Pig Welfare Research Articles

Inheritance of feed intake-based resilience traits and their correlation with production traits in Finnish pig breeds.

High resilience against diseases, changing environmental conditions, and other stress factors and the ability to efficiently recover to normal status, is becoming increasingly important in pig production. Finding new phenotypes that relate to resilience is a crucial step for improving the resilience of pigs through selection. The objective of this study was to extract resilience-related phenotypes based on fluctuations in daily feed intake (DFI, g) and time spent in feeding per day (TPD, min) and to estimate the heritability of these traits and genetic correlations with production traits (PT). Resilience-related traits with high enough heritability and with either favorable or neutral genetic correlation with PT could be used in the selection program to improve the productivity and welfare of pigs. In this study, we used data from 7,347 Finnish Yorkshire, Landrace, and crossbred pigs raised at the test station. Six pig-specific resilience-related phenotypes were extracted from the individual DFI and TPD: root mean square error (RMSE), quantile regression (QR), and coefficient of variation (CV). RMSE was calculated from the differences between the actual DFI (or TPD) and the pig-specific predicted values. QR was based on the number of days that a pig belonged to the group with the lowest 5% of pigs based on DFI (or TPD), and CV was calculated over the daily observations of DFI (or TPD). PT included average daily gain (ADG, g), backfat thickness (BF, mm), and feed conversion rate (FCR, g/g). The heritability estimates for resilience-related traits varied between 0.07 ± 0.02 (QRDFI) and 0.20 ± 0.03 (RMSETPD). The genetic correlations between resilience-related traits and PT were mostly neutral, but for example, RMSEDFI had a favorable genetic correlation with FCR and BF but an unfavorable correlation with ADG. Lastly, we observed that pigs belonging to the lowest 10% group based on their breeding value (BV) for QRTPD had a lower proportion (10% incidence) of sick days compared to the highest 10% BV group (30% incidence). Therefore, pigs exhibiting small TPD variation (related to high resilience) tend to be less susceptible to sickness than pigs with large TPD variation (related to low resilience). Given its moderate heritability, neutral genetic correlation with PT, and positive effect on health, QRTPD can be considered the most promising resilience-related trait in the Finnish production system.

Effect of implementing an effective farrowing accommodation hygiene routine on clinical cases of disease, medication usage, and growth in suckling and weaned pigs.

The few studies that have evaluated hygiene routines in farrowing accommodation to date have focused on pathogen elimination from pens, with little attention paid to pig growth and no information provided on pig health or medication usage. This study aimed to determine if implementation of an optimized farrowing accommodation hygiene routine could improve pig health and growth and reduce medication usage pre- and post-weaning (PW). Forty seven sows were blocked on parity, previous litter size and body weight and assigned to two treatments: T1) Basic hygiene: cold water washing only with minimal drying time; T2) Optimized hygiene: use of detergent and a chlorocresol-based disinfectant with a 6-d drying time. Total bacterial counts (TBC), Enterobacteriaceae counts and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) swabs were obtained from different areas within the farrowing pens. Pig growth and medication usage were monitored from birth to slaughter and carcass data were obtained at slaughter. On entry of sows to the farrowing pens, TBC and Enterobacteriaceae counts and ATP concentrations were lower on pen surfaces subjected to the optimized compared to the basic hygiene routine (P < 0.05). Pre-weaning diarrhea prevalence was lower in pigs born into optimal compared to basic hygiene pens (0 vs. 22%; P < 0.001). The number of clinical cases of disease and injections administered to piglets per litter was 75% and 79% less for the optimized compared to the basic hygiene routine, respectively (P < 0.001). This led to reductions of 77% (P < 0.001) and 75% (P < 0.01), respectively in the volume of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories administered per litter in the optimized hygiene group. Pigs from the optimized hygiene treatment were also heavier at weaning (P < 0.01) and their average daily gain (ADG) was higher from day 21 to weaning and days 22 to 49 PW (P < 0.05). However, these growth improvements did not carry through to the finisher period. In conclusion, implementation of an optimized hygiene routine reduced the bacterial load in farrowing pens, leading to a reduction in diarrhea and clinical cases of disease and therefore, medication usage, in suckling pigs. Pig growth was also improved during the suckling and early PW periods. Based on the results, an easily implementable farrowing room hygiene protocol with demonstrable benefits for pig health, growth, and welfare can be provided to farmers.

