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…
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.…