Pig

An updated method for the jugular catheterization of grower pigs for repeated blood sampling following an oral glucose tolerance test

Jugular catheterization is a common procedure used under experimental conditions. However, there is considerable variation in the reported techniques, particularly for grower pigs (>40 kg and 10 mL) are required. This paper provides a complete methodology including the use of...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Pluschke, A. M., Simmons, G. S., Keates, H. L. et al. 2017. An updated method for the jugular catheterization of grower pigs for repeated blood sampling following an oral glucose tolerance test. Laboratory Animals 51(4), 397-404.

Are domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) able to use complex human-given cues to find a hidden reward?

Understanding human-animal interactions in livestock production systems is crucial for improving animal welfare. It is therefore of general interest to investigate how livestock animals obtain information from humans. By using an object-choice paradigm, we investigated whether domestic pigs (Sus scrofa)...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Nawroth, C., Ebersbach, M., von Borell, E. 2016. Are domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) able to use complex human-given cues to find a hidden reward? Animal Welfare 25(2), 185-190.

Electroencephalographic responses of anaesthetised pigs to intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital

Small laboratory animals are commonly euthanased via intraperitoneal (IP) injection of sodium pentobarbital. However, there is concern that animals may experience pain prior to loss of consciousness with this delivery route. The present study investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) nociceptive responses of...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Kells, N. J., Beausoleil, N. J., Sutherland, M. A. et al. 2018. Electroencephalographic responses of anaesthetised pigs to intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital. Animal Welfare 27(3), 205-214.

The effect of age and method of gas delivery on carbon dioxide euthanasia of pigs

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of age and delivering method during carbon dioxide (CO2) euthanasia on the welfare of pigs (Sus scrofa). In Experiment 1, pigs aged 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks...

Year Published: 2017Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Sutherland, M. A., Bryer, P. J., Backus, B. L. 2017. The effect of age and method of gas delivery on carbon dioxide euthanasia of pigs. Animal Welfare 26(3), 293-299.

Humane euthanasia of neonates I: validation of the effectiveness of the Zephyr EXL non-penetrating captive-bolt euthanasia system on neonate piglets up to 10

To determine if mechanical blunt force trauma using a non-penetrating captive bolt was a viable method of producing an immediate stun/kill in neonate piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus) as an alternative to manual blunt force trauma. Piglets (n = 60) were...

Year Published: 2017Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Grist, A., Murrell, J. C., McKinstry, J. L. et al. 2017. Humane euthanasia of neonates I: validation of the effectiveness of the Zephyr EXL non-penetrating captive-bolt euthanasia system on neonate piglets up to 10.9 kg live-weight. Animal Welfare 26(1), 111-120.

Automatic early warning of tail biting in pigs: 3D cameras can detect lowered tail posture before an outbreak

Tail biting is a major welfare and economic problem for indoor pig producers worldwide. Low tail posture is an early warning sign which could reduce tail biting unpredictability. Taking a precision livestock farming approach, we used Time-of-flight 3D cameras, processing...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: D'Eath, R. B., Jack, M., Futro, A. et al. 2018. Automatic early warning of tail biting in pigs: 3D cameras can detect lowered tail posture before an outbreak. PLOS ONE 13(4), e0194524.

Behavior of pigs reared in enriched environment: Alternatives to extend pigs attention

Three trials were carried out in a completely randomized design aiming to assess the behavior of pigs in growth phase in enriched environments. Trial 1 evaluated the effects of frequency of availability of environmental enrichment. The animals were assigned to...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Machado, S. P., Caldara, F. R., Foppa, L. et al. 2017. Behavior of pigs reared in enriched environment: Alternatives to extend pigs attention. PLOS ONE 12(1), e0168427.

A link between damaging behaviour in pigs, sanitary conditions, and dietary protein and amino acid supply

The tendency to reduce crude protein (CP) levels in pig diets to increase protein efficiency may increase the occurrence of damaging behaviours such as ear and tail biting, particularly for pigs kept under suboptimal health conditions. We studied, in a...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: van der Meer, Y., Gerrits, W. J. J., Jansman, A. J. M. 2017. A link between damaging behaviour in pigs, sanitary conditions, and dietary protein and amino acid supply. PLOS ONE 12(5), e0174688.

Consequences for piglet performance of group housing lactating sows at one, two, or three weeks post-farrowing

Housing lactating sows with piglets in a multi-suckling pen from around 14 days post-farrowing is common practice in Swedish organic piglet production. However, nursing-suckling interaction is less frequent in multi-suckling pens than in individual farrowing pens, thus affecting piglet performance,...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Thomsson, O., Sjunnesson, Y., Magnusson, U. et al. 2016. Consequences for piglet performance of group housing lactating sows at one, two, or three weeks post-farrowing. PLOS ONE 11(6), e0156581.

Enriched housing reduces disease susceptibility to co-infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A

Until today, anti-microbial drugs have been the therapy of choice to combat bacterial diseases. Resistance against antibiotics is of growing concern in man and animals. Stress, caused by demanding environmental conditions, can reduce immune protection in the host, influencing the...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: van Dixhoorn, I. D. E., Reimert, I., Middelkoop, J. et al. 2016. Enriched housing reduces disease susceptibility to co-infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) in young pigs. PLOS ONE 11(9), e0161832.