Does the presence of umbilical outpouchings affect the behaviour of pigs during the day of slaughter?

作者：Schild Sarah Lina Aa^*; Brandt Pia; Rousing Tine; Herskin Mette S

来源：Livestock Science, 2015, 176: 146-151.

DOI：10.1016/j.livsci.2015.03.023

• Animal welfare
• Behaviour
• Pig
• Slaughter
• Umbilical hernia
• Umbilical outpouching

The aim of the present study was to examine behavioural and clinical consequences of the presence of umbilical outpouchings (UOs) in pigs during the day of slaughter, in order to establish new knowledge of relevance for the assessment of fitness for transport of these animals. Based on the Danish national guidelines involving the diameter of the UOs, considerable attention was paid to this measure.
A total of 29 pairs of pigs from seven different commercial herds with standard pig housing, involving pens of partially slatted flooring, were included in this observational study. Focal animals were selected in the home pen on the day before transport to the abattoir and subjected to a clinical evaluation involving scores of skin lesions in healthy control animals and pigs with UOs. On the day of slaughter, video recordings were conducted during unloading at the abattoir and in the race to the stunner.
For both pigs with UOs and control pigs, the skin lesion score increased over the day of slaughter. No significant differences between pigs with UOs and controls were found for any of the measures considered relevant for the fitness for transport.

• 出版日期2015-6