Evaluation of the Kinect v2 motion-sensing camera to develop a rapid and effective tool for identifying compromised pigs
Evaluation of the Transmammary Delivery of Firocoxib in Sows to Alleviate Pain Associated with Piglet Castration, Teeth Clipping, & Tail Docking
Evaluating the effects of mitigation strategies on piglet welfare and future productivity after transport during different seasons
As consumer concern for swine welfare, husbandry methods, and antibiotic use in animal agriculture increase, so will the need for U.S. pork producers to demonstrate that current production practices not only increase animal performance, but also improve the overall health…
Broadly protective nasal mucosal vaccine for influenza A virus of swine
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…