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The effect of reduced loading density on pig welfare during long distance transport

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2013

M. A. Gerritzen ,
V. A. Hindle ,
K. Steinkamp ,
H. G. M. Reimert ,
J. T. N. van der Werf  and
M. Marahrens
M. A. Gerritzen
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
V. A. Hindle*
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
K. Steinkamp
Affiliation:
Institut für Tierschutz und Tierhaltung, Dörnbergstrasse 25/27, D-29223 Celle, Germany
H. G. M. Reimert
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
J. T. N. van der Werf
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
M. Marahrens
Affiliation:
Institut für Tierschutz und Tierhaltung, Dörnbergstrasse 25/27, D-29223 Celle, Germany
*
†E-mail: vincent.hindle@wur.nl
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Abstract

Transport of animals is a stressful procedure often resulting in significant losses for the slaughter plant. This study aimed to determine whether or not pigs would benefit from a loading density (low density (LD)) (179 kg/m2) below the normal EU standard loading density (normal density (ND)) (235 kg/m2). Eight similar, 550-km-long road journeys, were followed in which fattening pigs were transported across Germany from farm to slaughter plant. During each journey all pigs were transported at LD (n=4) or ND (n=4). Twelve female pigs per journey (total n=96) were randomly selected for measurement and monitoring of body temperature, behaviour, heart rate and blood parameters. Throughout the journeys, LD pigs displayed more resting behaviour than ND pigs. Average body temperature was lower (P<0.05) for pigs transported at LD (38.0±0.07°C) than those transported at ND (38.3±0.06°C). During loading heart rate increased in both ND and LD pigs and declined after the vehicle had been closed before departure but remained slightly elevated in ND pigs. Pigs transported at ND displayed signs of stress (elevated HR and body temperatures) during the drivers’ break. Blood parameters were only slightly (not significant) effected by loading density. Results indicate that pigs are more capable of adapting to long (550 km) transport conditions when loaded at a density below the present EU requirement.

Keywords

animal welfarephysiologyloading densityfattening pigstransport
Type
Behaviour, welfare and health
Information
animal , Volume 7 , Issue 11 , November 2013 , pp. 1849 - 1857
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2013 

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