White painted races could reduce pig stress during handling
Take Home Message: White painted handling races can improve handling ease which is of particular benefit to breeds such as Hampshires.
The provision of white painted handling races could improve handling ease, depending on the genotype of pig being produced. Just one of the findings of two trials, carried out at Leeds University and the SAC, to assess pig stress levels and the differences between genotypes during handling.
“Pigs displayed significant behavioural differences between genotypes during routine handling,” Leeds University’s Helen Clarke told delegates at the 2009 British Society of Animal Science’s annual conference. “And this could have an impact on further management strategies, as genotype-specific schemes may need to be implemented.”
The effect of stress on pigs prior to slaughter is both of welfare and economic importance, and can negatively impact on meat quality. Strategies to reduce the stress of finishing pigs have previously tended to concentrate on a single breed.
This work involved a mixture of 478 slaughter-weight Hampshire, Large White and Petrain pigs. The first trial saw them herded to the weighing area and individually weighed. Pigs were timed for the duration of the weighing process, from the selection of a pig to its exit from the crate. The pig was restrained in the crate while its ear tag was read and a new tag inserted. The crate was then opened and the pig was allowed to leave voluntarily. If the pig did not start to move immediately, it was encouraged by research staff.
Behavioural reactions of the pigs were scored 1 (easy/calm) to 5 (difficult/fearful) over four stages of the weighing process: loading; behaviour in the crate; tagging and exiting. Vocalisations were also recorded.
Trial two involved 210 pigs, which were balanced for genotype. The hurdles immediately surrounding the weigh crate were painted brilliant white. This aimed to reduce the fearful response of pigs and increase their willingness to enter the crate by brightening target areas. The scoring system remained the same.
“And we saw significant differences between genotypes in loading ease, time taken to weigh, and time taken to exit from the weigher,” said Miss Clarke. “A sex and genotype interaction was evident in the behaviour in the weigher.”
In the second trial, loading ease differed between the genotypes, as did exit from the weigher and the time taken to weigh.
“Tagging of females was more difficult than males and Pietrain pigs vocalised more frequently than Hampshires or Large Whites. The number of vocalisations differed between genotypes.”
“Genotypic differences were again evident in loading ease. Hampshire pigs were more difficult to load in the second trial, while Pietrain pigs were easier. Large White showed no significant change,” added Miss Clarke.
Tagging of pigs in T2 tended to be easier, particularly in male pigs, and the time taken to weigh pigs altered between trials but no genotype specific patterns were
Found. Exit from the weigher showed Hampshires as being most difficult during the second trial, while Pietrain pigs were easiest.
To view proceedings of all summaries presented at the Annual Conference 2009 http://www.bsas.org.uk/Publications/Annual_Conference_Proceedings/ To view all Powerpoint presentations http://www.bsas.org.uk/Members_Area/ For further information contact: BSAS on 0131 445 4508 or bsas@sac.ac.uk
