Do umbilical outpouchings affect the behaviour or clinical condition of pigs during 6 h housing in a pre-transport pick-up facility?
This study focused on behavioural and clinical effects of umbilical outpouchings (UOs) in pigs. Matched pairs of pigs with UOs (diameter 12 cm; range 4-20; diagnosed p.m. as hernia or non-hernia) and controls (N=28) were compared during a 6-h stay in a pick-up facility. Overall, skin lesion scores were increased after the 6-h stay. Behaviour of the UO-pigs differed from the controls (a shorter latency to lie down (P<0.05) and decreased aggression (P<0.05)). Pigs with umbilical hernia showed e.g. increased sitting (P<0.05) and decreased lying (P<0.05) compared to pigs with non-hernia UOs. No effects of the size of the OUs were found. These results are among the first to establish knowledge about UO-pigs and suggest that a stay in a pick-up facility can be challenging for pig welfare. The behavioural findings suggest that UO-pigs, and especially pigs with hernia, may be less fit for mixing and housing in barren environments.
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Sarah-Lina Aa
SL
Schild
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Tine
T
Rousing
Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henrik E
HE
Jensen
Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kristiane
K
Barington
Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark. Electronic address: mettes.herskin@anis.au.dk.
Mette S
MS
Herskin
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006799:Housing, Animal / Q000592:standards*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012931:Social Environment; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
Behaviour; Fitness for transport; Slaughter pigs; Umbilical hernia; Umbilical outpouching; Welfare