The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (7th ed): Pigs and Minipigs (1999)

Holtz, W. , Bollen, P.

Abstract

Specific recommendations on the species-appropriate housing and handling of pigs. Force or subjugation will aggravate the situation, where patience, a handful of feed or a lump of sugar will render a pig tame and co-operative. .. Boars .. can inflict serious injury with their tusks. But they, too, will grow tame and easy to handle provided the person working with them always remains calm, though firm. .. If there is a good relationship between the handler and the animal, it is much less stressful to train the pig to accept regular routine procedures such as injections or blood sampling, using appropriate positive reinforcement. .. Pigs are quick to learn and thus easy to train. They will perform routine acts such as entering a restraint box or keeping to a certain order. Tasty rewards are a sure way to success, whereas force or punishment are counterproductive. .. Bar biting .. is an expression of boredom and frustration.