Effects of lighting treatment on the productivity, health, behaviour and sexual maturity of heavy male turkeys.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 1994 | No Comments

Review: Welfare perspectives on hens kept for egg production.

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Effects of daylength and increasing daylength programmes on broiler welfare and performance.

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Social rank and feeding behaviour of group-housed sows fed competitively or ad libitum

Posted in: Welfare by admin on October 1, 1993 | No Comments

Animals naturally develop a hierarchy amongst group members. This hierarchy becomes especially apparent when there is competition for food. When food is limited in a group sow house, low ranking sows often suffer from lack of food and this impacts their growth and reproductive abilities. This experiment examines the effects of social hierarchies and competitive feeding and how it impacts live weights and feeding behavior. The pigs were put into groups of twelve and either floor fed 3.0kgs/sow or fed a high fiber diet ad libitum. In order to determine social hierarchy the researchers put two sows in a pen and had them compete for a small feeder, it was recorded which sows were able to dominate over the others and after all pairings had been tested the sows were ranked in order of dominance. The sows social interactions were then observed by video camera for the weeks 2, 5, 9 and 13. It was noted where pigs would eat (left, middle or right side of the feeder), if there was other pigs at the feeder (0, 1, or 2), time spent at the feeder, how they approached the feeder (waiting for the feeder, displaced another pig or walked up to an empty spot), and finally how they left the feeder (voluntarily, displaced, or displaced another sow). In the pens with a feeder there was preference for the right side of the feeder but it was not determined why. Sows preferred to feed when there was no one else at the feeder, and almost never when there was 2 sows already at the feeder. Food was defended when there was food in the feeder, and during floor feeding. It was found that sows which weigh more were more likely to hold dominance over the others and when feeding was competitive in the floor feeding pens sows that weighed less were unable to eat as much and gained less weight. In the ad libitum feeding system lighter pigs were able to adjust their feeding habits to avoid confrontations and still attain sufficient nutrients.

To read this complete article please visit: http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/applan/home

Selection for reduction of beak-inflicted injuries among caged hens.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 1993 | No Comments

Variation in behavioural indices of fearfulness and fatigue in transported broilers.

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Respiratory health of swine producers. Focus on young workers

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Twenty-four-hour feed withdrawal and limited feeding as alternative methods for induction of molt in laying hens.

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Recommended Code of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals, pigs.

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This voluntary code is intended for use by producers, industry personnel, scientists, educators, and animal welfare groups to encourage all involved to practice and promote sound animal care. It attempts to define high standards for pig production and handling that promote animal well-being. However, the recommendations do not claim to be comprehensive for all circumstances.

Providing competent handling and environment that allows pigs to fulfill their basic needs are crucial elements in putting this code into practice. The basic elements of responsible animal care include provision for the following:
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Acute exposure to swine dust causes bronchial hyperresponsiveness in healthy subjects

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dust, methacholine, exposure, bronchial