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Swine welfare
Some farming methods have ignored the pigs’ needs by treating them as production units rather than fascinating and intelligent creatures with innate behavioural and physical needs.
Pigs are sensitive to extremes of climate and have no sweat glands (except for on the tip of the snout) nor thick hair cover, relying on fat for insulation. In cold weather pigs often huddle to keep warm, whilst in warm weather they wallow in water and mud to keep cool. Pigs forage and root for food (a strong natural behaviour), and eat a wide range of vegetables and animal products, including carrion. In terms of senses, pigs rely on smell and hearing more than vision. They have a wide range of vocalisations and a good ability to locate odour sources.
Pigs prefer to live in stable families or small groups. However, they can be aggressive to each other, especially if unfamiliar animals are mixed. Boars are often solitary. Contrary to popular belief, pigs are clean animals and if given properly designed living accommodation, will always tend to use one particular area for dunging, thereby keeping their lying/sleeping area clean.
1. Introduction For newborn piglets, the thermoneutral zone is about 34 °C [1]. However, to ensure thermal comfort of sows [2], the temperature in farrowing rooms is controlled to about 20 °C, which is markedly below the thermoneutral zone for newborn piglets [3]. The immature thermoregulatory ability of piglets makes maintenance of body temperature difficult for piglets and makes them prone to suffer hypothermia. Important secondary effects of hypothermia include...
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1. Introduction Increasing robustness, resilience and efficiency of livestock are pivotal topics in animal science because of their importance to profitable meat and dairy production, but also for ethical, animal welfare and sustainability reasons [1,2]. In this review, we investigate and discuss potential benefits of omics technologies for optimizing stress resilience and reducing damaging behaviour in livestock, in particular pigs. Resilience, i.e., the capacity to quickly...
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1. Introduction A common challenge for most livestock industries is to identify more productive, efficient and sustainable pasture-based production systems that have a positive impact on animal welfare, biodiversity and long-term operation profitability without negatively affecting soil health. The way that the available resources (land, forage species, animals, infrastructure and climate) are organized and used to achieve the goals of the operation is key for sustainable animal...
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1. Introduction The sustainability of pasture-based animal production systems has social, environmental and economic implications. Grasslands provide low cost feed for livestock, mainly ruminants, becoming the basis for production and livelihoods in many rural areas of the world [1]. Sustainable grazing systems are grounded on the principles of improving the cycle of nutrients of grassland ecosystems, enhancing the vegetation, increasing the biodiversity and improving the...
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Dr MEGAN EDWARDS reports studies showing the benefits of spray dried plasma proteins in sow and piglet diets. ...
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Seasonal variation in pig production has been implicated in variation in productive and reproductive performance through direct and indirect effects of temperature on physiological responses, including intestinal integrity, endocrine signaling, adipose mobilization, and insulin regulation. Heat stress in pig production results in industry losses resulting from slower growth rates, inconsistent market weights, altered carcass traits, infertility, increased health care costs and mortality. For...
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Paolo Trevisi, Professore Associato from the Bologna University, speaks to us about reducing antibiotic use in pigs with probiotics, during Eurotier 2016, in Hannover, Germany....
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1. Introduction As advances in genetics [1–3], reproductive management [4], and nutrition [5,6] continue to increase the number of piglets a sow can produce per litter [7,8], it is important to consider the issues that are associated with larger litters, particularly surrounding piglets and pre-weaning survival. Issues surrounding large litters include the effects of intrauterine crowding and so birth weight variation, piglet hypoxia during delivery and litter-mate...
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The inclusion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sc 47 (Actisaf) yeasts on piglets’ feed and their influence on growth performance and nutrient utilization after weaning
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1. Introduction Ammonia (NH 3 ) release in livestock buildings originates from the nitrogen content in the urine and feces deposited in pits or on the building floor surfaces with or without bedding material [1]. Currently, NH 3 , together with hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is one of the most critical pollutants for pig production [2–4] because of its direct relationship with animal and workers’ welfare and health [3–6]. Accordingly,...
