2022
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Item Open Access Recording of calf diseases for potential use in breeding programs: A case study on calf respiratory illness and diarrhea(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-12-22) van Staaveren, Nienke; Hyland, Emma; Houlahan, Kerry; Lynch, Colin; Miglior, Filippo; Kelton, David; Schenkel, Flavio S; Baes, ChristineCalf diseases remain a challenge for dairy producers from both an economic and welfare perspective. Genetically selecting for disease resistance in calves is a promising approach that could contribute to sustainable dairy farming. Genetic evaluations, however, require well-defined and consistently recorded phenotypes to be successful. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the current state of calf disease recording on Ontario farms. Calf disease records of respiratory illness and diarrhea were available from the national milk recording organization (Lactanet Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada) from 2009 to 2020. A case study was conducted to describe calf disease diagnoses and recording practices by surveying a subset of 13 Ontario dairy producers. The percentage of milk recorded farms that recorded calf respiratory illness and calf diarrhea increased from 2.6% in 2009 to 11.1% in 2020. Potential sources of data loss were identified along the information chain from farm to genetic evaluation database. Clear definitions and thresholds to diagnose calf disease, standard operating procedures for data recording, as well as a data transfer pipeline, which includes exchange formats, are needed to facilitate the inclusion of calf health traits in genetic evaluations.Item Open Access Thermal Processing Induced Changes on Molecular Structure Spectral Profile of Carbohydrates and Ruminal Degradation and Intestinal Digestion Characteristics of Oat Grains (Avena sativa) in Dairy Cows: Comparison among Dry Heating vs. Moisture Heating vs. Microwave Irradiation(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-09-27) Prates, Luciana L.; Nagy, Carlene; Yu, PeiqiangIn this study, the objectives were to (1) Identify the magnitude of differences between dry heating, moisture heating, microwave irradiation (MIR), and no-heated treatments on chemical profiles, energy values, CNCPS fractions, rumen degradation, and intestinal digestion of newly developed oat (Avena sativa) varieties; (2) Investigate heating induced changes in the molecular structure of the grains with the use of vibrational ATR-FTIR spectroscopy; (3) Predict rumen degradability of the nutrients based on the molecular spectral profile obtained from ATR-FTIR. Duration and temperature for each processing treatment were established based on previous studies. Results showed that heat processing treatments altered CHO fractions with undegradable CHO fraction (CC) increased by moisture heating. The ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was successful in detecting the processing induced CHO molecular structure changes in oat grain. The CHO molecular profiles were correlated to chemical profile and in situ rumen degradation characteristics. Lastly, multiple regressions with best model variable selection for prediction of nutritional value were obtained. In conclusion, heat processing methods tended to affect both energy values and rumen degradation features. The CHO molecular structure spectral profiles could be used as potential predictors for heated oat grain degradation.Item Open Access Effect of quercetin supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta bacterial count, noxious gas emission and meat quality of broilers when fed different protein diets(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-11-18) Hoque, Md Raihanul; Kim, In HoThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of flavonoid supplementation to a low protein diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta bacterial count and excreta gas emission of broilers. In total 800 one-day-old, Ross 308 broilers (BW; 42.90±1.43 g) were randomly sorted into one of the four dietary treatments (10 pens/treatment; 20 birds/pen). Treatment diets were HCP (High protein diet), basal diet; LCP (Low protein diet), basal diet – 2.5% protein; TRT1, LCP + 0.025% quercetin; TRT2, LCP + 0.050% quercetin. Experimental diets were provided to broilers from days 8 to 35. HCP, TRT1, TRT2 showed higher body weight gain (BWG) than the LCP group during days 8 to 21, and in the overall experiment. However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) of HCP group was improved than