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Interest Areas

Fiber nutrition of gestating sows; Nutrition and management of lactating sows; Influence of housing systems on performance of growing pigs and sows; Evaluation of feedstuffs for growing pigs and sows; Nutritional approaches to improving feed utilization by growing pigs.

Current Research

Effects of dietary soluble and insoluble fiber on nutrient digestibility and performance of gestating sows.  Fiber Nutrition of Sows 2002

Biological and economic performance of pigs housed in hoop barns

Use of dried distillers grains with solubles in swine diets

Gilt development programs

Sow longevity

Extension Programs

• Back to the Basics: Farrowing Management

This program focuses on improving the management abilities of people working in confinement farrowing facilities.  The primary aim is to improve productivity of  the unit and animal comfort.  Information is provided in formats ranging from written papers and seminars to hands-on troubleshooting of farrowing environments.  Creep Feeding and Pig Fostering;  Back to Basics: Farrowing Management Practices.  This program has been successful throughout the Upper Midwest and in Australia.

            Training Programs for Swine Farm Workers

This program is geared toward improving the pork production expertise of people involved in the day-to-day care and management of pigs on commercial operations.  Two-day workshops are conducted covering the management of the farrowing, breeding-gestation, nursery, and wean-to-finish areas of confinement production.  In addition, a workshop addressing alternative production systems has recently been added. 

• Troubleshooting Guide to National Pork Board Database Benchmarks

A group of swine specialists from throughout the U.S. are working on a manual to help users of the NPB's national database interpret their reports.  This manual is in the final stages of preparation and should be available early in 2002.

• Nutrition and Management Technology Transfer to Industry Professionals

The Minnesota Nutrition Conference (http://www.cce.umn.edu/conferences/mnnutrition)  is one forum for providing the latest nutritional technologies to feed industry professionals.  This annual conference attacts professionals from throughout the upper Midwest region.  The conference is held annually in September.

The Allen D. Leman Conference provides an opportunity for swine veterinarians and other industry professionals to learn about cutting edge technology and industry issues.  At a recent conference, the interrelationship between nutrition and health was explored.  Swine Nutrition & Health Connections

E-mail:  johnstlj@morris.umn.edu

Publications
Holt, J.P., L.J. Johnston, S.K. Baidoo, and G.C. Shurson.  2006.  Effects of a high-fiber diet and frequent feeding on behavior, reproductive performance, and nutrient digestibility in gestating sows.  J. Anim. Sci. 84:946-955.

Morrison, R.S., L.J. Johnston, and A.M. Hilbrands.  2006.  The behaviour, welfare, growth performance and meat quality of pigs housed in a deep-litter, large group housing system compared to a conventional confinement system.  Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (In press).

Brumm, M.C., L.J. Johnston, D.W. Rozeboom, and NCR-89 Committee on Swine Management.  2006.  Effects of removal and remixing of heavyweight pigs on performance to slaughter weights.  Prof. Anim. Scientist 22:189-193.

Whitney, M.H., G.C. Shurson, L.J. Johnston, D.M. Wulf, and B.C. Shanks.  2006.  Growth performance and carcass characteristics of grower-finisher pigs fed high-quality corn distiller’s dried grain with solubles originating from a modern mid-western ethanol plant.  J. Anim. Sci. (In review).

Johnston, L.J., R.J. Smits, and W.C. Morley.  2005.  Exogenous progesterone fails to increase circulating levels in pregnant sows.  Manipulating Pig Production X.  J.E. Paterson ed.  Australasian Pig Science Assoc.  pg. 161.

Johnston, L.J., R.J. Smits, and W.C. Morley.  2005.  Neither housing system nor age change circulating progesterone concentrations in pregnant sows.  Manipulating Pig Production X.  J.E. Paterson ed.  Australasian Pig Science Assoc.  pg. 162.

Smits, R.J., K. Shaw, and L.J. Johnston.  2005.  Gilt management practices – A commercial case study.  Manipulating Pig Production X.  J.E. Paterson ed.  Australasian Pig Science Assoc.  pg. 188-192.