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1. Introduction Meat consumers have shown an increasing interest in purchasing products from more sustainable production systems that are considered more respectful of the environment and of animal welfare [1,2]. Those systems reduce the use of agrochemicals and fossil fuels, encourage the rescue of local animal genetic resources, and contribute to the strengthening of local communities [3]. This reorientation promotes the creation and consolidation of niche markets. Niche pork...
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1. Introduction The commercial US swine industry transitioned to stall farrowing in the 1960s as an effort to reduce pre-weaning piglet mortality [1]. Farrowing in stalls remains the most common indoor system in the US, making this an important area of research [2]. Compared to loose housing systems (pens), farrowing stalls have been shown to lower pre-weaning mortality (PWM) [3]. However, the national average PWM was 17.8% in 2017, demonstrating that the modern...
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1. Introduction
The new millennium brought a worldwide growing interest for animal welfare [1]. The livestock sector reacted by developing recommendations relevant to the wellbeing of farm animals, consequently encouraging producers to adopt and implement them. Additionally, consumer demand for better production practices contributed to the development of responsible production systems in which animal welfare principles are incorporated into daily management...
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1. Introduction Given an appropriate space allowance, along with optimal environmental conditions, indoor finishing pigs will generally establish specific and separate areas within a pen to undertake lying and dunging behaviour. Achieving such separation of these functional areas can promote hygiene and welfare of the animals, with the accompanying potential to improve sustainable food production. However, if the internal environment fails to provide optimal conditions...
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1. Introduction Pre-weaning mortality (PWM) is a major economic and productivity challenge for the pig industry. Recent trends for piglets born alive per litter are increasing in the US, while piglets weaned per litter have stayed stable over the past five years [1]; hence, indicating an increasing PWM. PWM is typically greatest during the neonatal phase, or within the first few days after birth in a healthy herd. During this perilous time frame, mortalities may be attributed to...
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1. Introduction Environmental impacts derived from livestock production have received increasing attention in recent times [1], with pig production being one of the main contributors [2]. However, extensive systems generate a lower level of pollution than other livestock systems [3]. Many studies estimated the level of these impacts for conventional pig production through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which is the most recognized methodology to do so [4]. One of the main...
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INTRODUCTION
Gas, odor, and particulate concentrations and emissions have been, and will continue to be, targeted components of livestock and poultry production systems. Local units of government (counties and townships) have or are considering the establishment of setback requirements from rural residences and livestock operations to prevent odor and other nuisance complaints. State and...
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As a result of COVID-19, veterinarians need to look at biosecurity in new ways. As practitioners we have to focus on protecting pigs and maintaining the economic viability of the farm. We are trained to deal with zoonotic diseases with a primary goal of protecting ourselves, our clients, and the food supply chain. Yet, now we are being asked to think more broadly, more holistically as an occupational (One Health) specialist, thinking about the health of farm employees, their families, and...
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Introduction Retention of dietary protein to body protein is an inefficient process in pigs. Nitrogen balance studies have shown that nitrogen retention rate (proportion of intake) ranges from 41 - 68% in weaner pigs (Cera et al., 1988), 42 - 56% in grower pigs (Fabian et al., 2004, Otto et al., 2003, Zervas and Zijlstra, 2002), 30 - 46% in finisher pigs (Fabian et al., 2004), and 42 - 52% in sows (Renteria-Flores et al., 2008). These findings, based on the mean values from...
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The inclusion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sc 47 (Actisaf) yeasts on piglets’ feed and their influence on growth performance and nutrient utilization after weaning
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Silvafeed® plant extracts: a performing natural alternative to antibiotics in maximising gut health Implementing new practices that aim at improving animal welfare is no easy task. There are diverse signals from famers and veterinarians that, under the condition of current animal farming, livestock welfare appears endangered, as individual animals and entire flocks or herds show clinical signs of discomfort and...
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INTRODUCTION Modern livestock production is characterized by intensification, i.e., a higher number of animals per farm. To achieve successful intensification of livestock production, without negative effects on animals, farmers and farms, certain requirements need to be met. One of these requirements for intensification of livestock production is the capability of the farmer to take care of a larger number of animals. This requires healthy and easy-to-manage animals that need...
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