Research | Ontario Pork • Ontario Pork - Active Research

Active Research

Ontario Pork has a call for research proposals once a year. These projects were approved for funding by the board on recommendation of the research committee. If you have questions or need further information about the research posted here please contact Jessica Fox at jessica.fox@swinehealthontario.ca

Active Research

Barn Gas Monitoring with Automated Ventilation Control

Project 18-006 - Lead Researcher: John Van de Vegte, OMAFRA

This project will focus on the development and testing of wireless hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide and relative humidity sensors in order to provide a full picture of the barn’s environment. Real time and past data will be accessible at the base station (located in the barn...

Effect of genetic stress susceptibility on pork meat quality

Project 18-004 - Lead Researcher - Dr. Ray Lu, University of Guelph

It is well documented that stress impacts swine health and negatively affects production, including feed efficiency, growth and meat quality.

Assessing carcass variability in Ontario pork and the potential to increase returns to producers and improve pork quality

Project 18-003 - Dr. Benjamin Bohrer, University of Guelph

Dr. Bohrer will be the first researcher examining use of an advanced ultrasonic image analyzer (AutoFom III; Denmark) in a commercial Canadian pork facility (Conestoga Meat Processors) for determination of lean yield.

Protein and non-protein methionine requirements for first parity gestating sows

Project 18-02 - Dr. Lee-Anne Huber

By quantifying and adequately meeting both the protein and ‘non-protein’ methionine requirements for gestating and lactating sows, we may be able to improve piglet survivability, metabolism, and growth performance, as well as the longevity, reproductive success, hoof health, and herd...

Reliable on farm testing and sampling for mycotoxins destined for feed

Project 18-001- Lead Researcher: Dr. Art Schaafsma, Ridgetown College

Mycotoxins, especially vomitoxin (DON), coming from feed grains, continue to affect swine production in Ontario. Southwestern Ontario is known to be a "hot" region for the production of these toxins because of the moderating effect of the Great Lakes on climate.

Project 17-032 - Lead Researcher: Dr. Ming Fan, University of Guelph

The effects of systemic inflammation are well documented to adversely affect efficiency of energy and nitrogen utilization in pigs. Weaned and grow-finish pigs are likely commonly experiencing mild inflammatory responses within the body, to the various challenges they experience (stress at...

Strategies for detoxifying vomitoxin using innovative chemical and biological approaches in post-weaning piglets

Project 17-022 - Lead Researcher: Dr. Joshua Gong, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph

The contamination of feed with the mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), has detrimental effects on the production of farm animals, with pigs being the most susceptible. Typical negative effects of mycotoxin consumption includes reduced feed intake, digestive dysfunction (e.g. gastroenteritis,...

Establishing value/utility of soluble CD163 as a biomarker for predicting PRRS-induced disease severity in swine herds

Project 17-011 - Lead Researcher: Dr. John Harding, University of Saskatchewan

The swine industry is economically burdened by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and PRRSV-induced coinfections partly due to the lack of fully protective vaccines and also by the absence of a reliable method to distinguish disease-susceptible (moderately to severely affected...

Reducing pathogens and greenhouse gas emissions from swine manure using anaerobic digestion

Project 17-006 - Lead Researcher: Dr. Brandon Gilroyed, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus

Pork production contributes about 9% of total manure production in the Canadian livestock sector. During storage and land application manure undergoes natural degradation leading to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane(CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as pollutants such...

The discovery and testing of novel antimicrobials for swine health

Project 16-008 - Lead Researcher: Chris Gray

With stricter regulatory restrictions being imposed on using traditional antibiotics in animal production systems, farmers will need new alternatives that are potent, nontoxic and multi-target. The antimicrobial peptides discovered and/or tested in this project will respond to that need in the...

Precision Feeding of Gestating Sows: Use of Electronic Sow Feeders to Reduce Feed Costs and Nutrient Losses into the Environment, While Improving Sow Productivity and Welfare

Project 16-004 - Researchers: Ira Mandell and Lee-Ann Huber, University of Guelph

The ultimate goal of this work is to examine how sow management using ESF can influence lifetime sow productivity and retention in the herd, and carry-over effects on to her progeny.

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