A systematic approach to defining and verifying descriptors used in the Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of sows.

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is a welfare evaluation tool that uses a holistic approach to capturing an animal's emotional state. Lists of QBA descriptors validated to assess pig welfare exist, but their definitions are often not described in peer-reviewed literature and the processes used to develop definitions are lacking. The objective of this study is to detail a systematic approach to creating clear definitions for a pre-existing fixed list of QBA descriptors and test their application. A fixed list of 20 descriptors from the EU Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for pigs was modified, and ten pig experts were recruited to assist with defining these descriptors in a focus group-style discussion. Half of the experts involved in creating descriptor definitions partook in a subsequent step, where the newly developed definitions were tested by implementing QBA on a video library of post-weaned sows selected to capture the breadth of sow behaviour. Experts displayed excellent agreement in identifying a PCA dimension interpreted as the valence of descriptors and good agreement for another reflecting arousal. Inter-observer reliability was also measured for each descriptor. Only two descriptors exhibited less than moderate agreement between experts whereas half of the descriptors evoked substantial agreement or better. These findings support our process to delineate clear definitions for a fixed list of QBA descriptors in pigs. This study is the first of its kind detailing the in-depth process of creating and verifying descriptor definitions for future use in sow welfare assessment.

Needle-free intradermal vaccination, an opportunity to improve commercial pig welfare

Abstract In-farm livestock production vaccinations are commonly delivered intramuscularly using needles. While there are alternative strategies these have been subject to little attention and limited commercialisation. One such alternative is needle-free vaccines and studies have focused on the immune response few have addressed the welfare implications. This study aims to compare the impact of intradermal needle-free vaccination and intramuscular injection in terms of the welfare of the piglets. A total of 179 piglets were divided into two treatments: intradermal needle-free delivery and intramuscular delivery of a vaccine. Measures of health and welfare included, vocalisations, behavioural observations, papule formation, and weight. Piglets vaccinated via the needle-free intradermal route vocalised less and displayed no significant behavioural differences but showed increased weight compared to piglets vaccinated intramuscularly. The use of a needle-free device to deliver a vaccine through an intradermal route revealed no adverse effects on piglet welfare and supports the use of alternative strategies to vaccinate livestock.

Swine industry perspectives on the future of pig farming.

Understanding the views of those working along the value chain reliant on livestock is an important step in supporting the transition towards more sustainable farming systems. We recruited 31 delegates attending the Pig Welfare Symposium held in the United States to participate in one of six focus group discussions on the future of pig farming. Each of these six group discussions was subjected to a thematic analysis that identified four themes: (1) technical changes on the farm; (2) farm and industry culture; (3) the farm-public interface; and (4) sustainability. The results of this study illustrate the complexity and diversity of views of those working along the associated value chain within the swine industry. Participants spent the majority of their time discussing current challenges, including technical challenges on the farm and public perception of pig farms. Participants were more hesitant to discuss future issues, but did engage on the broader issue of sustainability, focusing upon economic and environmental aspects.

Promoting the General Welfare of Therapy Rabbits and Guinea Pigs in Animal-Assisted Interventions with Youth

Abstract This case study focuses on rabbits and guinea pigs for AAI (animal-assisted interventions) sessions with youth due to their popularity as household pets and potential suitability for therapy work. Rabbits are consistently listed among the top three on the list for most popular pets in the world. Guinea pigs are consistently ranked in the top ten on the list (Bryant, 2023). Animals play an important role in the lives of children (Jalongo, 2022). The rabbits and guinea pigs are species that offer an alternative to interacting with dogs, during an AAI session, especially for those children allergic to them, who have had negative experiences or that have cultural concerns. The responsibility of the practitioner is to primarily ensure the welfare of the rabbit or guinea pig during an AAI session, especially with youth. By following best practices for managing youth interacting with the therapy animals, they are also protected. The practitioner needs to know the stress signs for rabbits or guinea pigs they are working with and take measures to mitigate those or remove the animal from a negative situation during an AAI Session with Youth. These stress signs and strategies to avoid stress issues will be discussed. In general, AAI practitioners need to safeguard the environment, establish guidelines for the session and manage unwanted behaviors of participants with positive strategies (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [RSPCA], n.d.). Information © The Author 2023

Evaluation of the Risk of African Swine Fever Virus Transmission at the Interface between Feral and Domestic Pigs in Lombardy, with a View to Establishing Preventive Measures for Domestic Pigs.

