Prediction of pork loin quality and tenderness with the VQG pork loin grading camera
February 15, 2017By Dr. Steven Shackelford Ph.D.
The VQG pork loin grading camera was developed jointly by USDA-ARS researchers at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in collaboration with E+V, a company that develops and markets image analysis-based systems for the meat, poultry, and livestock industries.
Animal Science
Evaluation of contributions to seasonal reproductive inefficiency
January 1, 2016By Lea Rempel
Seasonal reproductive inefficiency is globally observed within the swine industry. Even when photoperiod and temperature are controlled, reductions in pregnancies and subsequent farrowing rates...
Animal Science - Swine Nutrition
Effect of glucosamine supplementation on litter size in a commercial setting
October 15, 2015By Jeffrey Vallet
Litter size is a key determinant of the efficiency of pork production. In turn, placental function is a key determinant of whether an individual pig fetus survives during gestation and also...
Animal Science - Sow Lifetime Productivity
Optimal dietary protein for the development of gilts. NPB #15-119 (14-235-Year2)
June 29, 2015By Jeffrey Vallet
This experiment was undertaken to develop diets that could be fed ad libitum to developing gilts that would result in differences in growth rate or body composition during development. A further...
Animal Science - Sow Lifetime Productivity
Optimal dietary energy and protein for the development of gilts
August 13, 2014By Jeffrey Vallet
Sow longevity is a key component for efficient and profitable pig farming and efforts to improve it should start with the adequate management of replacement gilts. A key factor in gilt management is...
Animal Science - Swine Nutrition
Effect of lysozyme or antibiotics in ameliorating the effects of an indirect diseases challenge
February 3, 2014By william oliver
Subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics are used in swine feed as growth promotants, to improve feed efficiency, and to reduce the susceptibility to bacterial infections. As a result, the use of...
Pork Quality
Post-harvest Prediction of Pork Tenderness
June 1, 2011By Steven Shackelford
To ensure high eating quality of pork, the industry has relied on “enhancing” the product by pumping it with a solution...
Animal Science - Sow Lifetime Productivity
Identification of SNP Markers Associated with Number Born, Number Weaned and Weaning to Estrus Interval in Commercial First Parity Sows
June 18, 2010By Gary Rohrer
The objective of this research was to identify genetic markers that would be predictive of first parity reproductive performance and rebreeding in an effort to improve the percentage of gilts...
Animal Science - Sow Lifetime Productivity
Effect of pregnant gilt zinc and lipid supplementation on neonatal piglet brain myelination and preweaning mortality
June 14, 2010By Jeffrey Vallet
The effect of dietary supplementation of pregnant gilts with Gromega lipid supplement (JBSUnited feeds), zinc sulfate, or the two combined...
Pork Safety - Pre-Harvest
Enumeration of Salmonella throughout the Pork Harvesting Process
June 15, 2008By Michael Guerini
This project provides comprehensive information on the levels and prevalence of Salmonella on pork carcasses during processing to benchmark the effectiveness of in-plant interventions on Salmonella...
