4 different particle sizes (250, 400, 550, or 700 μm). Particle size tended to affect (P \u3c 0.10) ADG in a quadratic manner, but did not impact (P \u3e 0.10) ADFI or F/G. Pigs fed pelleted diets from either 250 or 700 μm corn had poorer ADG than the intermediate treatments. Exp. 4 utilized 91 pigs to evaluate the preference of pigs consuming pelleted diets with either 250 or 700 μm corn from Exp. 3. Even in pelleted form, pigs preferred (P \u3c 0.05) to consume diets manufactured with the coarser particle size corn (58.2 vs. 41.8%). In Exp. 5, 180 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 15.8 lb and 36 d of age) were used in a 35-d experiment to determine the effects of corn particle size and pelleting on nursery pig growth performance. The 2 × 2 factorial consisted of 2 corn particle sizes (500 μm vs. 750 μm) and two diet forms (mash vs. pelleted). Overall, reducing particle size from 750 to 500 μm did not affect growth performance (P \u3e 0.10). Pelleting reduced (P \u3c 0.05) feed intake, but did not affect ADG or F/G (P \u3e 0.10). These studies suggest that there is little value to be gained by grinding corn to less than 700 microns if fed in pelleted form. Furthermore, our data suggest that, regardless if fed as mash or pellets, pigs prefer to consume diets manufactured with coarser ground corn if given the choice

Evaluation of Dietary Phytogenics on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Economics of Grow-finish Pigs Housed Under Commercial Conditions

A total of 1,260 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 48.7 lb) were used in a 125-d trial to determine the effect of two dietary essential oil mixtures on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economics of finishing pigs. Pigs were allotted by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments. Pigs were fed six dietary phases. Treatment 1 was the control with no feed additives and 12% of CP in the Phase 6 diet. Treatment 2 was the same formulation as treatment 1 but contained an essential oil mixture 1 (EOM 1) containing caraway, garlic, thyme, and cinnamon fed all phases. Treatment 3 was the same formulation as treatment 1 with EOM 1 fed from Phases 3 to 6 and essential oil mixture 2 (EOM 2) containing oregano, citrus, and anise fed all phases (EOM 1+2). Treatment 4 contained EOM 1 fed in all 6 phases with 16% CP in Phase 6. Treatment 5 contained ractopamine HCl (9 g/ton) with 16% CP in the Phase 6 diet. Overall (d 0 to 125), pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 had increased (P = 0.003) ADFI compared with pigs fed the control treatment. Pigs fed the diet with EOM 1 and 16% CP had increased (P = 0.032) ADFI in comparison with the pigs fed ractopamine HCl treatment. Pigs fed the ractopamine HCl treatment had improved (P = 0.028) F/G compared with pigs fed the treatment with the EOM 1 and 16% CP and the control treatment. For carcass traits, pigs fed the treatment with EOM 1+2 and had increased (P = 0.007) HCW compared with pigs fed EOM 1 and 12% CP and the control treatment (P = 0.002). Pigs fed the treatment with ractopamine HCl also had heavier (P = 0.001) HCW compared with the control treatment. Pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 had increased (P = 0.001) carcass ADG, compared with pigs fed the control treatment and the treatment with EOM 1 and 12% CP (P = 0.019). Pigs fed the treatment with ractopamine HCl also had improved (P = 0.001) carcass ADG compared with pigs fed the control treatment. Pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 had increased (P = 0.021) carcass yield compared with pigs fed the treatment with EOM 1 and 12% CP. Carcass yield was improved (P = 0.036) for the treatment with ractopamine HCl in comparison with the control treatment. Economically, feed cost per pound of gain was lower (P \u3c 0.001) for pigs fed the control treatment compared to the treatment with EOM 1+2 and pigs fed with the ractopamine HCl treatment. Pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 or ractopamine HCl treatment had increased (P = 0.001) gain value compared with pigs fed the control treatment. Pigs fed the ractopamine HCl treatment had increased income over feed cost in comparison with the treatments containing EOM 1 with 16% CP. In conclusion, the addition of EOM 1+2 improved ADFI, HCW, carcass ADG, and gain value in comparison with the control treatment. However, the increase in gain was not sufficient to overcome the increase in feed cost. The gain value improvement for the regimen with ractopamine HCl compensated for the extra feed cost resulting in a higher income over feed cost compared with the treatment with EOM 1 and 16% CP