title: Impact of Providing Feed and/or Water on Performance, Physiology, and Behavior of Weaned Pigs during a 32-h Transport.
abstract: Transportation at weaning is a complex stressor made up of many factors, including withdrawal from feed and water, which can potentially negatively affect the health and welfare of pigs, especially those already experiencing weaning stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of weaning and extended transport durations (up to 32 h), with and without the provision of feed and/or water, on pig welfare. Treatment groups included: pigs neither weaned nor transported, control (CON); weaned pigs transported and provided with feed and water (T+); weaned pigs transported without feed and water (T-); weaned pigs transported with only feed (T+F); and weaned pigs transported with only water provided (TRAN+W). The effect of transport (with and without feed and/or water) on weaned pigs was assessed using behavior, performance, and physiology. After a 32-h transport period, pigs transported without water lost markedly more weight than those transported with water ( p < 0.01). Furthermore, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was markedly higher in male pigs transported without water ( p < 0.05). Overall, transportation had a negative effect on pig well-being, especially when water was not provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. agarciam@crk.umn.edu.|Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Minnesota, Crookston, MN 56716, USA. agarciam@crk.umn.edu.
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Ruaura Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd., Hamilton 3214, New Zealand. mhairi.sutherland@agresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: Mhairi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. glenna.pirner@ttu.edu.
authors.forename: Glenna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pirner
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. Guilherme.picinin@ttu.edu.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Picinin
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. maymattmd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. brittany.backus@ttu.edu.
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Backus
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. john.mcglone@ttu.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGlone
keywords: animal welfare; behavior; transport; weaned pigs