Spiehs, M., G. Shurson, L. Johnston, and K. Seifert.  2005.  Evaluation of corn distillers dried grains with solubles and a polyclonal on growth performance and the ability of pigs to resist an infection from Salmonella Typhimurium.  J. Anim. Sci. 83(Suppl. 2):62 (Abstr.)

Spiehs, M., G. Shurson, and L. Johnston.  2005.  Evaluation of two direct fed microbials on the ability of pigs to resist an infection from Salmonella Typhimurium.  J. Anim. Sci. 83(Suppl. 2):77 (Abstr.).

Knott, J., G. Shurson, M. Hathaway, and L. Johnston.  2005.  Effects of feeding diets containing spray dried corn condensed distillers solubles and associated fractions to early-weaned pigs on intestinal morphology, immune status, circulating IGF-I concentrations, and organ weights.  J. Anim. Sci. 83(Suppl. 2):70 (Abstr.)

Knott, J., G. Shurson, M. Hathaway, and L. Johnston.  2005.  Effects of feeding diets containing spray dried corn condensed distillers solubles (CDS) and associated fractions on growth performance of early-weaned pigs.  J. Anim. Sci. 83(Suppl. 2): 71 (Abstr.)

Gessel, P.D., N.C. Hansen, S.M. Goyal, L.J. Johnston, and J. Webb.  2004.  Persistence of zoonotic pathogens in surface soil treated with different rates of liquid pig manure.  Appl. Soil Ecology 25:237-243.

Johnston, L.J., J.E. Pettigrew, S.K. Baidoo, G.C. Shurson, and R.D. Walker.  2003.  Efficacy of sucrose and milk chocolate product or dried porcine solubles to increase feed intake and improve performance of lactating sows.  J. Anim. Sci. 81:2475-2481.

Johnston, L.J., A. Renteria, and M.R. Hannon.  2003.  Improving validity of on-farm research.  J. Swine Health Prod. 11:240-246.

Johnston, L.J., C.J. Clanton, C. Ajariyakhajorn, S.M. Goyal.  2003.  Survival of pathogenic indicator organisms in stored swine manure containing ground piglet carcasses during cold temperatures.  Appl. Eng. Ag. 19(4):491-497.

Brumm, M.C., M. Ellis, L.J. Johnston, D.W. Rozeboom, D.R. Zimmerman, and NCR-89 Committee on Swine Management.  2002.  Effect of removal and remixing light weight pigs on performance to slaughter weights.  J. Anim. Sci. 80:1166-1172.

Trottier, N.L. and L.J. Johnston.  2001.  Feeding gilts during development and sows during gestation and lactation.  In:  Swine Nutrition 2nd Ed.  A.J. Lewis and L.L. Southern, Eds.  CRC Press, LLC, Boca Raton, Florida.

Leibbrandt, V.D., L.J. Johnston, G.C. Shurson, J.D. Crenshaw, G.W. Libal, and R.D. Arthur.  2001.  Effect of nipple drinker water flow rate and season on performance of lactating swine.  J. Anim. Sci. 79:2770-2775.

Brumm, M.C., M. Ellis, L.J. Johnston, D.W. Rozeboom, D.R. Zimmerman, and NCR-89 Committee on Swine Management.  2001.  Interaction of swine nursery and grow-finish space allocations on performance.  J. Anim. Sci. 79:1967-1972.

Johnston, L.J., S.K. Baidoo, G.C. Shurson, and R.D. Walker.  2001.  Performance of lactating sows fed dried procine solubles.  92nd American Oil Chemist Society Annual Meeting.  Inform(Suppl.):S39.

Renteria, J.A., L.J. Johnston, and G.C. Shurson.  2001.  Effect of dietary levels of soluble and insoluble fiber on energy digestibility and nitrogen balance in gestating sows.  J. Anim. Sci. 79(Suppl. 1):212(Abstr.).

