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Transport conditions (including loading and unloading procedures), and the design of transport vehicles can have a significant effect on the welfare of pigs, and on the economics of pork production. A recent Ontario survey found that death losses during transport were 0.17%. The mortality rate across Canada has been estimated at 0.10%, and corresponds to approximately 1.4 million kg of pork lost per year.
The objective of this study was to examine the influence of transport conditions on the behaviour, physiology and welfare of pigs in eastern and western Canada, in both summer and winter. Our goals were to evaluate differences between truck types, truck compartments and seasons in each region, and to use this information to identify problem areas and potential solutions.
Trials were conducted both in summer and winter, with 6 trials per season in the east (Quebec) and west (Saskatchewan and Manitoba). Animals transported were market weight pigs, including both males and females, averaging approximately 115 kg liveweight. A total of 24 truckloads (total of 3,756 animals) were transported in the east, and 12 truckloads (total of 2,145 animals) were transported in the west. In western trials, a dual purpose (cattle and pig) dual-axle pot belly (PB) truck was used to transport pigs, containing 5 internal ramps to move pigs to different levels within the truck. In eastern trials, two types of trucks were used: a double deck 10 wheel truck (10W) and a tri-axle potbelly trailer (PB). The 10W truck had no internal ramps, and the PB truck used two internal ramps to move pigs onto the upper and lower decks. Loading density on all trucks was 0.41 m2/pig (k = 0.017). Temperatures on trucks were monitored, as was the behaviour of pigs during loading, transport, unloading, and lairage. Behaviour during transport was recorded on all trucks using still image digital
cameras to determine the percentage of animals standing, sitting or lying during transit. During the lairage period, behaviour was recorded using video cameras to determine the number of pigs lying. Physiological measures, including core body temperature, heart rate, and blood indicators of stress (lactate and CPK), were collected on a total of 504 animals in the east, and 330 in the west. Carcass and meat quality data were collected on 792 pigs in the east and 495 pigs in the west. Skin damage was assessed as a measure of aggression. Pork quality was assessed in loin and ham muscles, including pH measured at 6 h and 24 h, light reflectance and drip loss.
The comparison of truck types in the eastern trials indicated that, overall, transporting pigs on the 10W truck provided superior results in terms of reduced death losses and improved welfare. Compared to the PB truck, pigs took less time to load and unload on the 10W truck, and showed fewer incidents of slipping, falling, backing and balking during loading and unloading. The 10W truck provided more consistent internal temperatures, whereas temperatures within PB trucks varied significantly. Measures of CPK and lactate were also lower in the 10W truck. Differences between HR and core body temperatures on the two trucks are less clear in terms of their effects on welfare. Pigs on the 10W truck had lower core body temperatures at the farm, but higher temperatures and HR during transport. These differences are likely due to the study protocol, as the 10W truck was always loaded last, giving pigs on the 10W less time to acclimatize before transport. Thus pigs on the 10W
truck experienced the additive effects of loading and transport. On PB trucks, significant variation was found within the truck, both in terms of truck microclimate and the response of pigs. In both eastern and western trials, compartments that required negotiation of
ramps and turns had the greatest impact on physiological measures in pigs. In the western PB truck, the bottom front compartment (or ‘nose’) was accessed by 2 ramps, and was also the warmest area on the truck. Pigs in the bottom front compartment had the highest HR measures at unloading, and also produced the highest incidence of DFD pork. Pigs in the upper-level compartments had higher HR and core body temperatures during loading and waiting on the farm. The upper compartments were also cooler during the transport period, and this may benefit pigs in summer, but be detrimental in winter. It should be noted that pigs in this study were transported in early morning, and different results may have been found if pigs were transported in midday. Pigs loaded on the middle deck of PB trucks did not have to negotiate any internal ramps, and these animals also showed lower HR during transport, and lower CPK and lactate levels at slaughter. The effect of season was significant, but the effects varied between eastern and western trials. In western trials, higher HR and core body temperatures were found in winter, and CPK and lactate levels were also higher in winter. Whereas in the eastern trials, HR and core body temperature were higher in summer, as were blood lactate levels. Pigs in the west experienced a much longer transport time (roughly 8 h vs. 2 h in the east) and colder winter temperatures, and thus winter transport may pose a greater challenge in these conditions. In contrast, pigs in the east had a short transport time,
and experienced higher summer temperatures and increased death losses in summer, suggesting that summer transport may be a greater challenge under these conditions.
Transporting pigs on trucks such as the 10W truck, which do not require the use of internal ramps, provides benefits in terms of improved welfare and ease of loading. On the PB trucks, compartments involving ramps and turns had the greatest impact on pig welfare in terms of HR and core body temperature. The PB trucks also showed significant variability in temperature between different compartments. Due to the different results observed in eastern and western trials, future studies in the east will focus on ways of cooling pigs in summer, while studies in the west will focus on the effect of transport time on the welfare and meat quality of pigs.
