Page 2 of articles about behaviour-welfare in Articles

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La Almenara farm: Porc d’Or Special Award from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture 2022

This award recognizes farms that excel in the areas of quality, biosecurity, health, animal welfare, and reducing environmental impact.

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Figure 1. Piglets enter the ramp in the aisle and exit by sex via slides on either side.

ManagementArticle

Tip: Stop back strain with a weaning ramp

This innovative ramp designed by Hylife improves piglet welfare and reduces physical strain on farm workers during the weaning process.

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Figure 3.  An additional cost of a long-term alert is the deterioration of appetite and, consequently, a prolonged fattening period. Since the pressure from environmental stressors affects individual animals differently, there will be a differentiation in the weight of weaners or fattening pigs of the same age. Weight differentiation among animals of the same age may have serious economic consequences. Also, especially in young animals, a diet that does not contain nutrients essential for strengthening the anti-infectious resistance may make the animals more vulnerable to infection.

HealthArticle

Impact of stress on immune function, health, and productivity (2/2)

We conclude this two-part series by Professor Pejsak by examining how immune stress affects the pig's body, gut, and production.

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Facilities-Equipment Article

Report: We visited a sustainable farm in Italy

We went to visit Piggly, a sustainable farm from an environmental, production, animal welfare, and economic perspective.

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NutritionArticle

What role does feed play in the longevity of breeding sows?

Many factors influence sow longevity and survival. So how important is targeted feed management to a longer life of performance?

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Figure 2. Minutes or hours after stress occurs, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is activated. Pituitary gland secretes corticotrophin, which, reaching the adrenal cortex, causes the secretion of glucocorticoids, including cortisol. Glucocorticoids inhibit the activity of the pituitary and hypothalamus, thanks to which they regulate the intensity of the stress response. Cortisol has been widely used as a marker of stress in swine, also as a noninvasive test from saliva.

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HealthArticle

Impact of stress on immune function, health, and productivity (1/2)

What exactly goes on in a pig's body when exposed to acute or chronic stress? What implications does stress have on production? Professor Pejsak draws on decades of research to answer to explain.

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Figure 1. Farrowing pen with doors that give piglets access to the neighboring nesting area or pen.

Facilities-Equipment Article

Tip for easy pre-weaning socialization

Allowing piglets to interact with the neighboring litter via an opening could reduce aggression at weaning.

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Facilities-Equipment Article

Tip: Straw access for sows in the farrowing pen

Placement of the straw is important to give the sow access on days where she is confined and when she is loose.

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Facilities-Equipment Article

The new challenge of crate-free housing in farrowing

Europe is preparing to eliminate farrowing crates in the next few years... Are farmers ready? Will this benefit the sows? What about the piglets?

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Breakdown of pig slaughter according to entire, castrated, or immunocastrated male pigs.

ManagementArticle

The pig castration situation in the European Union

Castration remains prevalent in European countries, although the systems used differ from country to country.

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ManagementArticle

Branched chain for environmental enrichment

How to improve the characteristics of a chain as environmental enrichment. The secret is pigs being able to play together.

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Markets-EconomicsArticle

Different drivers to improve farm animal welfare

How is the growing demand for greater animal welfare on farms articulated?

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Fig. 1. Piglet castration under isoflurane anaesthesia.

ManagementArticle

Anaesthesia during castration is mandatory in Germany. How is it being implemented?

New regulations allow farmers to administer general anaesthesia to piglets via inhalation of isoflurane. This is how the German swine industry is adapting so far.

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Markets-EconomicsArticle

The coming limits to US and global pork production

How will policies geared toward the environment and animal welfare shape our swine industry? Here's an overview of the potentially limiting factors.

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Facilities-Equipment Article

Tell Tail Signs: imaging technology detects early warning signs of tail biting in pigs

3D cameras placed above pig pens can automatically detect changes in tail posture, serving as an early warning system to alert farmers before tail biting outbreaks occur.

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