Stressor factors in the transport of weaned piglets: a review

Roldán-Santiago, P.; Martínez‐Rodríguez, R.; Yáñez-Pizaña, Ariadna; Ortega, María Elena Trujillo; Sánchez-Hernández, M.; Perez-Pedraza, E.; Mota-Rojas, Daniel

doi:10.17221/6805-vetmed

Cited by 24 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In commercial production, younger pigs typically need warmer temperatures than older pigs; however, this does not hold true for ground transport when hot weather is encountered. The higher mortality of weaned pigs might also be attributed to greater loading density (National Pork Board, 2015) as compared to feeder pigs (Roldan-Santiago et al, 2013). Figure 3a shows the predicted DOA rate of the weaned pigs as affected by travel distance for the three temperature categories.…”

Section: Mortality Of Weaned and Feeder Pigs During Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality Rate of Weaned and Feeder Pigs as Affected by Ground Transport Conditions

Zhao¹,

Xin²,

Harmon³

et al. 2016

Trans. ASABE

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Ground transport of pigs at early ages may result in profit-stripping incidences of mortality and compromised animal welfare due to stress stemming from unfavorable transport conditions. The objective of this study was to examine possible causative relationships of mortality rate of weaned and feeder pigs to ground transport conditions. A total of 7056 transportation records of weaned pigs (3174 records) and feeder pigs (3882 records) for the period from April 2012 to January 2014 were provided by a U.S. swine company. Effects of pig type (weaned vs. feeder pigs), ambient temperature (<15°C or cool/cold, 15°C to 25°C or mild, and >25°C or warm/hot), travel distance (<600 >km, 600 to 900 km, 900 to 1200 km, 1200 to 1500 km, and >1500 km), and the interactive effects on dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate (DOA per head loaded, %) were evaluated. The effects of the same variables on post-transport mortality of weaned pigs were also evaluated. Results show that DOA rate was affected by pig type, ambient temperature, and travel distance interactively. Weaned pig DOA rates (mean ±SE of 0.0333% ±0.0150%) tended to be higher than feeder pig DOA rates (0.0243% ±0.0110%) (p = 0.0004), and weaned pigs were more vulnerable to transport stress in warm/hot conditions. For weaned pigs, DOA rates were higher with >900 km travel distance (0.0543% ±0.0389%) than with <900 km travel distance>(0.0118% ±0.0078%) in cool/cold conditions, and DOA rates significantly increased as travel distance increased in warm/hot conditions. For feeder pigs, DOA rates were not affected by travel distance in cool/cold or mild conditions; however, higher mortality rates were found with >1200 km travel distance (0.2717% ±0.1326%) than with <1200 km travel distance>(0.0315% ±0.0151%) in warm/hot conditions. Statistical analysis showed that post-transport mortality rate of weaned pigs was affected by ambient temperature during transport and travel distance interactively for the first one or two weeks after transport. However, it should be noted that the relationship between post-transport mortality and transport conditions could have been confounded by other factors, such as management at the finishing farm. Outcomes of this study are expected to offer insight into improving the ground transport of pigs.

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Section: Mortality Of Weaned and Feeder Pigs During Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality Rate of Weaned and Feeder Pigs as Affected by Ground Transport Conditions

Zhao¹,

Xin²,

Harmon³

et al. 2016

Trans. ASABE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…; Roldan‐Santiago et al . ). Transport also causes weight loss due to dehydration and food withdrawal (Kojima et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Transport is a well-recognized stressor that causes physiological and behavioural changes in pigs, particularly young animals (Stephens & Perry 1990;Bergeron 1997;Warriss 1998;Lambooij et al 2004;Roldan-Santiago et al 2013a). Transport also causes weight loss due to dehydration and food withdrawal (Kojima et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiometabolic responses to road transport in weaned piglets for a short period and the effects of straw bedding

Roldán-Santiago

Ortega²,

Borderas-Tordesillas

et al. 2014

Animal Science Journal

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the physiometabolic responses to stress in hybrid suckling piglets that were weaned and transported at different ages on a paved road under two vehicle conditions: with and without a layer of straw bedding. The piglets were weaned and transported at the following ages: 8, 15 and 22 days. The duration of each trip was 1 h. The piglets in each group were further divided into two sub-groups for two distinct experimental transport conditions: (1) over the road with straw bedding; and (2) over the same road but without straw bedding. A total of three repetitions were performed for each experimental condition. In order to assess their responses to weaning- and transport-induced stress, the study evaluated a thorough physiometabolic blood profile. The 8- and 15-day-old piglets transported without straw bedding showed increases in their pCO2, blood glucose, blood lactate levels and the percentage of hematocrit, but a decrease of pO2 upon arrival (P < 0.05). In contrast, the 22-day-old piglets transported on the same road with straw bedding were able to re-establish their blood concentrations of lactate, pCO2, pO2, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and pH during the trip (P < 0.05).

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“…and physical trauma. Most of these are generally unavoidable when transporting animals to abattoirs (Becerril-Herrera et al, 2010;Gonzalez et al, 2012;Knights and Smith, 2007;Mota-Rojas et al, 2006;Roldan-Santiago et al, 2013a, 2013bVazquez-Galindo et al, 2013). As animals usually experience a combination of stressors accumulated stress may have detrimental effects on their welfare and may cause depletion of muscle glycogen, leading to high final pH and, therefore, dark, firm, dry (DFD) meat (Brown and Vosloo, 2017;Romero et al, 2017).…”

Section: Vehicle Transportationmentioning

confidence: 99%