Page 3 of articles about behaviour-welfare in Articles

Spain is, regarding pig census, the third country in the world in relation to pig production, behind China and the USA, and the fourth as pork producer because Germany fattens many piglets imported from The Netherlands and Denmark, and it also slaughters pigs from these and other countries.

Neonatal mortality does not only depend on the design of the farrowing crate, but also on genetic and management factors, as well as litter size, especially with the increased use of hyper-prolific dam lines.

To prevent tail biting, animals must be able to express their exploratory behaviour in an appropriate manner. This article presents the points to consider when choosing the most appropriate material.

Bearing welfare in mind, which should be the size of the group of animals housed in a pen?

This article summarizes the main points to beat heat stress in pigs.

The use of these nests help create two well-differentiated areas: a warmer one for the piglets and a cooler one for the sows.

In many cases, the use of materials that lessen the piglets' boredom helps to control the problem.

This trick consists in offering cheap manipulable materials that satisfy the pigs' needs.

This protocol is a very useful diagnostic tool so we can have a comprehensive view of a farm on a certain moment.

The European Declaration on alternatives to the castration of pigs is a declaration that is a voluntary agreement in which, for the first time, the European swine farmers have manifested a proactive stance with the aim of presenting a solution, from the swine sector, to a social demand.

Production manuals and legislation often give recommendations as to the minimum space requirements for each type of animal. There are many sources where we can find information about the minimum requirements to ensure animal comfort. But, what is the optimal number of animals to put in a pen? Is there a magic number? There is not as much documentation on this topic.

Oral fluid samples can at times replace traditional blood testing while requiring less labor and technical skill. Also there is clearly reduced stress for people and pigs, which is becoming important in modern food animal production.

Alternatives for reducing boar taint are being researched. One of the existing alternatives is immunocastration, approved in Europe since May of 2009.

Sudden death due to HBS is a devastating, stealthy phenomenon that affects pigs in growth and finishing phases. The heaviest animals die, sometimes a few over several days, or a few per week, but in a constant succession that can last (up to nine months in Italy’s case, where heavier animals are killed).

What level of welfare needs to be applied in the case of sows housed in groups, and fed dry feed?

The current test is about weaning in sheds, with curtain separators in the nest.