The objective of this study was to examine the influence of transport conditions on the behaviour, physiology and welfare of pigs in eastern and western Canada, in both summer and winter. Our goals were to evaluate differences between truck types, truck compartments and seasons in each region, and to use this information to identify problem areas and potential solutions.
Trials were conducted both in summer and winter, with 6 trials per season in the east (Quebec) and west (Saskatchewan and Manitoba). Animals transported were market weight pigs, including both males and females, averaging approximately 115 kg liveweight. A total of 24 truckloads (total of 3,756 animals) were transported in the east, and 12 truckloads (total of 2,145 animals) were transported in the west. In western trials, a dual purpose (cattle and pig) dual-axle pot belly (PB) truck was used to transport pigs, containing 5 internal ramps to move pigs to different levels within the truck. In eastern trials, two types of trucks were used: a double deck 10 wheel truck (10W) and a tri-axle potbelly trailer (PB). The 10W truck had no internal ramps, and the PB truck used two internal ramps to move pigs onto the upper and lower decks. Loading density on all trucks was 0.41 m2/pig (k = 0.017). Temperatures on trucks were monitored, as was the behaviour of pigs during loading, transport, unloading, and lairage. Behaviour during transport was recorded on all trucks using still image digital
cameras to determine the percentage of animals standing, sitting or lying during transit. During the lairage period, behaviour was recorded using video cameras to determine the number of pigs lying. Physiological measures, including core body temperature, heart rate, and blood indicators of stress (lactate and CPK), were collected on a total of 504 animals in the east, and 330 in the west. Carcass and meat quality data were collected on 792 pigs in the east and 495 pigs in the west. Skin damage was assessed as a measure of aggression. Pork quality was assessed in loin and ham muscles, including pH measured at 6 h and 24 h, light reflectance and drip loss.
The comparison of truck types in the eastern trials indicated that, overall, transporting pigs on the 10W truck provided superior results in terms of reduced death losses and improved welfare. Compared to the PB truck, pigs took less time to load and unload on the 10W truck, and showed fewer incidents of slipping, falling, backing and balking during loading and unloading. The 10W truck provided more consistent internal temperatures, whereas temperatures within PB trucks varied significantly. Measures of CPK and lactate were also lower in the 10W truck. Differences between HR and core body temperatures on the two trucks are less clear in terms of their effects on welfare. Pigs on the 10W truck had lower core body temperatures at the farm, but higher temperatures and HR during transport. These differences are likely due to the study protocol, as the 10W truck was always loaded last, giving pigs on the 10W less time to acclimatize before transport. Thus pigs on the 10W
truck experienced the additive effects of loading and transport. On PB trucks, significant variation was found within the truck, both in terms of truck microclimate and the response of pigs. In both eastern and western trials, compartments that required negotiation of
ramps and turns had the greatest impact on physiological measures in pigs. In the western PB truck, the bottom front compartment (or ‘nose’) was accessed by 2 ramps, and was also the warmest area on the truck. Pigs in the bottom front compartment had the highest HR measures at unloading, and also produced the highest incidence of DFD pork. Pigs in the upper-level compartments had higher HR and core body temperatures during loading and waiting on the farm. The upper compartments were also cooler during the transport period, and this may benefit pigs in summer, but be detrimental in winter. It should be noted that pigs in this study were transported in early morning, and different results may have been found if pigs were transported in midday. Pigs loaded on the middle deck of PB trucks did not have to negotiate any internal ramps, and these animals also showed lower HR during transport, and lower CPK and lactate levels at slaughter. The effect of season was significant, but the effects varied between eastern and western trials. In western trials, higher HR and core body temperatures were found in winter, and CPK and lactate levels were also higher in winter. Whereas in the eastern trials, HR and core body temperature were higher in summer, as were blood lactate levels. Pigs in the west experienced a much longer transport time (roughly 8 h vs. 2 h in the east) and colder winter temperatures, and thus winter transport may pose a greater challenge in these conditions. In contrast, pigs in the east had a short transport time,
and experienced higher summer temperatures and increased death losses in summer, suggesting that summer transport may be a greater challenge under these conditions.
Transporting pigs on trucks such as the 10W truck, which do not require the use of internal ramps, provides benefits in terms of improved welfare and ease of loading. On the PB trucks, compartments involving ramps and turns had the greatest impact on pig welfare in terms of HR and core body temperature. The PB trucks also showed significant variability in temperature between different compartments. Due to the different results observed in eastern and western trials, future studies in the east will focus on ways of cooling pigs in summer, while studies in the west will focus on the effect of transport time on the welfare and meat quality of pigs.
Brown, J., T. Crowe, S. Torrey, R. Bergeron, T. Widowski, J. Correa, L. Faucitano and H. Gonyou. Effects of Transport Conditions and Vehicle Design on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs in Western and Eastern Canada. 30th Centralia Swine Research Update, Kirkton Ontario 26 January 2011.
