Effects of rearing conditions on behavioural and physiological responses of pigs to preslaughter handling and mixing at transport

Jong, I.C. de; Prelle, Ina T; Burgwal, J.A. van de; Lambooij, E.; Korte, S. Mechiel; Blokhuis, H.J.; Koolhaas, Jaap M.

doi:10.4141/a99-130

Cited by 40 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The likely cause of the variation was fighting, which disturbed resting pigs and made them stand. These results are supported by those of De Jong et al (2000) and Lebret et al (2006) but not the previous study, where mixing had no effect on posture in the lairage. Irrespective of the rearing system or mixing, almost all pigs were lying at the end of the lairage period in this study in contrast to the comparison of outdoor and conventionally raised pigs, where this was never achieved.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…This would indicate that pigs may react psychologically to pre-slaughter handling in the same way, irrespective of how they are raised. The previous study (Barton Gade, 2008), De Jong et al (2000) and Lebret et al (2006) also found cortisol levels at slaughter to be similar in pigs raised conventionally or with environmental enrichment. CK activities in slaughter blood were not significantly affected by the rearing system in this study and thus were in agreement with the previous study and Lebret et al (2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…However, as the same trends were also apparent in this study, where stocking densities were essentially similar, it seems that rearing systems with various degrees of environmental enrichment may have a direct effect on posture during transport, so that pigs are less reactive when exposed to new environments. De Jong et al (2000) also showed that pigs reared in a barren environment and mixed with unfamiliar animals tended to spend more time walking and standing on the truck than mixed pigs reared in an enriched environment. Postural changes during lairage also supported the view that pigs raised with environmental enrichment were less affected by conditions at the abattoir.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Effect of rearing system and mixing at loading on transport and lairage behaviour and meat quality: comparison of free range and conventionally raised pigs

Gade

2008

Animal

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Free range pigs, born outdoors and reared after weaning in enriched indoor accommodation, were compared with conventionally raised pigs from a farm, matched for effects on meat quality, with respect to behaviour during transport and lairage, blood chemistry at slaughter and meat quality characteristics. Pigs were either kept in farm pen groups or were mixed at loading and kept in the groups, so formed, until slaughter. Free range pigs tended to settle faster during the 2 1 2 h transport and 2 h lairage than conventionally raised pigs and were more likely to lie as resting posture during transport. Mixing at loading had no effect on posture during transport or during lairage for free range pigs but mixed conventionally raised pigs showed a greater variability in posture during lairage compared to non-mixed conventionally raised pigs, presumably as a result of disturbance from fighting conspecifics. Conventionally raised and free range pigs showed similar levels of aggression during transport but conventionally raised pigs were more aggressive during the lairage (average for mixed groups 12 v. 2 fights, P , 0.001). Aggressive interactions, such as one-way bites, were almost exclusively confined to mixed groups and all fights with mutual biting in mixed groups occurred solely between unfamiliar animals. The frequency of unacceptable skin damage in the middle and shoulder was highest in conventionally raised pigs and in mixed groups. Cortisol concentration and creatine kinase (CK) activity in slaughter blood were not affected by the rearing system. Mixing did not affect cortisol concentrations but led to higher CK activities compared to non-mixing (957 v. 588 U/l, respectively, P , 0.05). The rate of pH fall after slaughter was not affected by the rearing system but muscle temperatures early post mortem were highest in free range pigs. Mixing did not affect pH or temperature early post mortem. Neither rearing system nor mixing at loading affected ultimate pH or internal reflectance (meat quality marbling values).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Effect of rearing system and mixing at loading on transport and lairage behaviour and meat quality: comparison of free range and conventionally raised pigs

Gade

2008

Animal

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“…It is believed that rearing at high density or under barren conditions may disturb the normal development of social behaviour or increase fearfulness, resulting in increased aggression (Schouten, 1986;de Jonge et al, 1996;Olsson et al, 1999;O'Connell et al, 2004). Pigs reared under standard intensive conditions were easier to load, but showed a stronger increase in salivary cortisol during transport and lairage than pigs reared in larger pens or in an enriched environment and their meat had more drip loss (Geverink et al, 1999;De Jong et al, 2000;Klont et al, 2001;Chaloupkova et al, 2007), although opposite results have also been reported (Lambooij et al, 2004).…”

