4 results
Evaluation of parameters for monitoring welfare during transport and lairage at the abattoir in pigs
- E Fàbrega, J Coma, J Tibau, X Manteca, A Velarde
-
- Journal:
- Animal Welfare / Volume 16 / Issue 2 / May 2007
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 January 2023, pp. 201-204
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
New transport legislation and society demands may increase the need for a ‘fast’ method to assess animal welfare at the abattoir. The objective of this study was to identify valid and feasible parameters which could be easily assessed at slaughterline in pigs. Eight transports (4 ‘far’ and 4 ‘near’ the abattoir) were evaluated using a questionnaire which included both animal-based and environment-based parameters. A ‘welfare index’ (WI) (0 = worst to 1 = best) was estimated for each transport based on the questionnaire. Lean and fat content, skin lesions, pH and electrical conductivity (PQM) were measured in 120 or 60 pigs per transport. When pH > 6 the meat was considered dry, firm and dark (DFD) and when PQM > 9 μs meat was pale, soft and exudative (PSE). Odds ratio between welfare index and slaughterline recordings was estimated. Differences in WI between the different transports were smaller than expected (WI ranged from 0.4 to 0.6). However, a significant relationship between higher percentage of DFD meat and lower welfare index (odds ratio: 2.25) was found. These results suggest that parameters like DFD meat could be used at the abattoir to perform a ‘snapshot’ welfare evaluation.
Competing risk analyses of longevity in Duroc sows with a special emphasis on leg conformation
- X. Fernàndez de Sevilla, E. Fàbrega, J. Tibau, J. Casellas
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
A competing risk approach was used to evaluate the influence of several factors on culling risk for 587 Duroc sows. Three different analyses were performed according to whether sow failure was due to death during productive life (DE) or to one of two causes for voluntary culling: low productivity (LP) and low fertility (LF). Sow survival was analyzed by the Cox model. Year at first farrowing (batch effect) significantly affected sow survival in all three analyses (P < 0.05 for DE and P < 0.001 for LP and LF) whereas farm of origin accounted for relevant variation in the LP and LF analyses. LP culling increased with backfat thickness of more than 19 mm at the end of the growth period (P < 0.05), bad teat condition (P < 0.05) and reduced piglets born alive (P < 0.001). For the LF competing risk analysis, culling increased with age at first farrowing (P < 0.1). Special emphasis was placed on the influence of leg and teat conformation on sow survivability, although they did not affect sow failure due to DE (P > 0.1). The overall leg-conformation score significantly influenced sow longevity in LP (P < 0.001) and LF competing risk analyses (P < 0.001), showing a higher hazard ratio (HR) for poorly conformed sows (1.013 and 4.366, respectively) than for well-conformed sows (0.342 and 0.246, respectively). Survival decreased with the presence of abnormal hoof growth in LP and LF analyses (HR = 3.372 and 6.002, respectively; P < 0.001) and bumps or injuries to legs (HR = 4.172 and 5.839, respectively; P < 0.01). Plantigradism reduced sow survival in the LP analysis (P < 0.05), while sickle-hooked leg (P < 0.05) impaired sow survival in the fertility-specific analysis. Estimates of heritability for longevity related to LP culling ranged from 0.008 to 0.024 depending on the estimation procedure, whereas heritability values increased to between 0.017 and 0.083 in LF analysis. These analyses highlighted substantial discrepancies in the sources of variation and genetic background of sow longevity depending on the cause of failure. The estimated heritabilities suggested that direct genetic improvement for sow longevity seemed feasible, although only a small genetic progress was expected.
