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.
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.
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 suggesting that light birth weight pigs are ‘less predictable’ in terms of weaning weight than heavier pigs.
Latency to first feed was influenced by body weight at weaning, with smaller piglets eating sooner than medium and mixed piglets.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
