Page 4 of articles about behaviour-welfare in Articles

This protocol is a very useful diagnostic tool so we can have a comprehensive view of a farm on a certain moment.

The European Declaration on alternatives to the castration of pigs is a declaration that is a voluntary agreement in which, for the first time, the European swine farmers have manifested a proactive stance with the aim of presenting a solution, from the swine sector, to a social demand.

Production manuals and legislation often give recommendations as to the minimum space requirements for each type of animal. There are many sources where we can find information about the minimum requirements to ensure animal comfort. But, what is the optimal number of animals to put in a pen? Is there a magic number? There is not as much documentation on this topic.

Oral fluid samples can at times replace traditional blood testing while requiring less labor and technical skill. Also there is clearly reduced stress for people and pigs, which is becoming important in modern food animal production.

Alternatives for reducing boar taint are being researched. One of the existing alternatives is immunocastration, approved in Europe since May of 2009.

Sudden death due to HBS is a devastating, stealthy phenomenon that affects pigs in growth and finishing phases. The heaviest animals die, sometimes a few over several days, or a few per week, but in a constant succession that can last (up to nine months in Italy’s case, where heavier animals are killed).

What level of welfare needs to be applied in the case of sows housed in groups, and fed dry feed?

The current test is about weaning in sheds, with curtain separators in the nest.

The test we propose this week evaluates your knowledge about the welfare of gestational sows housed in straw.

A new animal welfare test designed to test your knowledge about the welfare of piglets weaned on yards.

During the unloading, the animals’ ease of movement is evaluated based on the percentage of animals that slip (loss of balance without touching the floor) and/or fall (any part of the animal besides the hooves touch the ground).

This new test deals with sanitary conditions in fattening pigs: density, cleanliness of installations…

October’s new test deals with density in fattening.

This new test deals with housing sows on a farm built in 2006.

Genetic selection over the last few decades has resulted in pigs with better feed conversion and leaner carcasses, but it has also led to pigs with a decreased ingestion capacity.

The new test on animal welfare in swine herds will demonstrate your knowledge on the welfare of sows.