Section: Pigsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Pre-slaughter conditions, animal stress and welfare: current status and possible future research

Terlouw

Arnould

Aupérin³

et al. 2008

Animal

162

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The present paper describes the main procedures used to slaughter fowl, pigs, calves and adult cattle, sheep, and farmed fish, starting on the farm and ending with the death of the animal at the abattoir. It reviews the currently known causes of stress, indicated by behavioural and physiological measurements on the animal level, and by post-mortem muscle metabolism. During the pre-slaughter period, psychological stress is due to changes of environment, social disturbances and handling, and physical stress is due to food deprivation, climatic conditions, fatigue, and sometimes pain. The exact causes of stress depend, however, on the characteristics of each species, including the rearing system. For fowl, bird catching and crating, duration and climatic conditions of transport and of lairage and shackling are the main known pre-slaughter stress factors. For pigs, stress is caused by fighting during mixing of pens, loading and unloading conditions, and introduction in the restrainer. Handling and novelty of the situation contribute to the stress reactions. For veal calves and adult cattle, disruption of the social group, handling, loading and sometimes unloading conditions, fatigue, novelty of the situation and for calves mixing with unfamiliar animals are known stress factors. Gathering and yarding of extensively reared lambs and sheep causes stress, particularly when shepherd dogs are used. Subsequent transport may induce fatigue, especially if sheep are commercialised through auctions or markets. In farmed fish, stress is predominantly related to environmental aspects such as temperature, oxygen, cleanliness of the water and, to a certain extent, stocking density and removal of the fish from the water. If transport and lairage conditions are good and their durations not too long, they may allow pigs, calves and adult cattle, sheep, and fish to rest. For certain species, it was shown that genetic origin and earlier experience influence reactions to the slaughter procedure. Stunning techniques used depend on the species. Pigs and fowl are mostly electrically or gas-stunned, while most adult cattle are stunned with a captive bolt pistol. Calves and sheep may be electrically stunned or with a captive bolt pistol. Various stunning methods exist for the different farmed fish species. Potential causes of stress associated with the different stunning procedures are discussed. The paper addresses further consequences for meat quality and possible itineraries for future research. For all species, and most urgently for fish, more knowledge is needed on stunning and killing techniques, including gas-stunning techniques, to protect welfare.

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“…Some authors describe differences in behaviour during transport as a consequence of different rearing conditions (Geverink et al 1999). Pigs reared in barren environment are likely to experience more stress during common pre-slaughter procedures including transportation, than pigs reared in enriched environment (de Jong et al 2000;Gade 2008). Lebret et al (2006) found non-significant effects of the rearing system on stress reaction at slaughter, but some meat quality indicators were influenced significantly.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Housing System and Number of Transported Animals on Transport-induced Mortality in Slaughter Pigs

Voslářová¹,

Chloupek²,

Steinhauser

et al. 2010

Acta Vet. Brno

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The study monitored the effect of the housing system and the number of animals transported together on transport-induced mortality of slaughter pigs in the Czech Republic in the period from 2004 to 2008. Concerning the type of housing during the fattening, the lowest mortality rate during the subsequent transport to slaughter houses was detected among pigs fattened on solid floor (0.047%) and on deep bedding (0.084%). The highest mortality during transport was detected among pigs fattened on fully or partially slatted floor (0.139%), a significant difference (p < 0.01) was found compared to other housing types. Assessment of the influence of individual pig load size on mortality showed the lowest mortality among pigs transported in loads of up to 40 animals (0.053%). Mortality during the transport in loads of the size of 41 to 120 animals was 0.130%, and for loads of the size over 120 pigs the mortality rate was 0.156%. These mortality rates are significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to the load sizes of up to 40 animals.

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Effects of rearing conditions on behavioural and physiological responses of pigs to preslaughter handling and mixing at transport

Cited by 40 publications

References 22 publications

Effect of rearing system and mixing at loading on transport and lairage behaviour and meat quality: comparison of free range and conventionally raised pigs

Effect of rearing system and mixing at loading on transport and lairage behaviour and meat quality: comparison of free range and conventionally raised pigs

Pre-slaughter conditions, animal stress and welfare: current status and possible future research

Influence of Housing System and Number of Transported Animals on Transport-induced Mortality in Slaughter Pigs

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