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Studies on the available space for pigs during transport of different duration
Project
Project code: FLI-ITT-08-Ce-0038
Contract period: 01.01.2014
- 31.05.2017
Budget: 133,000 Euro
Purpose of research: Basic research
Animal transport is an often debated topic, but indispensable part of today's organization of agriculture. For animals each transport is a burden, they come together with unknown counterparts, the truck represents an unknown environment with new sounds and smells, air and space are different from usual. As a result of several studies it turns out loading and unloading are the most stressful parts of transportation, since many of the above mentioned stressors meet here. In addition there are unusual close contact with humans and the physical effort. This leads to the question of whether longer journeys for the animals resulting in a longer exposure situation or whether a longer transport provides a longer time to rest between the critical moments of up and unloading. This project will investigate how two different transport durations affect the stress response of slaughter pigs at two different loading densities in summer and winter, and if the animals show resting behaviour.
The project to study space allowances for slaughter pigs during transports of different durations aimed to measure animal stress during transport and to clarify whether a more generous space allowance or a shortened transport time (by half) lead to a decreased stress level. Considering loading density, it can be noted that the national regulations offer a fair amount of space. A density reduction of 20% did not alter the proportions of sitting, lying or standing animals during transportation. Additionally, no differences were found concerning the climatic conditions (THI) in regular loaded compartments compared with the ones with reduced loading density. Both, the body temperature as well as the heart rate were not influenced by the loading density in the statistical models calculated for the longer transports. Additionally, no differences were found considering blood parameters (sticking blood) between pigs from compartments with different loading densities. Transport duration did not change climatic conditions inside the compartments (THI). The body temperature decreased continuously over transportation time. Therefore, it was lower in the second journey section. During driving, most animals were standing, while more animals laid down towards the end of travel. This effect is clearly visible in the graphical representation and is statistical significant, but the effect size is very small (less than one animal difference). Increased numbers of lying pigs in the second half of the journey could indicate exhaustion. However, the frequencies of lame, falling or slipping pigs, which are not significantly different for both transport periods, are in contrast. Another indication that lying pigs are resting is the decrease in heart rate in the driver's break, where the truck was standing and more pigs laid down. The heart rates of the second driving section corresponded with the ones of the first section. Longer transportation did not lead to more injuries and no differences in blood parameters (sticking blood) of animals from long and short transports, respectively, were detectable.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT)
