Swine Welfare, Sow Comfort/Housing, Euthanasia Techniques

Lecture 36

What should all housing systems provide?

minimize aggression and competition

protect from weather extremes

reduce injuries, pain, or disease

provide daily access to food and water

facilitate daily observation of individuals promote good air quality and sanitation

allow normal patterns of behavior

Why did gestation stalls come into fashion during the 80s and 90s?

driven by need for individualized nutrition, protection from injury, higher fertility, increased herd size, staff efficiency, and efficient use of building space

How long does it take for pigs to establish a hierarchy?

24-48 hours

Dominant piglets suckle on which teats?

the first pairs

What are benefits of using individual stall housing?

personalized nutrition

closely monitor health

manage aggression

employee safety

What are challenges of using individual stall housing?

restrict movement

limit social interaction

increasing public scrutiny

What are benefits of using group pen housing?

social interaction

room to moce

can be low tech but there is opportunity for using electronic sow feeders

What are challenges of using group pen housing?

scratching and biting

lameness / injuries

competition for food and water

employee safety

What is the most important factor for determining which sow housing method to use?

caretaker skills

What is the 2018 law requiring that animals held in buildings, including veal calves, laying hens, and breeding sows, be housed in confinement systems that comply with specfici standards for freedom of movement, cage free design and minimum floor space?

Proposition 12 in California (Farm Animal Confinement Act)

Each breeding sow much have how much space according to Proposition 12?

24 square feet (2.2 square meters)

What is defined as the humane process whereby the pig is rendered insensible, with minimal pain and distress, until death?

Euthanasia

What are the key elements for determining if a euthanasia method is humane?

minimal pain and distress to the pig during administration

rapid loss of consciousness

death is achieved quickly and consistently

List indications for timely euthanasia in pigs.

pigs that have no prospect for improvement or not responding to care after 2 days

severely injured or non ambulatory with inability to recover

non ambulatory pig with BCS 1

perforated hernias or large hernias that touch the ground while standing

untreated prolapse that has become necrotic or any uterine prolapse

What are considerations while performing swine euthanasia?

human safety

pig welfare

practicability / technical skill requirements

caretaker compliance

aesthetics

limitations

biosecurity risk

What is the preferred method of euthanasia for piglets?

carbon dioxide (CO2)

What pigs can you use a captive bolt on for euthanasia?

if penetrating then pigs over 12 pounds

in non penetrating then pigs less than 70 pounds

What is defined as the destruction of a population in response to urgent circumstances with as much consideration given to the welfare of the animals as practicable?

depopulation

What is the method for depopulation?

ventilation shutdown plus (shut off ventilation and add heat or carbon dioxide which suffocates pigs)

95% of animals must die within an hour