Understanding how sows utilize their dynamic space envelope could assist animal scientists, agricultural engineers and veterinarians when considering the dynamic space needs in gestation housing. The primary goal of this project was to estimate the area utilized by multiparous lame…
Evaluating the welfare of piglets after weaning and transport during heat stress
Weaning is a complex stressor associated with social, environmental and metabolic stress in pigs, that can be compounded by the negative effects of transport and thermal stress. To combat these negative effects, dietary antibiotics may be provided to newly weaned…
Tail-biting in growing-finishing pigs
Background: Tail biting is a common problem in swine production. Tail biting not only causes economic losses for pork producers, but also results in major negative implications for welfare of pigs. Currently, the common method to prevent tail biting is…
Optimizing on-farm management of non-infectious sow lameness during the farrowing and lactation period
Modern commercial sow facilities are built with durability and cleanliness in mind. Floors in these facilities are often built using slatted concrete to ensure better ease in cleaning and manure management. Unfortunately, with such flooring systems, we often see an…
Automating Detection of Social Behavior Phenotypes and Improving Modeling of Indirect Genetic Effects to Breed for Less Aggression in Group-Housed Pigs
Using Behavioral and Genomic Tools to Identify Pigs Suited for Group Living
In pigs, social behaviors, such as fighting, can affect the performance of all pigs in a group or result in injury or lameness, leading to culling. Expanding genetic selection programs beyond production and health traits to encompass behavior will improve…
A review of heavy weight market pigs: status of knowledge and future needs assessment
Caring for compromised swine – an assessment swine marketed through buying stations and development of fitness for transport guidelines
Swine welfare during marketing, defined as the phase during which the pig is in transit between the farm and the meat processing plant, continues to be a priority for the swine industry. Buying stations represent an alternate marketing stream for…