the LCP group during days 8 to 21 and in overall period. Increasing level of quercetin supplementations brought a linear increase in BWG. Lactobacillus, E. coli and Salmonella counts in excreta samples of experimental groups showed no significant difference. Flavonoid supplementation (0.050%) reduced drip loss in breast muscle than the LCP group and showed a linear reduction. Through improved digestion, quercetin addition to a low-protein diet reversed the body weight gain.Item Open Access Reassessing cow comfort measures on Canadian dairy farms after a recommendation of improvements(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-11-08) Palacio, Santiago; Zambelis, Athena; Adam, Steve; Bergeron, Renée; Pellerin, Doris; Haley, Derek B.; DeVries, Trevor J.; Vasseur, ElsaIn a previous study (Assessment 1), an on-farm assessment tool was used to establish a standard across 60 Quebec dairy farms using animal-, stall-, and management-based measures of cow comfort. The objective of the present follow-up study (Assessment 2) was to perform a reassessment using an identical cow comfort assessment tool on a subset of the original farms expected to benefit most from applying the recommended changes, and to determine the effects of the modifications on cow comfort. From the subsample of farms, 24 reported applying stall modifications based on recommendations from Assessment 1 with the aim of promoting cow comfort (Adopters), while the remaining 10 farms did not (Non-adopters). The assessment tool included 19 target areas, grouped into 9 critical areas based on measures of cow comfort that considered: housing, feed-water, health, and welfare. The on-farm report of Assessment 1 was found to increase producer awareness of issues in cow comfort measures on farms, as shown by an improvement in stall design according to recommendations based on cow body dimensions and reduced injury prevalence. Routine reassessment of cow comfort measures may be important to use in supporting target achievement improvements as part of welfare improvement strategies.Item Open Access Efficacy of yeast and garlic extract mixture on growth performance, tract digestibility, excreta microbiota, gas emission, blood profile, and meat quality in broiler(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-10-19) Biswas, Sarbani; Kim, In HoThis experiment was accompanied to determine the use of yeast and garlic extract mixture in broiler diets on growth performance, nutrient absorption, excreta microbiota, blood profiles, and meat quality. A total of 792 male Ross 308 broilers [1-day-old, body weight, 41 ± 0.5 g, and 5 weeks trial] were randomly allocated. Birds were arbitrarily assigned to one of four nutritive treatments (11 replicates, 18 birds/ replicate). A basal diet (CON) was supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% yeast-garlic mixture (YGM). Body weight gain (BWG) linearly increased during the overall period and tended to increase from day 21 to day 35, while feed intake (FI) showed a tendency to increment during the overall period by YGM inclusion. However, Salmonella counts linearly decreased, but Lactobacillus and E. coli counts remained unaffected. Excreta CO2 emissions were linearly reduced; nevertheless, other noxious gas emissions were not affected. Furthermore, YGM supplementation elicited a tendency for improved lymphocytes and linearly increased IgG. However, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, nutrient utilization and meat quality were not influenced. YGM addition (0.3%) improved broiler growth performance, by decreasing microbiota, and gas emission and increasing blood parameters.Item Open Access Effects of soybean oil plus additional forage and anabolic implant in finishing steers: Feedlot performance, carcass composition, and meat quality(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-11-30) Poulin, Véronique; Gariepy, Claude; Cliche, Simon; Jacob, Jocelyn; Gervais, Rachel; Chouinard, P.Y.One hundred twenty crossbred steers were allotted to six weight blocks. Within each block, steers were allotted to one of four pens in a randomized complete block design (5 head per pen, 24 total pens). Treatments were low forage control diets (LFC) or high forage diets supplemented with soybean oil (HFO), without or with anabolic implant in 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. As compared with LFC, HFO reduced dry matter intake and average daily gain, without affecting the gain:feed ratio. Feeding HFO also decreased dressing yield and backfat thickness, with no impact on the longissimus dorsi area and Warner-Bratzler shear force. Meat from steers fed HFO contained greater relative proportion of cis-9, cis-12 18:2, cis-9, trans-11 18:2, and cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3 as compared with LFC. Implanted steers had greater dry matter intake, average daily gain, and gain:feed ratio. Implants improved dressing yield, tended to increase the longissimus dorsi area, decreased backfat thickness, and increased meat Warner-Bratzler shear force. Meat from implanted steers contained greater relative concentration of cis-9, cis-12 18:2 and cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3, without affecting cis-9, trans-11 18:2, as compared with non-implanted animals. No interaction of diet by implant was observed for these variables.Item Open Access Expression analysis of POSTN gene in ovine Follicles(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-06-20) Lin, Jiapeng; Liu, chun jie; Wang, Liqin; Chen, Ying; Li, Xiaolin; Wu, Yangsheng; Huang, JunchengThe purpose of this study was to explore the potential expression regularity of POSTN in ovarian tissue. In this study, the uterus, ovarian follicles, heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and muscle tissues of Merino sheep (10) were collected and detected by Western blot, real-time quantitative PCR, immunohistofluorescence and fluorescence staining, respectively. The expression of POSTN in various organizations was analyzed. The results showed that the POSTN in Merino sheep had close homology with Bos mutus and Bos Taurus. The expression of POSTN was detected in the uterus, follicle, heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and muscle tissue, among which the expression of POSTN was highest in ovarian tissue. In addition, the expression of POSTN gradually increased with the increase of follicle diameter, among which POSTN was highly expressed in the GCs (granulosa cell) of follicles. Meanwhile, POSTN were distributed throughout the nucleus and cytoplasm of GCs, suggesting that POSTN may be involved in the regulation of follicle development.Item Open Access Effects of dietary supplementation of diacylglycerol on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal noxious gas emission, and hematology parameters in weaned piglets(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-10-17) Dang, De Xin; Kim, In HoA total of 120 21-day-old weaned piglets [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] were used to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of diacylglycerol (DAG) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal noxious gas emission, and hematology parameters in a 42-day experiment. All pigs were randomly assigned to 3 groups based on the initial body weight (6.47 ± 0.45 kg). There were 8 replicate pens per treatment and 5 pigs (three barrows and two gilts) per pen. The DAG in the levels of 0, 0.05, or 0.10 % were used to supplement to the corn-soybean meal-based basal diet. Piglets fed the diet supplemented with graded levels of DAG linearly increased the average daily gain (ADG) during days 22-42 (P=0.027) and 1-42 (P=0.048). In addition, a tendency in the linear reduction of fecal ammonia (P=0.095), hydrogen sulfide (P=0.078), and methyl mercaptans (P=0.085) emission was observed by increasing the DAG levels in the diet. However, feeding pigs with DAG containing diet had no significant effects on the nutrient digestibility and hematology parameters. Therefore, the suitable dose of DAG used in the diet for weaned piglets was at 0.10% to improve ADG and reduce fecal gas emission.Item Open Access Processing effects on the starch and fibre composition of Canadian pulses(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-12-11) Babatunde, Olufemi O; Cargo-Froom, Cara L; Ai, Yongfeng; Newkirk, Rex W.; Marinangeli, Christopher PF; Shoveller , Anna K; Columbus, Daniel AllanStarch and fibre contribute to the energy components and add functionality to the end product feed ingredients. An understanding of the impact of processing on carbohydrate content will support accurate formulation of feed. Six ingredients, grown or sourced in Canada, were used in this study. They included five pulses; Amarillo peas, Dun peas, chickpeas, lentils, and faba beans; and soybean meal (SBM) as a comparison. All ingredients were ground into fine or coarse products and then pelleted at 1 of 3 different temperatures. Grinding reduced the total starch (TS) content of Amarillo peas and chickpeas (PItem Open Access The effects of extrusion on nutrient content of Canadian pulses with a focus on protein and amino acids(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-09-22) Cargo-Froom, Cara L; Newkirk, Rex W.; Marinangeli, Christopher PF; Shoveller , Anna K; Ai, Yongfeng; Columbus, Daniel AllanAlternative sources of protein will be required in both human and animal nutrition to support ingredient sustainability and nutrient demands of a growing world population. Extrusion is one technique utilized to process pulses and is reported to increase starch and protein digestibility but also has the potential to transform nutrients into non-nutritious compounds. This study sought to compare the effects of extrusion on nutrient composition in Amarillo peas, Dun peas, lentils, chickpeas, and faba beans, with soybean meal (control). Each pulse was extruded at 18% or 22% moisture and 110, 130, or 150 ℃. Compared to whole samples, extrusion increased crude protein content of Amarillo and Dun peas, and lentils, and it decreased in soybean meal (PItem Open Access The response of growth performance, blood hematology, organ indexes, and myofiber traits to increasing dietary methionine levels in Jilin White goose(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-07-02) Dang, De Xin; Cui, Yan; Zhou, Haizhu; Lou, Yujie; Li, De'shengA total of 240 goose (28-day-old; 120 ganders and 120 gooses) with an average initial body weight of 1068.19 ± 6.59 g were used to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary methionine (Met) levels on growth performance, blood hematology, organ indexes, and myofiber traits. The experimental period was 42 days. All birds were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups based on the initial body weight. There were 6 replicate cages per treatment, and 10 geese per cage (5 ganders and 5 gooses). Dietary treatments were based on a basal diet containing 0.25% Met, and extra supplied 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75% Met to form different dietary groups (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00% Met, as fed-basis). The results of this study indicated that final body weight, body weight gain, feed efficiency increased quadratically, relative weight of breast muscle and myofiber diameter increased cubically, serum total protein and uric acid concentrations, relative weight of liver and abdominal fat, and myofiber diameter increased linearly, whereas myofiber density decreased linearly, with the level of Met increased. The maximized growth performance and breast muscle parameters were observed in 0.75% Met containing group.Item Open Access Eimeria infection-related intestinal dynamics and microbiome, growth performance, and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with multienzyme(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-08-30) Yuan, Jing; Johnson, Timothy A.; Ajuwon, Kolapo Matthew; Adeola, O.Coccidiosis is an infectious parasitic disease. Increasing drug resistance and variable vaccine effectiveness have stimulated interests in developing alternate control strategies. Our research studied the effects of dietary supplementation of multienzyme (phytase, xylanase, β-glucanase, amylase, hemicellulase, and pectinase) in broiler chickens infected with coccidial pathogens by assessing 1) nutrient utilization, immunological response, and gut health-related indicators in small intestine; and 2) intestinal microbiome modulations. One-day-old male Ross 708 chicks were assigned to 4 treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement comprising of 0 or 50 g·kg-1 multienzyme and oral challenge with PBS or mixed Eimeria spp. oocysts (250,000 E. acervulina, 50,000 E. maxima, and 50,000 E. tenella). Multienzyme reduced (PItem Open Access Inclusion of graded levels of Achyranthes japonica root extract to low crude protein diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial and meat quality parameters in broilers(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-10-05) Hossain, Md Mortuza; Cho, Sung Bo; Kim, In HoThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of Achyranthes japonica root extract (AJE) added to a low-protein diet on broiler growth performance, nutrient utilization, cecal microbiota, and meat quality parameters. A total of 450 Ross-308 broilers were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were: standard crude protein (SCP) diet, low crude protein (LCP) diet, and LCP diet supplemented with 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06% AJE. Here the SCP and LCP diets were: days 8–21 (CP 21.50% and 21.07%) and days 22–35 (20.00% and 19.40%), respectively. The LCP diet tended to decrease total body weight gain (TBWG) compared to the SCP diet. Increasing levels of AJE inclusion linearly increased (PItem Open Access Comparative study between high versus low dose zinc oxide in the diet with or without probiotic supplementation on weaning pigs' growth performance, nutrient utilization, fecal microbes, noxious gas discharges, and fecal score(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-08-22) Biswas, Sarbani; Kim, Min Hee; Park, Jae-Hong; Kim, Yangseon; Kim, In HoThis study was conducted the effects of high versus low-dose (3000 vs 300) zinc oxide (ZnO) in combination with or without a probiotic complex (0.1%) on weaned piglet production efficiency, nutrient absorption, fecal bacterial counts, noxious gas emissions, and fecal score. A 42-day experiment included 180 crossbred weaned piglets [Duroc × (Yorkshire × Landrace); 28 days old; 6.61 ± 1.29 kg] and 4 dietary treatments. HZ (high ZnO) included diet increased body weight (BW) at week 6, average daily gain (ADG) at week 3, 6, and overall period, and gain to feed ratio (G:F) at week 3 than LZ (low ZnO) diet. G:F ratio tended to increase by LZP (LZ with probiotic) diet than HZP (HZ with probiotic) diet at week 1. E.coli count decreased by HZ diet compared to LZ diet. In addition, E. coli count decreased and Lactobacillus count increased by HZP diet than LZP diet. There was no effect of treatment on nutrient digestibility, noxious gas emission, and fecal score. No interactive effect was seen between ZnO and the probiotic. Therefore, high dose ZnO inclusion improved growth performance, probiotic addition improved fecal microbiota, but no synergistic effect was found from ZnO and probiotic complex interaction.Item Open Access MINOR STALL MODIFICATIONS AND OUTDOOR ACCESS CAN HELP IMPROVE DAIRY COW WELFARE IN TIE-STALLS(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-09-21) Palacio, Santiago; Adam, Steve; Bergeron, Renée; Pellerin, Doris; de Passillé, Anne Marie; Rushen, Jeff; Haley, Derek B.; DeVries, Trevor J.; Vasseur, ElsaTie-stalls are the most confining method of housing for dairy cows and remain commonly used to house cows in many countries. Finding methods to improve animal welfare through housing modifications and alternative management strategies are of increasing importance. Twelve tie-stall dairy farms in Ontario and Quebec, Canada were visited 4 times in a 12-month period. Visits were spread to observe the effects of pasture (visit 1), short-term effects of stall modifications (visit 2), effects of winter confinement (visit 3), and final measures after 1 year (visit 4). Lameness, injuries, cow cleanliness, lying and rising behaviours, and production parameters were assessed at each visit. Outdoor access had the largest effect: cows with access to pasture had a lower prevalence of various outcome measures throughout all 4 visits. Also, cows in modified stalls had a higher prevalence of dirty udders compared to cows in unmodified stalls, but only on farms that provided outdoor access. Although applying minor stall modifications to tie-stalls can help improve aspects of animal welfare, providing year-round outdoor access may represent a more effective method; the continued provision of time outside the stall helps maintain the positive impact of outdoor/pasture access on the welfare of tie-stall dairy cows.Item Open Access Effects of Salicylic acid on growth performance, fecal score, blood profile and nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-08-26) cao, shanchuan; Thanapal, Palanisamy; Kim, In HoAn experiment was conducted to examine the effect of Salicylic acid on growth performance in weaned pigs. A total of 80 weaning pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with average initial body weight of 6.40 ± 1.42 kg were randomly assigned by body weight (BW) for a 6-week feeding trial. Pigs were randomly allotted to two treatments, CON group (basal diet) and SA group (basal diet + 0.05% salicylic acid). Where 8 replications in each treatment, with five pigs per pen. The results showed that SA group at days 14, 28, and 42 (PItem Open Access Utilization of grape (Vitis vinifera), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and apple (Malus pumila/domestica) pomaces in broiler chickens when fed without or with multi-enzyme supplement(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-10-01) Kithama, Munene; Ross, Kelly; Diarra, Moussa Sory; Kiarie, Elijah G.Nutritive and functional value of fruit pomaces in poultry is unexplored. We determined apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and plasma metabolites in broiler chickens fed diets containing apple (APL), low bush wild blueberry (LBP), cranberry (CRP) and grape (GRP) pomaces without or with multi-enzyme supplement (ENZ). A total of 360 one-d old Ross 708 male chicks were placed in 72 cages; 5 birds/cage, were reared to d 13 and transitioned to either cornstarch-soy protein isolate basal diet or basal with 30% of either pomace without or with ENZ. Excreta samples were collected from d 17 to 20 and one bird/cage bled for plasma metabolites on d 21. Apple pomace showed a higher AME (P=0.008) than other pomaces, however, ENZ had no effect on AME. The AME was 3,250, 2,613, 2,394 and 3,008 kcal/kg DM for APL, LBP, CRP, and GRP, respectively. There was pomace and ENZ interaction on plasma alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.04) and APL increased cholesterol levels (PItem Open Access The effect of feed efficiency classification on visceral organ mass in finishing steers(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-05-16) Cunningham-Hollinger, Hannah C; Gray, Zebadiah T.L.; Christensen, Kelcey W; Means, Warrie J; Lake, Scott; Paisley, Steve I; Cammack, Kristi M.; Meyer, Allison M.Individual feed intake of crossbred beef steers (one contemporary group/year, 2 yr) was recorded during finishing to investigate visceral organ mass in steers divergent for feed efficiency. Based on residual feed intake (RFI), the 20% most efficient (HE, n = 8/year) and 20% least efficient (LE; n = 8/year) steers with 12th rib fat ≥1.02 cm were slaughtered. High efficiency steers had less DM intake (PItem Open Access Effect of processing method and severity for hybrid fall rye on dry matter intake, ruminal fermentation, and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility in ruminally cannulated beef heifers(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-06-08) Pereira, Murillo C.S.; Johnson, Jordan A.; Brattain, Rebecca S.; Wehrle, Herman; Penner, Gregory B.This study compared dry-rolled and tempered hybrid rye when processed to a coarse or fine severity on dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal fermentation, and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility for beef cattle. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental heifers (327 ± 33.1 kg, mean ± SD) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square (21 d periods with 16 d for adaptation and 5 d collection) balanced for carry-over effects with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Feeding tempered rye increased (P = 0.01) DMI when compared to dry-rolled rye, but there was no effect of processing severity. Cattle fed dry-rolled rye had greater (P = 0.04) area that pH was less than 5.5 when compared to tempered rye. Feeding dry-rolled rye increased dry matter digestibility (P = 0.02), and crude protein digestibility (P = 0.01) when compared to tempered rye, and there was a greater effect to increase total tract starch digestibility with increasing severity of processing for tempering than for dry-rolling (interaction, P = 0.03). In conclusion, tempered hybrid rye processed to a fine severity may result in similar total tract starch digestibility to dry-rolled hybrid rye without the marked reductions in DMI and ruminal pH.Item Open Access Providing periodic exercise to stall-housed gestating sows influences only the total number of liveborn piglets in older parity sows(Canadian Science Publishing, 2022-05-12) Tokareva, Mariia; Brown, Jennifer A.; MacPhee, Daniel J.; Seddon, Yolande MThe 2014 Canadian Pig Code of Practice includes a recommendation to provide stall-housed gestating pigs with periodic exercise. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of periodic exercise on sow performance, placental and piglet characteristics. Sows (n = 180) were assigned to one of three gestation treatments: stall-housed sows (Control: C), stall-housed sows given weekly exercise (Exercise: E – 10 min of walking per week), group-housed sows (Group: G). Sows were distributed among three parity groups: young (parity 0-1), mid (parity 2-4), and old (parity 5-7). Old C sows had a higher number of total born than G sows, and E sows were intermediate; and mid G sows had a higher total born than E and C sows (P = 0.023). Old E and G sows had similar numbers of total liveborn piglets, which were higher than in old C sows (P = 0.033). Periodic exercise did not influence placental and piglet characteristics in the current study. In conclusion, periodic exercise benefited only the reproductive performance of older parity sows, increasing the number of liveborn piglets in E and G sows compared to C sows.