This study sought to determine the effects of minimal training and a novel odor/taste reward on the ease of handling finishing pigs in a novel environment. Pigs were assigned to one of four treatments: training and odor exposure at the barn or not (trained or non-trained, respectively) and provision or not of maple syrup in the simulated pre-stun area of a slaughter plant (reward or no reward, respectively). Trained pigs were let out of their home pens and onto a trailer for 10 min/d for 10 d and could chew on maple syrup soaked flags. Non-trained pigs were not handled or exposed to maple syrup. It was found that pigs that were allowed to exercise out of their home pen and were given access to an odor/taste reward moved faster and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was decreased when exposed to a novel environment
containing the same odor/taste reward.

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