Pigs

Feeding behaviour between pig breeds can differ greatly

Posted in Food quality and security, Pigs on May 31st, 2011

Although the average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of pigs between breeds may not differ significantly, their feeding behaviour can be very different.

Including inulin in pig finisher diets had no effect in phosphorus, calcium or nitrogen digestibility

Posted in Environment, Food quality and security, Pigs on May 31st, 2011

The inclusion of inulin in pig finisher diets had no effect on phosphorus, calcium or nitrogen digestibility and there was no effect of inulin supplementation on proximal colon bacterial populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli spp.

Weaning management can improve piglet welfare

Posted in Animal Health, Welfare & Behaviour, Food quality and security, Pigs on May 31st, 2011

The time spent lying by pigs during trials comparing treatments did not differ significantly, which may suggest this parameter is not a good welfare indicator, or that it was not recorded over a sufficient timeframe.

As birth weight increased, variable weight of pigs at weaning decreased

Posted in Animal Health, Welfare & Behaviour, Food quality and security, Pigs on May 31st, 2011

As birth weight increased, variable weight of pigs at weaning decreased suggesting that light birth weight pigs are ‘less predictable’ in terms of weaning weight than heavier pigs.

Piglet weaning weight influenced time to first post-weaning feed

Posted in Animal Health, Welfare & Behaviour, Food quality and security, Pigs on May 31st, 2011

Latency to first feed was influenced by body weight at weaning, with smaller piglets eating sooner than medium and mixed piglets.

Aggressive behaviour in pigs could be reduced by genetic selection

Posted in Animal Health, Welfare & Behaviour, Food quality and security, Pigs on May 31st, 2011

General pig activity in the home pen and ease of handling at weighing are heritable traits, with estimates of heritability low but significantly different from zero

Continuous monitoring during transport is essential for assessing stress and welfare in pigs and sheep.

Posted in Animal Health, Welfare & Behaviour, Pigs, Sheep on December 21st, 2010

Continuous monitoring of physiological variables in ‘real’ animal production and transport conditions is an essential tool for assessing physiological stress and welfare.

Measures to reduce culling for lameness should include minimising aggression associated with re-mixing and feeding

Posted in Animal Health, Welfare & Behaviour, Pigs on December 21st, 2010

Measures to reduce culling for lameness in breeding stock should be directed towards the young replacement animals and should include minimising aggression associated with re-mixing and feeding but, most importantly, protecting gilts feet and limbs from the concrete floor either by the use of bedding or cushioned flooring such as slat mats.

Pigs’ straw bedding must be tested when mycotoxicosis is suspected

Posted in Animal Health, Welfare & Behaviour, Pigs on December 21st, 2010

Pig producers using a straw bedding system should consider straw as a component of the diet and it should be tested as part of any veterinary investigation of mycotoxicosis.

Slatted floor systems for finishing pigs have a greater impact on global warming

Posted in Climate change, Environment, Pigs on December 21st, 2010

The environmental assessment of the raising of fattening pigs on the welfare-friendly straw-flow system seems to conflict, with lower manure N content and lower greenhouse gas emissions but higher NH3 emissions in comparison with the conventional slatted-floor system.


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