TY - JOUR
T1 - A multidisciplinary approach to assess the welfare of weaned pigs during transport at three space allowances
AU - Sutherland, Mhairi A.
AU - Bryer, Pamela J.
AU - Davis, Brittany L.
AU - McGlone, John J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was funded by the National Pork Checkoff. We thank J. F. Smith, M. Massey, and T. Bibb for their assistance.
PY - 2010/7
Y1 - 2010/7
N2 - Transport can be a stressful experience for pigs, especially in pigs simultaneously experiencing weaning stress. The objective of this study was to use a multidisciplinary approach to assess the welfare of weaned pigs during transport at 3 space allowances. A commercial semitrailer, fitted with compartments, provided 0.05, 0.06, and 0.07 m2/pig. The study recorded frequency of standing, lying, sitting, and standing-rearing on another pig during the entire duration of transport. Blood samples, body weights, and lesion scores were collected from a subset of pigs (n = 48 per space allowance) in each experimental compartment. Transport time for the pigs was 148.0 ± 10.0 min to the wean-to-finishing site. Total white blood cell counts, cortisol, and several blood chemistry values increased (p <.05) after transport regardless of space allowance. Glucose and body weight decreased (p <.05) after transport regardless of space allowance. Space allowance influenced stand-rearing, sitting, standing, and lying behaviors in pigs. Combining behavioral and physiological measures of stress provides a robust picture of piglet welfare during transport at different space allowances.
AB - Transport can be a stressful experience for pigs, especially in pigs simultaneously experiencing weaning stress. The objective of this study was to use a multidisciplinary approach to assess the welfare of weaned pigs during transport at 3 space allowances. A commercial semitrailer, fitted with compartments, provided 0.05, 0.06, and 0.07 m2/pig. The study recorded frequency of standing, lying, sitting, and standing-rearing on another pig during the entire duration of transport. Blood samples, body weights, and lesion scores were collected from a subset of pigs (n = 48 per space allowance) in each experimental compartment. Transport time for the pigs was 148.0 ± 10.0 min to the wean-to-finishing site. Total white blood cell counts, cortisol, and several blood chemistry values increased (p <.05) after transport regardless of space allowance. Glucose and body weight decreased (p <.05) after transport regardless of space allowance. Space allowance influenced stand-rearing, sitting, standing, and lying behaviors in pigs. Combining behavioral and physiological measures of stress provides a robust picture of piglet welfare during transport at different space allowances.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953941708&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10888705.2010.483879
DO - 10.1080/10888705.2010.483879
M3 - Article
C2 - 20563904
AN - SCOPUS:77953941708
SN - 1088-8705
VL - 13
SP - 237
EP - 249
JO - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
JF - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
IS - 3
ER -