Influenza A virus of swine (IAV-S) is widespread and causes significant losses to swine producers. Besides its economic burden, the virus also poses a great threat to public health due to its zoonotic potential. Therefore, successful control of IAV-S will…
Evaluation of Transportation Conditions on Performance of Weaned and Feeder Pigs
Transportation of pigs at early ages may result in profit-stripping incidence of mortality and compromised animal welfare due to stress stemming from unfavorable transporting conditions. This project took a four pronged approach to address possible causative relationships of mortality rate,…
Optimized Minimal Floor-space for Group-Pen System Using Feeding Stalls and Diet Strategy to Improve Well Being
Sow aggression is a common problem associated with group-housing systems especially during feeding and mixing of sows. Grouped-housed sows establish a social hierarchy upon mixing which often reduces aggressive encounters later-on, however pregnant sows often still engage in aggressive encounters…
Designer Diets Decrease Aggression and Increase Welfare
The current practice of pregnant sow housing uses individual housing in stalls. However, producers are under a great deal of pressure to return sows to group housing due to various reasons. There are several advantages and disadvantages of individual and…
Development of an interactive training app for timely and humane on-farm euthanasia in pre-weaned piglets
Euthanasia is a necessary act for any operation keeping live animals. However, science-based guidance for pig producers on proper on-farm decision criteria for euthanasia in piglets is deficient.
Weaning sows directly into group housing: Effects on aggression, physiology and productivity
In the management of group housed sows, keeping sows in stalls from weaning until five weeks after breeding is a common strategy that serves to prevent aggression, control individual feed intake and facilitate management during breeding. However, pressure to reduce…
Development of a practical, cost-effective pain mitigation technique for castration of piglets
There is a growing trend towards the development of “welfare-friendly” management practices in production animals. Castration of piglets has gained considerable attention and there is growing pressure on the pork industry to develop management practices that address the pain associated…
Systematic Literature Review and Needs Assessment of Housing Systems for Lactating sows and Their Litters
The farrowing crate is one of several common animal husbandry practices facing increased public scrutiny across the globe. Like a gestation stall, similar welfare concerns are expressed about practices that restrict the movements of animals and questions arise about alternatives…
A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Development, Treatment and Prevention of Shoulder Lesions in Sows
Shoulder ulcers (shoulder lesions) in sows are most commonly observed in the first weeks of lactation, following farrowing. The prevalence of this problem varies greatly from herd to herd due to a range of contributing factors such as management, housing,…
Improving the welfare of group housed sows fed via electronic sow feeding
Managing aggression is important to the success of gestating sows in pens. This study was designed to examine different ways of mixing sows into a large dynamic pen equipped with electronic sow feeders. Increased weight loss, lameness, and skin lesions…