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…
Weaned pig transport: animal welfare impact of duration of trip, and provision of feed and water
Weaned pigs are transported on many USA farms. Some are transported short distances and others many hours. During transport pigs can be exposed to several stressors prior to and during transport including handling during loading, exposure to a novel environment,…
Evaluation of Analgesia Efficacy in Piglets Undergoing Castration and Processing
Surgical castration is routinely performed on commercial pig farms in North America to prevent boar taint and aggression. This procedure is known to be painful for piglets, yet is typically done without the use of analgesics or topical anesthetics for…
Validation of EEG measures for pain assessment in piglets aged 0 to 10 days
According to current commercial practice, tail docking of pigs is performed without analgesia and is therefore acutely painful. Negative public perception concerning tail docking without the use of pain-relief is increasing; therefore it would benefit the industry to investigate plausible…
The use of bedding in ramp to reduce slipping and falling while loading and unloading weaned and finishing pigs
Transport is a potentially stressful event that almost all piglets/pigs go through at least once in their life considering multi-site production systems and location of packing plants. Handling stress before and after transport can affect pig welfare and losses associated…
Comparing Heat Lamp vs. Heat Mat for Farrowing Crate Heating
From 2007 to 2012, the average number of piglets born and piglets born alive for the US swine operation increased by 1.1 and 1.2 piglets per sow per farrowing event, respectively. However, increase in average number of piglets weaned during…
Nitrous Oxide for piglet euthanasia: validation by electroencephalography (EEG),
The identification and validation of humane methods to euthanize piglets is critical to address public concern that current methods are not optimal. The blunt force trauma procedure is humane when carried out correctly, but most people find it aesthetically objectionable.…
Identifying best operating procedures for CO2 gas euthanasia of suckling and nursery age pigs – effects of stocking density
Gas euthanasia methods are commonly chosen when large groups of animals need to be humanely and efficiently put to death, such as during disease outbreaks. Nevertheless, previous research by our laboratory and others indicates that carbon dioxide gas does not…
Establishing Bedding and Boarding Requirements for Finisher Pigs Through Scientific Validation – Macro Study
1. Establishing bedding requirements during transport and monitoring skin temperature over seasons after transport for finishing pigs.The objective of this study was to determine how much bedding should be provided in the transport trailer for finishing weight pigs in cold, mild,…
Reviewing the State of Scientific Evidence and Developing Recommendations about Pain Mitigation Strategies in Piglets Undergoing Routine Processing Procedures
The following non-technical summary describes the recommendations from a review and decision-making process conducted between August 2012 and August 2013 by the panel at the request of the National Pork Board. The objectives of the project were to assess research…