African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread worldwide, and has reached multiple countries across Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific, representing a serious economic burden threatening pig health and welfare, as well as food security. The disease affects domestic pigs and wild boar, and in several European countries the disease is endemic in wild boars. The lack of vaccines or effective treatments highlights the importance of effective control measures used to keep domestic and feral pigs separated to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the study of the livestock-wildlife interface is quite complex and has many aspects to consider, including the uncertainty of wild-boar population data. In this study, we determined the risk of spread of the ASF virus at the interface between domestic pigs and wild boars using indicators that can indirectly indicate the presence of wild boars in order to target specific control measures in the highest risk areas. The results of the study were compared with those obtained by Pittiglio, in which the population data for wild boars was estimated using a geostatistical method and similar results were obtained. However, the present study used specific information relating to the wild-boar population and this allowed us to use fewer variables.

Simplified assessment of castration-induced pain in pigs using lower complexity algorithms

Pigs are raised on a global scale for commercial or research purposes and often experience pain as a by product of management practices and procedures performed. Therefore, ensuring pain can be effectively identified and monitored in these settings is critical to ensure appropriate pig welfare. The Unesp-Botucatu Pig Composite Acute Pain Scale (UPAPS) was validated to diagnose pain in pre-weaned and weaned pigs using a combination of six behavioral items. To date, statistical weighting of supervised and unsupervised algorithms was not compared in ranking pain-altered behaviors in swine has not been performed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify if supervised and unsupervised algorithms with different levels of complexity can improve UPAPS pain diagnosis in pigs undergoing castration. The predictive capacity of the algorithms was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC). Lower complexity algorithms containing fewer pain-altered behaviors had similar AUC (90.1–90.6) than algorithms containing five (89.18–91.24) and UPAPS (90.58). In conclusion, utilizing a short version of the UPAPS did not influence the predictive capacity of the scale, and therefore it may be easier to apply and be implemented consistently to monitor pain in commercial and experimental settings.

Pig Movement Estimation by Integrating Optical Flow with a Multi-Object Tracking Model

Pig husbandry constitutes a significant segment within the broader framework of livestock farming, with porcine well-being emerging as a paramount concern due to its direct implications on pig breeding and production. An easily observable proxy for assessing the health of pigs lies in their daily patterns of movement. The daily movement patterns of pigs can be used as an indicator of their health, in which more active pigs are usually healthier than those who are not active, providing farmers with knowledge of identifying pigs’ health state before they become sick or their condition becomes life-threatening. However, the conventional means of estimating pig mobility largely rely on manual observations by farmers, which is impractical in the context of contemporary centralized and extensive pig farming operations. In response to these challenges, multi-object tracking and pig behavior methods are adopted to monitor pig health and welfare closely. Regrettably, these existing methods frequently fall short of providing precise and quantified measurements of movement distance, thereby yielding a rudimentary metric for assessing pig health. This paper proposes a novel approach that integrates optical flow and a multi-object tracking algorithm to more accurately gauge pig movement based on both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the shortcomings of solely relying on tracking algorithms. The optical flow records accurate movement between two consecutive frames and the multi-object tracking algorithm offers individual tracks for each pig. By combining optical flow and the tracking algorithm, our approach can accurately estimate each pig’s movement. Moreover, the incorporation of optical flow affords the capacity to discern partial movements, such as instances where only the pig’s head is in motion while the remainder of its body remains stationary. The experimental results show that the proposed method has superiority over the method of solely using tracking results, i.e., bounding boxes. The reason is that the movement calculated based on bounding boxes is easily affected by the size fluctuation while the optical flow data can avoid these drawbacks and even provide more fine-grained motion information. The virtues inherent in the proposed method culminate in the provision of more accurate and comprehensive information, thus enhancing the efficacy of decision-making and management processes within the realm of pig farming.

