Transport losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) present animal welfare, legal, and economic challenges to the US swine industry. The objectives of this review are to explore 1) the historical perspective of transport losses; 2) the incidence and economic implications of transport losses; and 3) the symptoms and metabolic characteristics of fatigued pigs. In 1933 and 1934, the incidence of dead and nonambulatory pigs was reported to be 0.08 and 0.16%, respectively. More recently, 23 commercial field trials (n = 6,660,569 pigs) were summarized and the frequency of dead pigs, nonambulatory pigs, and total transport losses at the processing plant were 0.25, 0.44, and 0.69% respectively. In 2006, total economic losses associated with these transport losses were estimated to cost the US pork industry approximately $46 million. Furthermore, 0.37 and 0.05% of the nonambulatory pigs were classified as either fatigued (nonambulatory, noninjured) or injured, respectively, in 18 of these trials (n = 4,966,419 pigs). Fatigued pigs display signs of acute stress (open-mouth breathing, skin discoloration, muscle tremors) and are in a metabolic state of acidosis, characterized by low blood pH and high blood lactate concentrations; however, the majority of fatigued pigs will recover with rest. Transport losses are a multifactorial problem consisting of people, pig, facility design, management, transportation, processing plant, and environmental factors, and, because of these multiple factors, continued research efforts are needed to understand how each of the factors and the relationships among factors affect the well-being of the pig during the marketing process. In 1933 and 1934, the incidence of dead and nonambulatory pigs was reported to be 0. 08 and 0.16%, respectively. More recently, 23 commercial field trials (n = 6,660,569 pigs) were summarized and the frequency of dead pigs, nonambulatory pigs, and total transport losses at the processing plant were 0.25, 0.44, and 0.69% respectively. In 2006, total economic

Two hundred ninety-six gestating sows were used to determine the physical dimensions of sows in commercial settings. Sows were examined from five farms within a single production model that included identical feed formulation, management practices, herd health, and similar, but not identical, genotypes. Sows were individually weighed, backfat thickness was determined by ultrasound, and body dimensions were determined. Sow body length, height, width (lateral length, left to right from mid-line), and depth (measured as distance from ventral to dorsal extremes) were also determined. Regression procedures were used to model the changes in sow body size in relation to parity, BW, and stage of gestation within and among genotypes. Farm-to-farm variation in sow dimensions for the same genotype was also determined. Least squares means, SD, and 95% upper confidence limits of this sample are presented. Sows increased (P < 0.001) in body dimensions by predicable levels with parity (r2 = 0.92) up to Parity 6, and with advancing pregnancy (r2 = 0.99). Sows of different but related genotypes differed (P < 0.01) in body length, width, height, and depth. Sows of the same genotype, fed the same feed formulation, differed in body dimensions when managed on different farms. Based on mean values and a 95% confidence interval, stall width would need to be at least 72.4 cm to accommodate all sows on the farm. These data and models can be used to design stall sizes and farm floor space needs to meet current animal welfare recommendations. To accommodate the body size of pregnant sows on commercial farms, stall sizes for the majority of sows would need to increase, as would the total floor space needed for a given number of gestating sows individually penned in conventional production systems to meet recently published guidelines.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract