Mechanistic modelling in pig and poultry production

343 Pages·2006·2.118 MB·English

by  R Gous, T R Morris, C Fisher

M M
ECHANISTIC ODELLING
P P
IN IG AND OULTRY
P
RODUCTION
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M M
ECHANISTIC ODELLING
P P
IN IG AND OULTRY
P
RODUCTION
Edited by
R. Gous
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Pietermaritzburg
South Africa
T. Morris
University of Reading
Reading
UK
and
C. Fisher
Consultant
Midlothian
Scotland
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library,
London, UK.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress,
Washington, DC.
ISBN-10: 1–84593–070–3
ISBN-13: 978–1-84593–070–7
Typeset by Columns DesignLtd, Reading
Printed and bound in the UK by Cromwell Press, Trowbridge
Contents
List of Contributors vii
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xi
1 An Introduction to Modelling in the Animal Sciences 1
T.R. Morris
2 Scientific Progress and Mathematical Modelling: Different 6
Approaches to Modelling Animal Systems
J. France and J. Dijkstra
3 Basic Concepts Describing Animal Growth and Feed Intake 22
N.S. Ferguson
4 The Effects of Social Stressors on the Performance of 54
Growing Pigs
I.J. Wellock, G.C. Emmans and I. Kyriazakis
5 Modelling Populations for Purposes of Optimization 76
R.M. Gous and E.T. Berhe
6 Advancements in Empirical Models for Prediction and 97
Prescription
W.B. Roush
7 The Problem of Predicting the Partitioning of Scarce 117
Resources during Sickness and Health in Pigs
I. Kyriazakis and F.B. Sandberg
8 Nutrient Flow Models, Energy Transactions and Energy 143
Feed Systems
J. van Milgen
v
vi Contents
9 Evaluating Animal Genotypes through Model Inversion 163
A.B. Doeschl-Wilson, P.W. Knap and B.P. Kinghorn
10 Considerations for Representing Micro-environmental 188
Conditions in Simulation Models for Broiler Chickens
O.A. Blancoand R.M. Gous
11 Using Physiological Models to Define Environmental 209
Control Strategies
M.A. Mitchell
12 Modelling Egg Production in Laying Hens 229
S.A. Johnston and R.M. Gous
13 Comparison of Pig Growth Models – the Genetic Point of View 260
P. Luiting and P.W. Knap
14 Mechanistic Modelling at the Metabolic Level: a Model of 282
Metabolism in the Sow as an Example
J.P. McNamara
15 The Place of Models in the New Technologies of 305
Production Systems
D.M. Green and D.J. Parsons
Index 325
Contributors
E.T. Berhe, Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and
Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209,
South Africa.
O.A. Blanco, Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and
Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209,
South Africa.
J. Dijkstra, Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences,
Wageningen University, Marijkeweg 40, 6709PG Wageningen, The
Netherlands.
A.B. Doeschl-Wilson, Sygen International, Scottish Agricultural College, Bush
Estates, Penicuik, Edinburgh,EH26 0PH, UK.
G.C. Emmans, Animal Nutrition and Health Department, Scottish Agricultural
College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
N.S. Ferguson, Maple Leaf Foods Agresearch, 150 Research Lane, Guelph,
Ontario, Canada, N1G 4T2.
J. France, Centre for Nutrition Modelling, Department of Animal and Poultry
Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1.
D.M. Green, University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road,
Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
R.M. Gous, Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and
Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209,
South Africa.
S.A. Johnston, Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and
Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209,
South Africa.
B.P. Kinghorn, Sygen International, Scottish Agricultural College, Bush Estates,
Penicuik, Edinburgh,EH26 0PH, UK.
P.W. Knap, PIC International Group, Ratsteich 31, D-24837 Schleswig, Germany;
and Sygen International, Scottish Agricultural College, Bush Estates, Penicuik,
Edinburgh, EH26 0PH, UK.
vii
viii Contributors
I. Kyriazakis, Animal Nutrition and Health Department, Scottish Agricultural
College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
P. Luiting,PIC International Group, Ratsteich 31, D-24837 Schleswig, Germany.
J.P. McNamara,Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, PO
Box 646351, Pullman WA 99164-6351, USA.
M.A. Mitchell,Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, UK.
T.R. Morris, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, The University of
Reading, New Agriculture Building, PO Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK.
D.J. Parsons,Cranfield University, Silsoe, Bedford, MK45 4HS, UK.
W.B. Roush, USDA-ARS Poultry Research Unit, Mississippi State, MS 39762,
USA.
F.B. Sandberg, Animal Nutrition and Health Department, Scottish Agricultural
College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
J. van Milgen, INRA – UMR SENAH, Domaine de la Prise, 35590 Saint-Gilles,
France.
I.J. Wellock, Animal Nutrition and Health Department, Scottish Agricultural
College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
Preface
This volume records the proceedings of a conference held in South Africa
in April 2005 with the title ‘Recent Advances in Pig and Poultry Modelling’.
The Conference, organized by the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the
South African Branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association, brought
together scientists from several countries and from different modelling
traditions to share their ideas and recent developments. The papers
published here create a permanent record of these deliberations.
The Conference was held at the Ithala Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal
from 13–16 April 2005 and was attended by 65 delegates. Ithala offered an
unusual and stimulating location for the meeting and scientific sessions were
interspersed with the viewing of wild game and the exploration of a very
beautiful wild bush. A team of staff and students from the Department of
Animal and Poultry Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg,
led by Professor Rob Gous, ensured that the requirements for a successful
meeting were fully met. Several companies supported the Conference by
sponsorship as shown under Acknowledgements.
The meeting had three main aims: to provide a discussion and record
of recent developments in the mechanistic modelling of pig and poultry
production systems; to provide a written record of these discussions; and
to mark the contribution of retiring Professor Trevor Morris of the
University of Reading to the field of animal modelling and systems.
Mechanistic modelling of animal systems has already provided a great
deal of understanding of the underlying principles of pig and poultry
nutrition and production. This is an ongoing process and a review at this
time is particularly appropriate. Notable amongst these papers is the
consideration of new components of the animal production process, such
as social stressors and disease. Also the understanding of some new
systems, such as the physiological control of egg production in hens, has
benefited greatly from the development of a modelling approach. The
integration of modelling into the wider aspects of animal production
ix
x Preface
systems is an area that is developing quite rapidly at this time. On the more
general questions of animal modelling, many different philosophies and
approaches are viable and the reader will find a reflection of this diversity
in these pages. The day-to-day application of modelling in management
decision-making is still some way off but the progress towards this ideal is
reflected in this book.
Professor Trevor Morris led the way in the application of quantitative
methods in poultry production and nutrition. Mainly using statistical
methods but always with a clear view of the underlying mechanisms, for
many years he showed the benefits of combining the results of different
experiments into a set of simple and applicable quantitative rules. Whilst
this is some way from modern, computer-based mechanistic modelling,
these earlier ideas undoubtedly showed the way and, in particular, trained
and motivated many students who later became modellers. Professor
Morris is now retired and this volume is warmly dedicated to him in
recognition and appreciation of his work and contribution. It will be an
appropriate testament to his work if this volume encourages some young
animal scientists to see how the application of modelling techniques and
ideas can enhance their own work.
R.M. Gous