Inclusion of silage in diets to fattening pigs: effect on gastric ulcers and skin lesions

Limited access to high-quality feed protein for pigs has made it necessary to evaluate new protein sources that both promote sustainable pig production and meet the nutritional requirements of pigs. Providing pigs with roughage has positive effects on their behaviour and gut health. However, roughage is seldom given as a part of the pigs’ diet and often has a long straw length. Knowledge is lacking on the effect of feeding silage with smaller particle size and as a part of the pigs' diet on pig behaviour and welfare. This study evaluated the influence of feeding fattening pigs silage with different particle sizes on aggressive encounters, measured as the number of skin lesions, and on the occurrence of gastric lesions and ulcers. In total, 128 Swedish Yorkshire × Hampshire pigs were fed either a commercial control feed without silage (Pellet-C), or silage mixed with commercial feed, either in a pellet (Pellet-S) or in a total mixed ration (TMR) with chopped (TMR-Ch) or intensively treated silage (TMR-Ex). Skin lesions were assessed twice in the study according to the Welfare Quality® protocol. The first assessment was performed when the pigs were 105 days old and the second assessment at 132 days of age. Gastric lesions were examined in both the pars oesophagea and the pars glandularis region of the stomach. Stomachs were collected after slaughter, and gastric lesions were scored based on established scoring criteria. There was a treatment × assessment interaction on the number of skin lesions on the ear (P = 0.049). Apart from this interaction, no other effect of treatment on the number of skin lesions could be observed between the treatments or the assessment occasions. Treatment had a clear effect on the occurrence of gastric lesions and pigs fed the fresh silage (TMR-Ch and TMR-Ex) had a lower occurrence of gastric lesions and ulcers compared to the pelleted treatments (Pellet-C and Pellet-S) (P = 0.001). This study could not show any clear reduction effect of dietary silage inclusion on skin lesions. However, feeding silage in TMR significantly reduced the occurrence of stomach ulcers.

Willingness to Pay a Higher Price for Pork Obtained Using Animal-Friendly Raising Techniques: A Consumers' Opinion Survey.

In Italy, the consumption of pork meat is increasing, despite consumers' attitudes being addressed toward a greater sensitivity about animal welfare and its link with safe food. Considering the relatively high animal welfare standards and the divergence in public interest in farm animal welfare and ethical issues, the objective of this study-in continuation of our previous paper relating to consumer behavior and preferences in welfare-friendly pork breeding-was to investigate habits of pork consumers regarding pig welfare, principally evaluating their willingness to pay (WTP) a higher price for pork obtained using raising techniques with an approach based on animal welfare. An ad hoc questionnaire-based survey was submitted to consumers (n = 404) in Messina province, Italy. Results suggest that 47% of consumers were willing to pay an additional price for pork from farms that apply specific animal welfare standards. Positive correlations were between WTP and farming techniques (p = 0.001), organic farming methods (p = 0.001), and farms in which animal welfare is taken care of and guaranteed (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that consumers intend to pay a higher price for pork, like other animal products obtained using animal-friendly raising techniques. The sensitivity to the animal welfare of a single human being may influence consumers' attitudes toward pork consumption.

Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping

In intensive swine production systems,, the practice of regrouping unfamiliar pigs is common, often leading to aggressive behavior. Although the effect of different musical genres composed for humans has been evaluated in pigs to mitigate aggression, there have been few attempts to create music specifically for pigs. Here, we assess whether sensory stimulation through music, created by adapting the acoustic parameters in the sound mix, induces changes in the aggressive behaviors of pigs during regrouping. Six litters of 10-week-old piglets were randomly selected and assigned to different treatments. The control group (Group A) received no intervention, while Group B was exposed to music for two continuous hours in the morning and afternoon from the time of regrouping. Group C received musical stimulation for one continuous hour in the morning following regrouping. A significant reduction in the frequency and duration of aggressive behaviors was observed in the groups that received musical stimulation during regrouping. Additionally, social, and individual play behaviors showed a decrease in the musical stimulation groups. These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of created music as a strategy in reducing aggressive behavior during pig regrouping, which can enhance the welfare of pigs and offer a practical solution for pig producers to minimize aggression and its associated negative impacts.

