As we think
about the pigs’ welfare, how important are good caretaker
skills and husbandry techniques?
Caretaker skills and husbandry techniques are essential to
pigs’ welfare and can be taught in an ongoing educational
and practical environment. In fact, some managers hire
employees with minimal experience because they can be
trained to do husbandry chores the way the manager defines
them to be done. However, skills such as identifying sick
pigs, estrus detection or calmly handling and moving pigs
come with experience. |
Over the years pigs have
been genetically selected
and adapted to specific types of production. As a
result, different genetic types of pigs can be selected for
the type of environment under which they will be raised.
For example, pigs raised on pasture benefit from
having some hair color in their genetics. Pigs with color
are less likely to be sunburned and usually are hardier
or more rugged than white pigs. White lines of pigs
tend to be more docile or even in temperament,
somewhat more prolific and have been bred to perform
better indoors than on pasture. |
