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 still have to fight for...
Assessing Daily Exposure Risk of Pig Barn Workers to Airborne Contaminants
Airborne contaminants such as gases (ammonia and hydrogen sulphide) and dust, when exposed to pig barn workers increase the risk of respiratory symptoms and health problems. Occupational exposure risk was assessed when workers were doing their daily barn tasks in swine grow-finish rooms. The exposure...
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 can euthanize neonate, suckling and...
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 needed. Gilts do not pay...
Economic Costs of PEDv
Strict biosecurity protocols are needed to limit the spread of PEDv. PEDv has a large impact on reproduction by reducing farrowing rates, amount of piglets born alive and mortality rates. Grower-Finisher pigs also have performance losses. It can take up to 10 weeks for baseline...
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 large group auto-sort (LGAS) systems...
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 Plant Extract Micro-Aid‚ has Unexpected Effects on Litter Size
Micro-Aid® helps reduce ammonia emission and odours from livestock production facilities and is a natural plant extract. When sows are fed Micro-Aid®, their colostrum has increased levels of immunoglobulins. This may help piglets gain weight. The impact on their piglets is that litter size increased...
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 manipulable and destructible enrichments compared...
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. Claw overgrowth and heel erosion...