Effects of human-animal relationship on animal productivity and welfare

Abstract

This is a literature review of the effects of humans´ relationships with farm animals on animal productivity and welfare, including the following topics: definition of the concept and description of different tests that have been developed to measure human-animal relationship (HAR). Temperament and tameness, which have been considered as farm animal characteristics that are important in HAR, as are stockperson attitudes. Some international farm animal welfare protocols are also described, together with negative and positive stimuli that affect farm animal welfare and productivity. In addition to some factors affecting the quality of HAR. We conclude that even with improved precision farming and automation: a) a good HAR is still fundamental to improve farm animal welfare with associated health and production benefits and b) with the numerous tests assessing fear of humans, many are not commercially applicable.

Physiological responses of pigs to preslaughter handling: infrared and thermal imaging applications

“…It is important to keep in mind that pigs are particularly sensitive to high ambient temperatures, especially if other mechanisms for dissipating heat, such as peripheral vasodilatation [ 15 , 50 ], are compromised as a result of stress responses. This is because pigs have very few functional sweat glands, so their capacity to dissipate heat via sweating is virtually nil [ 50 , 51 ]. As a result, transporting pigs under conditions of high ambient temperature (>35°C), as in the summer season in some South American countries, tends to increase the incidence of PSE meat, compared to wintertime transport.…”

“…The handling of pigs during the processes of loading, transport, unloading, lairage and stunning are identified as the principle ante-mortem events that generate negative responses associated with stress [ 1 – 3 ]. These operations expose pigs to diverse stress factors that may be psychological (social mixing, overcrowding, fights, human-animal contact, exposure to novel surroundings) or physical (hunger, thirst, fatigue, lesions, extreme temperature changes) [ 4 – 6 ]. In proportion to their duration and intensity [ 7 – 10 ] these stressors can severely impact animal welfare by increasing the incidence of cutaneous lesions [ 7 ] and deteriorating meat quality.…”

Teaching animal welfare in veterinary schools in Latin America

“…Productivity and AW are not incompatible goals; indeed, the opposite is true. Producers and scientists have been working for years to develop systems that maximize production levels while simultaneously enhancing AW and reducing costs [7], [8], [9]. Fraser and Broom [10], argue that general improvements in AW enhance production, but measuring such advances requires that VZ study plans incorporate contents that help students understand animals’ needs and make them broadly familiar with their behavior [11].…”

“…This underscores as well, worries about the stress that animals suffer in production units, transportation and, more acutely, before slaughter [12], [13]. Animals must be raised under acceptable standards of welfare from stable to table, ensuring humane handling during slaughtering procedures too [14]. This perspective has led to intensified legal and regulatory demands related to AW.…”

“…Briefly, if the country of origin fails to ratify legislation and regulations regarding AW and, above all, does not certify its agricultural products under AW protocols at their abattoirs or processing plants, then they will not be allowed to export them, since poor AW now constitutes a non-trade barrier to international markets. Today, all stakeholders must be prepared to comply with these new norms [9].…”