Animal health and welfare aspects of different housing and husbandry systems for adult breeding boars, pregnant, farrowing sows and unweaned piglets - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare

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doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2007.572

Cited by 27 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Blood was collected from Vena subcutanea abdominis from one-day-old piglets ( N = 426) and analyzed with a handheld glucometer. Piglets were given a score [1–3] for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) based on the shape of their head. IUGR-piglets had significantly lower blood-glucose levels the day after birth compared to normal piglets.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Explanatory variables tested in both models were a mixture of piglet and sow variables. Piglet variables tested were weight, length, sex, BMI (kg/m 2 ), cross-fostered (Y/N) and IUGR score [1–3]. In the mortality-model, blood-glucose in ODOP was also included as an explanatory variable.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has resulted in hyper-prolific sows with large litter sizes and an increase in piglets weaned per sow. Even though there has been a continuing aim to reduce the pre-weaning mortality, piglet mortality is still a huge, multifactorial welfare problem all over Europe [1]. Reducing piglet mortality will increase the welfare of the piglets and be of economic benefit for the farmer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blood-glucose levels in newborn piglets and the associations between blood-glucose levels, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-weaning mortality

et al. 2019

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Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between blood-glucose levels in one-day-old-piglets (ODOP), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pre-weaning mortality in a commercial piglet-producing herd in Norway. Material and methods The study was carried out in a non-crate commercial piglet-producing herd in Norway and 426 live born piglets from 31 litters were included. Piglets were blood-sampled, ear tagged, weighed and measured within 24 h after birth. Litter size, cross fostering and deaths until weaning were recorded. Blood was collected by vein puncture of Vena subcutanea abdominis and blood-glucose levels were measured using a handheld glucometer. Piglets were given an IUGR-score (1–3) based on head-morphology where a score of 3 is defined as an intrauterine growth restricted piglet. Results Of the 426 live born piglets, 391 piglets survived until weaning, resulting in 8.22% pre-weaning mortality. Mean piglet weight in ODOP was 1.59 kg (SD = 0.36), and mean blood-glucose level was 5.48 mmol/l (SD = 1.44). IUGR score 3 piglets had lower blood-glucose levels (Coef. = − 1.7 mmol/l, P < .001) than normal piglets (IUGR score 1). Males had significantly higher blood glucose levels (Coef. = 0.23 mmol/l, P = .044) compared to females. There was a trend that blood-glucose levels in individual piglets were lower in large litters with − 0.07 mmol/l per extra piglet born (P = .054). Piglets with blood-glucose levels in the second quartile had reduced risk of pre-weaning mortality (OR = 0.32, P = .046) compared to piglets with blood-glucose levels in the lower quartile. This is also true for piglets in the third and fourth quartile (OR = 0.13, P = 0.004). Conclusion This study identified IUGR to be associated with low blood-glucose levels in ODOP. It also found increased pre-weaning mortality in ODOP with low blood-glucose. By identifying IUGR piglets by the shape of their head, piglet producers may reduce pre-weaning mortality by making sure these piglets get enough colostrum, milk or supplement feeding (i.e. energy).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blood-glucose levels in newborn piglets and the associations between blood-glucose levels, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-weaning mortality

et al. 2019

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“…The subject of animal welfare in intensive pig farming has become increasingly important for the public in recent years (1). It is already scientifically recognized that farrowing crates restrict sows, not just in their locomotion but also in other natural behaviors (2), causing stress for the confined animals. Loose housing systems without farrowing crates seem to be advantageous in this regard (3), and thus several are currently being researched to improve animal welfare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Hair Cortisol as an Indicator of Chronic Stress in Pigs in Two Different Farrowing Systems

et al. 2021

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Confinement to farrowing crates is known to prevent sows from performing natural behavior, impairing animal welfare and possibly causing chronic stress. Hair cortisol analyses are increasingly used to detect chronic stress in animals. In the present study, hair samples were collected in the neck of sows kept either in farrowing crates (FC, n = 31) or in a loose-housing system (LH, n = 30) in six batches. Cortisol was extracted and analyzed using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Mean hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) did not differ significantly between the systems (LH: 1.85 ± 0.82 pg/mg, FC: 2.13 ± 1.53 pg/mg, P = 0.631). HCC was also not affected by other factors, such as sows' parity, number of piglets, skin lesion score or sow's weight loss during the farrowing period. However, highly significant differences were found in hair growth rates between different regions within the 20 × 30 cm shaving area. While the hair in both lateral parts of the shaving area grew almost identically (left: 7.48 ± 3.52 mm, right: 7.44 ± 3.24 mm, P = 1.00), the hair grew more in the area above the spine (12.27 + 3.95 mm, P < 0.001). In both systems, the mean individual lesion score of sows declined from the beginning to the end of the housing period (P < 0.001). No difference was found between FC and LH sows at any time (P > 0.05). Since neither the amount of skin lesions nor HCC differed between LH and FC sows, it may be concluded that confining sows in farrowing crates did not affect chronic stress levels. However, results may be affected by a downregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during long-term stress, resulting in lower cortisol levels over time. HCC in sows may also be influenced by a dominant stressor, such as farrowing or the presence of suckling piglets. Thus, for a comparison of different farrowing systems regarding chronic stress, the use of hair cortisol measurement seems to be limited. The present results revealed that differences in hair growth rate within the same body region exist. This important finding should be considered when collecting hair samples in pigs, since hair cortisol concentrations may vary depending on hair growth and length.

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“…8Even though Sustitia 1 is a hypothetical example, her life conditions do not differ much from those of sows in industrial farms. See EFSA (2007) for a comprehensive review of the welfare problems involved in pig husbandry.…”

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confidence: 99%

Animal Morality: What It Means and Why It Matters

2018

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It has been argued that some animals are moral subjects, that is, beings who are capable of behaving on the basis of moral motivations (Rowlands 2011 , 2012 , 2017 ). In this paper, we do not challenge this claim. Instead, we presuppose its plausibility in order to explore what ethical consequences follow from it. Using the capabilities approach (Nussbaum 2004 , 2007 ), we argue that beings who are moral subjects are entitled to enjoy positive opportunities for the flourishing of their moral capabilities, and that the thwarting of these capabilities entails a harm that cannot be fully explained in terms of hedonistic welfare. We explore the implications of this idea for the assessment of current practices involving animals.

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Animal health and welfare aspects of different housing and husbandry systems for adult breeding boars, pregnant, farrowing sows and unweaned piglets - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare

Cited by 27 publications

References 441 publications

Blood-glucose levels in newborn piglets and the associations between blood-glucose levels, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-weaning mortality

Blood-glucose levels in newborn piglets and the associations between blood-glucose levels, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-weaning mortality

Analysis of Hair Cortisol as an Indicator of Chronic Stress in Pigs in Two Different Farrowing Systems

Animal Morality: What It Means and Why It Matters

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