Effects of sling belt provision on behaviour, skin lesions, and salivary cortisol level in growing pigs after transport and regrouping

The provision of enrichment material has been widely recommended to mitigate stress and minimise aggressive behaviour as well as enhance the welfare of pigs after transport and regrouping. In this study, we assessed the effects of providing a polyester sling belt (SB) on behaviour, number of skin lesions, and salivary cortisol levels in growing pigs shortly after transport and regrouping. A total of 571 pigs (29.6 ± 2.4 kg) were allocated to one of the following three treatment groups: 1) C: control group, 2) SB5: provision of 5–6 SB per pen, and 3) SB10: provision of 10–12 SB per pen. After being transported for 2 h, the pigs were housed in pens having fully slatted floors and regrouped with unfamiliar pigs. Their behaviours after regrouping were observed via 24-h video recording. Body weight and number of skin lesions were assessed on days 0 (the day of transport and regrouping) and day 6. Saliva samples were collected from nine pigs per treatment on days 1 and 2. The SB10 group exhibited significantly lower levels of injurious interaction than did the C group (P < 0.05). This injurious interaction tended to have positive correlations with the salivary cortisol levels on day 2 (r = 0.64, P = 0.06) and the changes in the proportion of pigs with skin lesion score (1+2) from day 0–6 (r = 0.66, P = 0.05). Furthermore, it was positively correlated with the proportion of pigs with skin lesion score (1+2) on day 6 (r = 0.80, P = 0.01). Additionally, manipulation behaviour towards the SB showed a negative correlation with skin lesions on day 6 (r = −0.70, P < 0.05) and also displayed a negative tendency to be correlated with salivary cortisol levels on day 2 (r = −0.64, P = 0.06). During the study period, the SB10 group exhibited the greatest reduction in the proportion of pigs with skin lesions than did the other groups (P < 0.05). Salivary cortisol levels did not differ significantly among the treatment groups on day 1; nevertheless, the lowest level was observed in the SB10 group on day 2 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, providing SB to growing pigs housed in pens with slatted flooring shortly after transportation and regrouping can improve their health and welfare by reducing injurious behaviour, skin lesions and activity in the HPA-axis suggesting stress.

Comparison of three different measuring devices of ammonia and evaluation of their suitability to assess animal welfare in pigs

Since negative effects of ammonia (NH3) on health and productivity are known NH3 concentrations should be considered a possible indicator of animal welfare. Thus, a simple and reliable control of NH3 concentrations is necessary. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate factors influencing two hand-held measuring devices - the ‘Basic Ammonia Detector-NH3000’ ammonia meter (AM) and the ‘Dräger accuro®’ gas detection pump (DA) – and the continuously measuring ‘DOL53 Ammonia Sensor’ (DOL) with regard to their practical use in pig houses and to compare them in terms of their reliability. Subsequently, the suitability of NH3 as a welfare indicator was considered by analyzing the connections of NH3 to different on-farm/slaughterhouse welfare indicators. The NH3 concentration on three farms (farm A: organic; farms B, C: conventional) over three to four batches from farrowing to the end of finishing were measured weekly with the AM (n = 284) and the DA (n = 142). In addition, the DOL (n = 77,170) measured the NH3 concentration every 15 min and revealed its daily course. The influence of the farm on NH3, investigated with a linear mixed model, was significant (P ≤ 0.05) for all three measuring devices. The freely ventilated farm A showed the lowest NH3 of all farms (mean DOL 0.69 ppm), which could be caused by a lower animal density, litter and an outdoor arena, compared to the mechanically ventilated farms B (mean DOL 12.4 ppm) and C (mean DOL 10.6 ppm). The season was a further significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influencing factor for the farms B and C, which was reflected in higher NH3 in winter compared to summer. This could be due to a lower ventilation rate and different animal behavior, because of lower outdoor temperatures in winter. Continuous measurement with the DOL also showed influences of the production stage of the pigs, with highest values with increasing age and the barn. The comparison of the AM and DA with the DOL did not achieve acceptable reliability/agreement. Hand-held devices cannot record variations in the NH3 concentration due to the non-continuous measurement, which may lead to wrong conclusions. A strong relationship between the NH3 number ≥20 ppm per batch and the number of affected animals of the on-farm/slaughterhouse indicators determined by significant (P < 0.05) Chi2 Tests and Cramér's V ≥ 0.60 could be detected for coughing (V = 0.89), tail length (V = 0.81), tail lesions (V = 0.60) and M. hyopneumoniae (V = 1.00). These findings indicate NH3 as a potential indicator of animal welfare.

