Code-Related Research an Enriching Experience
Sows often have increased aggression due to restricted feeding or low space allowances. It may also be increased in a competitive feeding system. Moving to group sow housing makes aggression more dangerous to the animals and implementing enrichment in the pens may help mitigate this....
Sow Housing Strategies: Mixing Well With Others
Sow mixing strategies can affect reproductive performance, sow well-being and the economics of the operation. Mixing sows is a critical aspect of group housing so it needs to be better understood. The three time points that mixing can occur are at weaning, right after breeding...
Cooling Systems for Pigs a Hot Topic
Transportation needs to be properly ventilated for pigs as they do not have sweat glands and often overheat which can be fatal. Most pig transport vehicles in Canada do not have a cooling system in place. Water misting systems can be used to cool down...
Welfare Assessment Systems: What are the Differences
Food quality not includes the environmental impact, local economy, health, safety along with nutritional value, so animal welfare is increasingly becoming and important attribute to food quality. Various standards for welfare have been developed and a third party is needed to make sure that they...
New Measures in Assessing Sow Lameness
Animal well-being and economic viability depend on being able to identify risk factors affecting sow longevity and welfare. New technologies to measure lameness are being developed, along with assessment tools for figuring out temperament traits are being researched. These can be used to improve animal...
Euthanasia Alternatives
Several advantages can be found when implementing timely and well-planned euthanasia's. Unnecessary suffering and costs are both reduced and welfare is improved due to a higher chance of survival of the other piglets. The most common euthanasia method in Canada is blunt force trauma, but...
Better Pork October 2020
Articles in the October 2020 Better Pork Include: Beyond the Barn: Canadian Pork Industry Shares Comments on CUSMA, Colostrum Critical for Piglets, Added Tests to Monitor for ASF The new North American trade agreement, CUSMA, did not significantly alter Canada's pork industry. Some benefits are...
Better Pork August 2020
Articles in the August 2020 Better Pork Include: Beyond the Barn: Stricter U.S. Ruling Needed for Cull Sow Movement, Mysterious Rash Appears on Sows, Swine Researchers Battle S. Suis Stricter rules are needed on how long cull sows can remain in the U.S. marketing channel...
Better Pork June 2020
Articles in the June 2020 Better Pork Include: Beyond the Barn: Scientists Aim to Boost Piglet Performance, Risk Management Pilot Underway, Preparing Pork this BBQ Season Micronutrient supplementation may help improve piglet growth and development. Oral supplements to the sow during gestation and lactation altered...
Better Pork February 2020
Articles in the February 2020 Better Pork Include: Beyond the Barn: USMCA: Much Ado About Something for Producers, Ontario Updates Animal Welfare Bill, Stakeholders Brace for Risk of ASF The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been signed. Canadian pork farmers are competing for scarce resources like...