Johnston, L.J., H.G. Jung, J.A. Wilson, and J.E. Pettigrew.  2001.  Efficacy of Allzyme Vegpro in swine diets.  J. Anim. Sci. 79(Suppl. 1):473(Abstr.).

Whitney, M.H., G.C. Shurson, L.J. Johnston, D. Wulf, and B. Shanks.  2001.  Growth performance and carcass characteristics of grow-finish pigs fed increasing levels of distiller's dried grains with solubles.  J. Anim. Sci. 79(Suppl. 1):108(Abstr.).

Wilson, J.A., L.J. Johnston, and D.G. Greer.  2001.  Effects of a moisture control system on energy and nitrogen digestibility of pelleted feeds for growing pigs.  J. Anim. Sci. 79(Suppl. 2):87 (Abstr.)

Yang, H., J.E. Pettigrew, L.J. Johnston, G.C. Shurson, and R.D. Walker.  2000.  Lactational and subsequent reproductive responses of lactating sows to dietary lysine (protein) concentration.  J. Anim. Sci. 78:348-357

Yang, H., G.R. Foxcroft, J.E. Pettigrew, L.J. Johnston, G.C. Shurson, A.N. Costa, and L.J. Zak.  2000.  Impact of dietary lysine intake during lactation on follicular development and oocyte maturation after weaning in primiparous sows.  J. Anim. Sci. 78:993-1000

Yang, H., J.E. Pettigrew, L.J. Johnston, G.C. Shurson, J.E. Wheaton, M.E. White, Y. Koketsu, A.F. Sower, and J.A. Rathmacher.  2000.  Effects of dietary lysine intake during lactation on blood metabolites, hormones, and reproductive performance in primiparous sows.  J. Anim. Sci. 78:1001-1009.

Johnston, L.J., M. Ellis, G.W. Libal, V.B. Mayrose, W.C. Weldon, and NCR-89 Committee on Swine Management.  1999.  Effect of room temperature and dietary amino acid concentration on performance of lactating sows.  J. Anim. Sci. 77:1638-1644.

Clanton, C.J., L.J. Johnston, and R.A. Robinson.  1999.  Odor emission from mixtures of ground swine carcass material and liquid swine waste.  Appl. Engineering in Ag. 15:331-335.

Johnston, L.J., R.A. Robinson, C.J. Clanton, S.M. Goyal, C. Ajariyakhajorn, and D.M. Heilig.  1998.  Homogenization for disposal of dead piglet carcasses.  Applied Engineering in Agriculture 14(2):183-186.

Ajariyakhajorn, C., S.M. Goyal, R.A. Robinson, L.J. Johnston, and C.J. Clanton.  1997.  The survival of Salmonella anatum, pseudorabies virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in swine slurry.  Microbiologica 20: 365-369.

Johnston, L.J., J.E. Pettigrew, and G.C. Shurson. 1997. Sow nutrition and reproduction. Pig News and Information 18:61N-64N.  (Also reprinted in Nutr. Abstracts and Reviews, Series B, 1997.  67:537-540).

Yang, H., J.A. Kerber, J.E. Pettigrew, L.J. Johnston, and R.D. Walker.  1997.  Evaluation of milk chocolate product as a substitute for whey in pig starter diets.  J. Anim. Sci. 75:423.

Johnston, L.J., C. Ajariyakhajorn, S.M. Goyal, R.A. Robinson, C.J. Clanton, S.D. Evans, and D.D. Warnes.  1996.  Survival of bacteria and virus in ground piglet carcasses applied to cropland for disposal.  Swine Health and Production 4:189.

Pettigrew, J.E., S.M. El-Kandelgy, L.J. Johnston, and G.C. Shurson.  1996.  Riboflavin nutrition of sows.  J. Anim. Sci. 74:2226.

Richert, B.T., M.D. Tokach, R.D. Goodband, J.L. Nelssen, J.E. Pettigrew, R.D. Walker, and L.J. Johnston.  1996.  Valine requirement of the high-producing lactating sow.  J. Anim. Sci. 74:1307.