48 Does Automated Behavioral Monitoring Inevitably Lead to Improved Pig welfare?

Abstract Academics, producers, veterinarians, technology developers, and even the general public seem to be talking about using technology to solve agricultural problems. The starting point for many proposed technological solutions to help manage pigs is the automated detection of specific behaviors. These behavioral data then need to be translated into actionable information to assess welfare, and ideally to provide a management solution to ensure good welfare for the monitored pigs. However, detecting behavior of animals, particularly of relatively homogeneous animals living in large groups at high densities, such as pigs on commercial farms, is not a trivial problem. Most functional behaviors are complex and made of multiple smaller elements, including postures and simple motions. Training technology to detect behaviors with accuracy that mimics a human expert is difficult, due to behavioral complexity as well as to variation in how each individual does a behavior and how physical and social environmental context affect performance of a behavior. Disappointingly, many technologies that claim to detect performance of behaviors are in fact only detecting the proximity of the pigs to resources or to each other and then assuming that pig is interacting with the resource or social partner in a particular way. However, a pig standing near a feeder is not always eating, nor is a pig near another pig always deliberately interacting with that other animal. It is necessary to closely evaluate automated behavior detection solutions to determine if these do directly detect the behavioral outcomes of interest. The next problem is connecting the detected behavior to a specific welfare outcome. Animals typically perform behaviors for biologically motivated reasons related to maintaining physiological homeostasis, responding to disease challenges, or to expressing their emotional state. Yet making a direct link between performance of a certain behavior and a subsequent welfare state is not straightforward. For example, grooming is often thought of as a comfort behavior, but animals that are distressed may groom as a displacement behavior. Therefore, context and other measures are needed to complement the behavioral information before drawing a welfare conclusion. A final problem to consider is whether detection of a welfare problem inevitably leads to improved welfare. In some cases, such as when a technology identifies the start of an outbreak of treatable illness, action is possible. In other cases, the technology may detect a more intractable problem, such as lameness in a sow. If we cannot effectively cure the underlying problem or eliminate the associated pain or distress, does this raise ethical dilemmas or reduce trust in the swine industry? While technologies do hold promise to better monitor and manage pigs in labor efficient ways, we must mindfully develop solutions that monitor pigs' behavior and cautiously evaluate their ultimate impacts on pig welfare.

Effect of loading density and weather conditions on animal welfare and meat quality of slaughter pigs.

There are several factors that affect the welfare and meat quality of pigs during pre-slaughter transport. Among various factors, the effects of weather conditions and loading density were studied. A total of 3,726 finishing pigs were allotted to one of nine groups arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design according to the weather conditions (low temperature [LT], under 10°C; normal temperature [NT], 10°C-24°C; high temperature [HT], upper 24°C), and loading density (low density [LD], upper 0.43 m2/100 kg; normal density [ND], 0.37-0.43 m2/100 kg; high density [HD], under 0.37 m2/100 kg). Each treatment group follow as: LTLD, LTND, LTHD, NTLD, NTND, NTHD, HTLD, HTND, HTHD. In terms of carcass composition, pigs had the highest carcass weight and backfat thickness at LT. Comparing the HD transport to the ND transport, the meat quality indicated a lower pH and more drip loss. The incidence rate of pale, soft, exudative (PSE) pork was high in the order of the HD, LD, and the ND transport (20%, 9%, and 2%, respectively). The HT transport showed the lowest pH and greatest L* value under the given weather conditions. Pigs transported under the HTHD and LTLD conditions had the greatest rates of PSE pork (40% and 20%, respectively). Pigs exposed to HD transport had the shortest laying time and the highest overplap behavior. The LDLT transport pigs had a shorter laying time than the LDNT and LDHT transport pigs. In conclusion, too high or too low density transport is generally not excellent for meat quality or animal welfare, however it is preferable to transport at a slightly low density at high temperature and at a slightly high density at low temperature.

