Pigs from conventional small groups are less socially tolerant compared to pigs from larger groups and fight more when in re-grouping scenarios such as marketing. Pigs from large groups are easier to load and handle as well. Fewer deaths have been recorded during marketing when from large groups and this decrease in marketing stress may improve meat quality. Conventional and large group auto sort pen pigs were compared in regard to stress response, handling attributes and meat quality. They required similar force levels during handling but pigs from larger groups were loaded quicker. Physiological responses to handling were similar in the groups and so was meat quality.
Handling Stress During Marketing of Pigs from Large Groups (full article)
