Page 51 of articles about behaviour-welfare

Effects of transport conditions and vehicle design on the welfare and meat quality of pigs in western and eastern Canada

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of transport conditions on the behaviour, physiology and welfare of pigs in eastern and western Canada, in both summer and winter. Our goals were to evaluate differences between truck types, truck compartments and seasons in each region, and to use this information to identify problem areas and potential solutions.

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Abstract

Consequences of rearing entire males on the human‐animal relationship in a conventional and an enriched environment

Castration is notably used to reduce pigs’ aggressiveness towards humans and facilitate handling. However, there are no scientific data to confirm this. We compared entire and castrated male pigs reared in a conventional or an enriched environment.

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Dry sows in dynamic groups: An investigation of social behaviour when introducing new sows

The aim of this investigarion was to analyse the frequency of agonistic interactions (AI) and the lying behaviour of new and resident sows.

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Abstract

No apparent effect of an experimental narrow confinement on heart activity and cortisol in domestic pigs

The effects of continuing spatial restraint were examined in domestic pigs. For this purpose, the animals (German Landrace barrows) were housed individually in metabolic cages (12 animals) and, as controls, in single pens (six animals).

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NutritionArticle

Link between Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome (HBS) and liquid feed

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).

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Does group housing increase the risk of reproduction problems in French sow herds?

The aim of this study was to investigate reproductive performance and possible reproductive problems (late estrus, infertility, reasons for culling) in herds with either group‐housed or individually housed pregnant sows. In a second analysis, we evaluated the effects of different group housing systems.

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News

United Kingdom – FAWC Opinion on mutilations and environmental enrichment in piglets and growing pigs

The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) today launched its Opinion on mutilations and environmental enrichment in piglets and growing pigs. The Opinion advises Government about the impact on young pigs’ welfare of the various mutilations that they may be subject to during their lives. The procedures include tail docking, tooth clipping, identification and castration.

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Canada - Manitoba pork producers pledge commitment to sustainability

Manitoba Pork is proud to present a strong vision for long-term sustainability on behalf of the province’s pork producers. The plan, called Embracing a Sustainable Future, is to be shared with all Manitobans.

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Canada - CQA to include Animal Care Assessment

Completion of the Animal Care Assessment (ACA) requirements will become an integral component of the CQA program effective January 1, 2012. This means that as of the first of next year, producers will need to meet the requirements of the ACA to maintain their CQA status.

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Press releases

Smooth finish for outdoor pigs

An East Anglian contractor has come up with a system that can literally smooth out potential areas of conflict between outdoor pig-keepers and arable farmers. While they tick all the welfare boxes, free-range sows are no respecters of the land. Their rooting and wallowing can leave paddocks looking like battle fields, with crater-like holes pitting the surface.

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Denmark - Expectations of 2013

In 2001, the EU decided that all sows must be housed loose by 2013, giving the pig producers 12 years to adapt. In Denmark, this legislation was introduced in 1998. To form an impression of the situation in Denmark, Hatting-KS, the Danish Pig Producers’ Association and Pig Research Centre forwarded questionnaires to all Danish sow farmers with more than 100 sows asking them about their expectations of 2013.

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Abstract

Predicting the effect of an increase in available space on the activity and exploratory behaviour of pigs raised in an enriched environment

The results of this study confirm the beneficial effect of enrichment on the behaviour of pigs, as well as the existence of interactions between physical environment and enrichment. Conceivably, this could lead to a better method of evaluating the impact of production systems on the welfare of pigs.

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USA - OLCSB swine committee recommends stall-free by 2025

After several hours of intense discussion and deliberation, the swine subcommittee for the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board decided to remove an exemption in its recommendations, that would have allowed existing swine producers to expand their stall-based facilities beyond 2025.

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The impact of chronic environmental stressors on growing pigs, Sus scrofa (Part 2): social behaviour

The effects of common and concurrent environmental stressors on the social behaviour of farm animals are poorly understood. Here, we report the results of a multifactorial experiment designed specifically to examine the individual, additive or interactive effects of elevated ammonia, noise and low light (LL) levels on the social behaviour of growing pigs.

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European Union - EFSA assesses welfare risks to animals during transport

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of animals during transport. An ad hoc expert working group was established in response to the request which made use of the information provided by stakeholders during the Technical Meeting held on 13 October 2010. The scientific opinion on the welfare of animals during transport was adopted by the AHAW Panel on 2nd December 2010.