181 Effect of Mixing at Weaning and Dietary Nutrient Density on Growth Performance and Welfare of Pigs

Abstract Mixing pigs at weaning compromises animal welfare and may reduce growth performance (GP). Reducing nutrient density of the nursery diet is a strategy to avoid gastrointestinal problems in newly weaned pigs. However, the potential for compensatory growth in subsequent stages and the impact on welfare are still unknown. This study investigated the effect of mixing and reducing dietary nutrient density on GP, body lesions (BL), and behavior in pigs from weaning to slaughter. Forty-eight litters [554 pigs, 11-12 pigs/litter; Danish Duroc × (Large White × Landrace)] were included in the trial. At 28 days of age, pigs were housed in the nursery rooms as litter pens (INTACT, n = 24) or mixed with other litters by body weight to reduce variability within pen (MIXED, n = 24). A dietary regimen meeting the nutritional requirements (CON) of the pigs and a low-density regimen (LOW; -10% energy and protein) completed a 2x2 factorial arrangement (Mixing x Diet, n =12). On day 73, pigs moved to a growing-finishing room without further mixing and all pigs received the CON dietary regimen. At the beginning and at the end of each production phase, the number of BL and the frequency of aggressions and damaging behavior were determined. Data were analyzed using general linear mixed models. Mixing increased FCR by 4.0 % during the nursery period (P = 0.003; Table 1). Pigs fed LOW had decreased GP during the nursery period but better feed conversion ratio (FCR; P = 0.008) during the growing-finishing period, when all groups were fed the same diet. However, pigs fed LOW showed a lower slaughter weight (-2.6 kg; P = 0.025). Initial differences in the coefficient of variation (CV) between MIXED (10.4%) and INTACT (17.6%; P &amp;lt; 0.001) were reduced in CON pens (6.9 % to 0.5 %) but not in LOW pens (7.9 % to 4.5 %; interaction P = 0.025) at the end of the nursery period. Pigs in MIXED pens showed 358% more BL (P &amp;lt; 0.001), more aggressions (P = 0.005) and damaging behavior (P = 0.042) at weaning, and more aggressions (P = 0.003) after being moved to growing-finishing rooms. Animals fed LOW showed more aggressions at weaning (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and more damaging behavior at the end of the nursery period (P &amp;lt; 0.001). When their diet was changed to CON, they showed 14% more BL (P = 0.009) but less aggressions (P = 0.004). Mixing animals at weaning had little impact on GP, but lesions, aggressions and damaging behavior towards pen mates indicate a detrimental effect on welfare and strategies to avoid mixing should be studied. The provision of a low-density diet during the nursery period had negative effects on welfare and growth was not totally compensated during the growing-finishing period.

182 Influence of Group Size on Performance and Tail Damage Caused by Tail Biting in Undocked Growing-Finishing Pigs

Abstract Tail biting is both an economic and welfare problem of grower-finishing pigs. This destructive chewing behavior of tails of pen-mates causes challenges for farmers who raise pigs with intact tails, resulting in the need to find management solutions. Our objective was to determine if group size influences growth performance and tail damage caused by biting behavior of undocked growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (n = 432; initial BW = 22 ± 3.8 kg) with intact tails were allocated to small pens or large pens on totally slatted floors, with equal ratio of barrows to gilts in each pen and balanced for average initial BW across pens. Small pens (SM; n = 24) housed 9 pigs/pen and large pens (LG; n = 12) held 18 pigs/pen. Floor space allowance (0.76 m2/pig) and feeder-space allowance (4 feeder spaces/9 pigs) were consistent across group sizes. Pigs were weighed individually and feed intake was recorded on a pen basis every 4 weeks for 16 weeks until market weight (120 kg ± 3.8 kg), from which ADG, ADFI, and Gain:Feed were calculated. Number of pigs that were dead (mortality) and removed (morbidity) from the study due to tail biting, lameness, and other health issues were recorded throughout the study period. Tail damage was evaluated using a 0 to 4 scale scoring system: 0 = no evidence of tail biting; 1 = evidence of chewing without visible blood; 2 = evidence of tail bitten with visible blood and no signs of infection; 3 = open wounds or abscesses with signs of infection; 4 = partial or total loss of the tail. Tail damage was assessed once weekly during the study period, and the maximum tail score (MTS) that each pig received over the entire 16 weeks was recorded. Data were analyzed using SAS software, with a mixed procedure for performance variables and a frequency procedure with chi-square test for mortality, morbidity, and MTS. Group size did not affect growth performance (all P &amp;gt; 0.70; Table 1), mortality, or morbidity (Chi-square = 2.33, df = 2; P = 0.31). However, group size affected MTS (chi-square = 10.78, df = 4; P = 0.03). Pigs in SM experienced a marginally lower prevalence of tail biting compared with LG (16% vs. 9% of pigs receiving an MTS of 0); but greater severity with 13.0% of pigs in SM vs. 7.4% of pigs in LG receiving an MTS of 4. These results suggest group size did not influence growth performance, mortality, or morbidity; but affect severity of tail damage caused by tail biting. Compared with LG, SM had more pigs that lost their tails due to tail biting, which seriously compromised pig welfare.