Behaviour influences cholesterol plasma levels in a pig model
- W. M. Rauw, O. Portolés, D. Corella, J. Soler, J. Reixach, J. Tibau, J. M. Prat, I. Diaz, L. Gómez-Raya
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- HTML
- Export citation
-
Little is known about the relationship between feed intake behaviour and cholesterol levels in humans. This can be attributed to the fact that feed intake behaviour in humans is difficult to assess. The relationships between feed intake, feed efficiency and feed intake behaviour, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels were investigated at an average age of 187 days, in a pig model consisting of 202 Duroc barrows. Feed intake and feed intake behaviour were recorded individually and daily by means of an electronic identification system. Animals with high levels of total cholesterol also had high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. Animals with high levels of HDL also had high levels of LDL and triglycerides, and animals with high levels of LDL also had high levels of triglycerides. Animals with higher BW, higher backfat thickness, higher BW gain, higher gain of backfat deposition, higher feed intake, higher residual feed intake (RFI) and higher feed intake rate had higher levels of total, HDL and LDL plasma cholesterol. Results indicate that the relationship between feed intake and cholesterol levels is a long-term relationship, while the relationship between RFI and cholesterol levels is more of a short-term nature. The relationship between intake rate and cholesterol plasma levels disappeared after correction for the amount of feed consumed. Results indicate that feed intake independent of metabolic BW, growth and fatness, i.e. ‘RFI’, was positively correlated with cholesterol plasma levels. This suggests that eating food over and above the maintenance and growth requirements constitutes a health risk independent of the level of fatness.
Feeding patterns, growth performance and carcass traits in group-housed growing-finishing pigs: the effect of terminal sire line, halothane genotype and age
- E. Fàbrega, J. Tibau, J. Soler, J. Fernández, J. Font, D. Carrión, A. Diestre, X. Manteca
-
- Journal:
- Animal Science / Volume 77 / Issue 1 / August 2003
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 August 2016, pp. 11-21
- Print publication:
- August 2003
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
The effects of terminal sire line, halothane genotype and age on feeding patterns and growth performance were studied in 208 castrated growing-finishing pigs distributed in two batches. In batch 1 (no. = 130), pigs came from crosses of NN Landrace × Large White sows with a Pietrain Nn (Pi-Nn) or a Large White × Pietrain Nn terminal sire line (LwPi-Nn). In batch 2 (no. = 78), the same sows were used but crossed with three different terminal sire lines : a Pietrain nn (Pi-nn), and two Pietrain NN (Pi-NNa and Pi-NNb). Growth performance and feeding patterns of the progeny (Nn or NN for the halothane gene) were measured from 67 to 166 days of age. Pigs were housed in groups of 10 and 13 individuals in Batch 1 and 2, respectively, with a random mixed-breed and halothane genotype sample in each group (space allowance 1·3 m2 per pig and 1·1 m2 per pig, respectively). Feeding patterns were monitored with a computerized food intake recording system (IVOG®-station) and every 3 weeks pigs were weighed and backfat and loin-muscle depth were ultrasonically recorded (PIGLOG®). Carcass quality was assessed with the Fat-o-Meater grading probe. In batch 1, halothane genotype did not have a significant effect on any of the feeding patterns recorded, but Nn individuals had a significantly higher body weight (P <0·05), loin-muscle depth (P <0·05) and lower backfat thickness (P <0·01) in the last measurement taken, 3/4 carcass loin depth (P <0·05) and lower carcass last rib backfat (P <0·05) than NN pigs. Terminal sire line had a significant effect on all feeding patterns recorded except for feeding rate, Pi-Nn sired pigs showing a significantly higher food intake per visit (P <0·05) and feeder occupation time per visit (P <0·05) and lower number of visits (P <0·001) compared with LwPi-Nn sired pigs which, in turn, showed significantly higher food intake per day (P <0·001) and feeder occupation time per day (P <0·01). Terminal sire also affected growth performance and body composition, Pi-Nn sired pigs having a significantly lower body weight (P <0·001) and backfat thickness (P <0·001) but higher killing-out proportion and 3/4 loin depth (P <0·01) than LwPi-Nn sired pigs. In batch 2, Pi-NNb sired pigs showed a significantly lower food intake per day compared with the progeny of the other two terminal sires lines at some of the age measurements taken (P <0·05). The rest of the feeding patterns was not affected by terminal sire line. Body and carcass weights were also significantly lower (P <0·01) for Pi-NNb sired pigs, but their killing-out proportion was higher than Pi-NNa sired pigs. With regard to these variables, Pi-nn sired pigs held an intermediate position between the two NN terminal sire lines. In both batches, age was associated with a significant increase in food intake per visit and per day and feeding rate (P <0·001) and a decrease in feeder occupation time per visit and per day and frequency of visits to the feeder (P <0·001). Overall, the present results suggest differences between terminal sire lines for feeding patterns and confirm their evolution with age from short and frequent meals to long and larger ones in growing-finishing pigs. Under our conditions, the effects of terminal sire line on feeding patterns and growth performance surpassed those of the halothane genotype.