December 2023
By Yuzhi Li, Swine Welfare and Organic Swine Production
The year 2023 is another busy year for our swine group as we have been conducting three projects sponsored by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
The first project, “Utilization of computer vision as a means to understanding the etiology of tail biting outbreaks in growing-finishing pigs”, is sponsored by the Foundational and Applied Science Program of NIFA (Award# 2022-67015-36311). The project focuses on improving animal welfare by raising pigs without tail docking under commercial production conditions in the United States. Our approach is to prevent tail biting by understanding this abnormal behavior through application of a computer vision platform (NUtrack Livestock Monitoring System). This three-year project consisted of three studies, including two studies at the WCROC, and one at our collaborative institution, University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). As of now, we have completed the animal trials of the two studies at the WCROC, and the study at UNL is in progress. Preliminary outcomes have been shared with researchers and stakeholders at the regional conferences and extension events.
The second project, "Integrating hybrid rye as a winter annual crop into organic pig production" is sponsored by the Organic Research and Extension Initiatives (OREI) of NIFA (Award# 2021-51300-34894), The project focuses on improving economic viability and reducing environmental impacts of organic swine production by growing winter hybrid rye for pig feed and bedding. This project has entered its third year, and we have completed the entire plot trial of identifying the optimal application rates of different types of manure (liquid, raw solid, and composted solid). The animal trial that aims at evaluating how integrating hybrid rye can impact the performance of pigs and costs of feed and bedding is still in progress. Among the five replicates of the animal trial we proposed, two have been completed, the other two are underway, and the fifth will follow. We plan to complete the entire animal trial by the spring of 2024.
The third project is also supported by OREI of NIFA (Award# 2023-51300-40911). Compared to the other two research projects forementioned, this project is an educational project. We will develop a curriculum of organic animal production for undergraduate and graduate students across two campuses: Twin Cities campus and Morris campus (UMM). The three goals of this project include: to sustain and support the expansion of organic agriculture by building competent professionals and workforce; to enhance organic educational programs at land-grant universities; and to promote leadership and career success among underrepresented students in organic agriculture. By working closely with a stakeholder advisory committee, we will develop a series of courses and modules to provide students with fundamental knowledge and hands-on exposure to organic animal production; develop internship programs to provide extended experiences and to hone students’ problem-solving skills; develop directed study programs to deepen students’ knowledge of organic production; and provide leadership and career development opportunities for underrepresented students in organic agriculture and related areas. Our team include faculty from three units: WCROC, UMM, and Dept. of Animal Science on St. Paul campus. Organic certified facilities (dairy, swine, poultry, and student garden) at the WCROC and St. Paul campus, as well as commercial organic farms will be used for students’ hands-on activities. This project addresses the absence of educational programs in organic animal production at land-grant universities, the scarcity of opportunities for students to engage in organic animal production in real-world situations, and the shortage of competent professionals and workforce in organic agriculture. We strive to lead educational programs of organic animal production across the country by making the courses and modules developed through this project accessible for students and faculty at other land-grant universities as well as for organic farmers, agricultural professionals, and stakeholders. Currently we are in the first year of the project. This three-year project will conclude in 2026.