Regular medical checkup program (in K-MEDI hub) to enhance the welfare of laboratory dogs and pigs

BackgroundThe importance of animal welfare is being recognized worldwide. Recently, the increasing demand for enhanced laboratory animal welfare has led to clinically featured transformations of animal research institutes. This study aims to describe the process and findings of veterinary medical check-ups and its influence on laboratory dogs and pigs welfare. Regular medical checkups were conducted by the attending veterinarian twice a year to ensure the health and welfare of dogs and pigs in our animal research institute. Based on the findings from the medical checkup, we assessed the current health of dogs and pigs,providing reasonable treatments to prevent the risk of complications.ResultsBlood tests and physical examinations revealed clinically relevant findings. Some of these findings were due to insufficient postoperative care after invasive surgical experiments and the remaining were predictable side effects after surgical experiments. However, one finding involved severe gum bleeding due to retained deciduous teeth. This animal was euthanized because it was judged to reach the humane endpoint. Majority of the dogs and pigs at our animal research institute were considered to be healthy, based on the comprehensive results of the medical checkups.ConclusionsRegular medical checkups by the attending veterinarian established enhanced animal welfare, ensuring the accuracy and reproducibility of animal studies. This pioneering veterinary animal care program can serve as a potential advanced guideline for animal research institutes to improve dogs and pigs welfare.

Relationship between growing pig’s housing conditions, behaviours, lesions and health issues under Italian farming system

Low space availability, high temperatures and a barren environment may contribute to the occurrence of abnormal behaviours and lesions in intensive pig farming. The present study evaluated the housing conditions (HCs), that influence behavioural measures (BMs), and lesion and health measures (LHMs) in growing pigs reared in an Italian farming system. Data collection was carried out on two groups of pigs in each farm (Farm A and Farm B), tail docked (DT) and tail undocked (UT). The HCs measured were dry and wet bulb temperature, light, humidity, air quality, average body weight, pen level of cleanliness, space, and feeder front allowance. Light intensity was negatively associated with positive behaviour (coefficient: −0.01; p < 0.001), while the length of the feeder front was positively associated with the proportion of pigs exploring the pen (coefficient: 65.18; p = 0.04). Tail lesion score index (LSI) increased with an increased frequency of negative behaviour (coefficient: 8.05; p < 0.01), increased light intensity (coefficient: 0.29; p < 0.001) and increased proportion of CO2 (coefficient: 498.31; p < 0.001), while it decreased with the average body weight of the pen (coefficient: −4.04; p < 0.001) and the space allowance (coefficient: −198.93; p < 0.001). Finally, UT pigs showed a greater (p < 0.001) tail LSI than DT pigs (126.8 ± 5.71 and 78.5 ± 9.11, respectively for UT and DT pigs). The present study improved the understanding of the effects of HCs, including tail docking, on welfare parameters of growing pigs. HIGHLIGHTS Housing and management conditions might play a prominent role on pig health and welfare parameters during growing period. Social and exploring attitude behaviours affects both ears and tail lesions. Regardless of tail docking, tail injuries were positively associated with negative behaviour, light intensity, and CO2, while they were negatively associated with the average body weight of the pen and the space allowance.