Using Exploratory Behaviour to Increase Pre-Weaning Creep Consumption
Previous experiments showed how feeder type but not enrichment resulted in a greater frequency of visits to the tray feeder and a higher rate of disappearance for creep feed. Creep feed is important as it may help with the stressful...
Managing Sows in Groups from Weaning: Are There Advantages?
Stall housing has received lots of criticism for being so restrictive. It has been demonstrated that sows in groups can perform as well as those in stalls, so gestation stalls are being banned in many countries. An area that needs...
Effect of Grouping Sows by Parity in ESF Housing on Welfare and Productivity
Grouping of sows is important to have increased fitness and freedom but if done improperly, limited access to feed and aggression can be apparent. Electronic feeding systems (ESF) decrease aggression by sows having limited feeding competition, but young sows may...
Stimulating Exploratory Behaviour in Piglets: Effects on Pre-Weaning Creep Consumption
The abrupt change from a liquid to solid diet causes stress at weaning, along with a new environment and a different grouping of pigs. This often reduces intake for a few days and increases risk of mortality and disease susceptibility....
Zephyr Piglet Gun
Euthanizing piglets is an ongoing area of research as it is emotional for the workers involved. Blunt force trauma is effective if done correctly but this method could use improvement. The Zephyr Piglet Gun involves a non-penetrating captive bolt which...
Sow Lameness, Longevity and Temperament Workshops
Some new options are available to the industry regarding how to quantify lameness. These include a two scale scoring system and also the use of force plates, although they are expensive. To improve costs of production, longevity of sows is...
Force Plates Assessment
Up to 25% of culling reasons for gilts involve lameness. It is one of the most important welfare issues. More objective quantitative methods are needed to assess lameness in pigs. Force plates analyze weight distribution on limbs in cows and...
Behaviour of Pigs in Large Group Auto-Sort
A concern for having larger groups of pigs together is a possible rise in aggressive behaviours, however previous research shows the aggression levels are similar in small and large groups. Eating behaviour may change, especially as new technology such as...
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...
A Comprehensive Approach to Animal Welfare Science
Animal welfare is found in all levels of swine production, from society and consumers to producers and industry. Approaches to animal welfare include the functional approach, where productive and healthy animals have good welfare. Another approach involves affective states, focusing...
Assessing Enrichment for Sows
Most research on the different forms of enrichment are done on piglets and growing pigs. In these pigs, some benefits include reduced aggression and fear, fewer behavioural vices and improved growth. Older animals such as sows differ and generally prefer...
Early Detection and Interventions for Reducing Lameness in Gestating Sows
The second most common cause of culling is sow lameness, after reproductive failure. Hoof problems are related to good conformation and genetics, but also fully slatted concrete systems. Horn growth increases due to higher pressure exerted from the concrete floor....
