Effects of Transport Duration on the Stress Response and Pork Quality of Pigs
Transporting pigs in Canada has many challenges. These include extremes of temperature and long transport durations that can cause stress in pigs, affecting welfare, transit losses and meat quality. Transport times of 6, 12 and 18 hours were studied on meat quality and stress physiology,...
Loading Facilities for Market Hogs: Saskatchewan’s Top 10
Loading facilities can result in longer loading times, increased incidence of rough handling and prod use if poorly designed. Stress associated with this can affect meat quality, carcass and also increase the amount of downer pigs and losses. Ten Saskatchewan barns were observed to see...
Assessment of Lameness, Productivity and Longevity in Group and Individually Housed Gestating Sows
There may be several major welfare issues in facility design and sow management for group sow housing. One of the most important welfare issues is lameness. It is the second major cause of culling after reproductive failure. visual scores can be used to measure lameness...
Literature Review and Needs Assessment of Housing Systems for Gestating Sows in Group Pens with Individual Feeding
Group housing is a complex system, but it is one that the society is moving towards. There are many options in regard to choosing group housing for gestating sows. The housing systems from lowest to highest welfare are: tethers and stalls, indoor group housing then...
Effects of Temperament and Floor Space Allowance on Sows at Grouping
Producers are changing their facilities to group housing for sows. Spacious accommodation has been shown to reduce aggression and increase general health but the point of crowding is not known. Observations were made in order to configure space requirements and social groups. More space was...
Evaluation of Temperature Conditions in Trucks During Transport of Market Pigs to Slaughter in Four Seasons
Temperature and humidity conditions vary significantly in different compartments in trucks that transport market pigs. Transportation of pigs can involve economic losses due to death, reduced meat quality and welfare concerns. More losses are reported in the summer with specific compartments being more affected. Pigs...
Food Court Design for Large Group Auto-Sort for Grow-Finish Pigs
Costs can be improved by improving the ability to sort pigs within their pen. Since large groups are used for grow/finish pens, auto-sort scales are often used. Aggression in pigs is similar in both large and small group sizes, with larger groups becoming more tolerant...
Effects of Transport Conditions and Vehicle Design on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs in Western and Eastern Canada
Transport conditions can have an impact on the economics of pork production and on animal welfare. Swine transportation in Canada is highly variable in the aspects of seasonal changes, distance of transport and types of vehicles used. Differences in truck compartments, truck types and seasons...
Free Space Utilization of Sows in Free Access Stalls
Group housing systems can produce more active and social sows, leading to a healthier pigs. It will increase muscle strength and decrease lameness with stronger bones from the ability to move around. An example of a group housing system is free access stalls. The degree...
The Interaction of Group Size and Alley Width on the Movement of Near Market Pigs
The ease and speed of moving near-market pigs is of interest. Packing plants and farms move pigs in different group sizes due to facility design differences. Group size and alley width may affect how easy it is to handle pigs. Results indicate that the ideal...