A Review of Swine Transportation Research on Priority Welfare Issues: A Canadian Perspective.

Fiona C Rioja-Lang,Luigi Faucitano,Egan J Brockhoff,Jennifer A Brown

doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00036

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to present the best available scientific knowledge on key animal welfare issues during swine transport, such as transport duration and distance, time off feed and water, rest intervals, environmental conditions, loading density, and transport of young animals, based on their impact on stress, injury, fatigue, dehydration, body temperature, mortality, and carcass and meat quality. The review was limited to this set of priority welfare issues which were identified by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) Scientific Committee to help with the development of the livestock transportation Codes of Practice. This review focuses primarily on research related to the transport of market pigs (100–135 kg) which is a reflection of the current literature available on pig transportation. This information presented here can be used to support other animal welfare codes, guidelines, standards or legislations regulating the welfare of pigs during transport. Based on the available literature, clear conclusions can be drawn on the impact of vehicle design, pre-transport fasting, control of environmental conditions and loading density on the welfare of pigs during transport and on pork quality. However, the effects of journey duration are still unclear and a recommendation on the maximum transport time cannot be provided. Further studies investigating the impact of factors, such as ambient conditions within the transport vehicle, loading density at extreme ambient conditions, travel distances, maximum travel duration, rest/stop duration, and management of pigs during rest stops are required. More specifically, further research in relation to the welfare of market weight, newly weaned and breeding pigs, and cull sows and boars during transport is needed.

Highlights

Pigs in Canada are usually transported at least once in their life, either as young piglets, when transferred to grow-finish facilities, or as older pigs when being sent for slaughter
The priority welfare issues identified by the Scientific Committee and other stakeholders focused on the effect of transport duration, time off feed and water, rest intervals, environmental conditions, and loading density, as single factors or in combination, on animal welfare
This study provides some helpful insights into the relationships between journey duration and ambient temperature; it should be noted that the results may have been confounded by other uncontrolled factors, such as pre-transport management of the pigs at the finishing farms

Summary

Introduction

Pigs in Canada are usually transported at least once in their life, either as young piglets, when transferred to grow-finish facilities, or as older pigs when being sent for slaughter. The welfare of pigs during transportation depends on many interacting factors, such as the condition of the animal at time of loading, ambient temperature, loading density, time in transit, social stress (e.g., mixing with unfamiliar pigs), handling, unfamiliar noises and smells, vibrations, and sudden speed changes [2, 3]. Stress at loading can result from factors, such as mixing unfamiliar pigs, distance moved from the pen to the loading point, group size, handling system, design of the alleys, light and sound, the handling skills of personnel, and design of the loading device [either ramp or quay/dock; [11]] Vehicle design features, such as the loading system (ramps or hydraulic platform), microclimate control, and floor type can impact the welfare of pigs during transport [12]

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