ANIMAL WELFARE (Pig Handling)

Question 1

Importance of handling swine:

Answer 1

-human safety
-animal welfare
-cost to production (stress reduces meat quality)

Question 2

Natural behaviour instincts:

Answer 2

-highly social
-vocalizations
-group defensive strategies if threatened
-highly curious, investigate with their mouth

Question 3

Handling tools:

Answer 3

-yourself (presence and voice)
-pig board
-snare
-shaker cans
-snare
-paddles (with rattle)
-flags
-long arm/cape
-electric prods

Question 4

Unacceptable handling tools:

Answer 4

-pitch forks and shovels
-slaps, hits and kicks

Question 5

Flight zone:

Answer 5

-distance at which animal feels safe
-entering flight zone increases pressure
>seeks release of press by moving away
*allow the pressure to be released (pig will move smoothly)

Question 6

Allow the release of pressure:

Answer 6

-hold back and then move forward again

Question 7

Pressure and release:

Answer 7

-used to aid in moving/handling pigs

Question 8

Handling problems:

Answer 8

-arise when pigs get scared
-usually due to incorrect pressure and release
-handlers not respecting pig’s space and needs

Question 9

Point of balance:

Answer 9

-at shoulder
-in front: animal will move backwards
-if behind: animal will move forward

Question 10

Group movement patterns:

Answer 10

1. Flow
2. Bunch
3. Circle

Question 11

Flow:

Answer 11

-calm
-easiest movement
-being given release
-responding to herd movement
>relates back to herd instinct=feel safe in a group

Question 12

Flow characteristics:

Answer 12

-pigs spaced out
-heads down
-ears forward (only one paying attention to the handler)

Question 13

Handlers bubble:

Answer 13

-handler’s presence used to influence flow (support correct type and direction of flow)
-creating flow as pigs move around
>pigs want to keep distance
>no handling tools

Question 14

Bunch:

Answer 14

-fearful and defensive
-kills movement
-blocked from getting released
-responding to handler
*don’t want when moving them
*useful for vaccinations and ear tagging

Question 15

Circle:

Answer 15

-fearful or defensive
-opposite direction of pressure, accelerates movement
-taking release by circling out of handler’s pressure
-responding to handler
*don’t circle pigs, let the pigs circle you
>allow them to circle you and join the group=support flow

Question 16

Use of tools: increase handler’s bubble:

Answer 16

-need to do it in a smart way
-failure to release the pressure=counter productive
>reduces your bubble

Question 17

Manipulating pressure: using the board

Answer 17

-board facing pigs: increases pressure
-board not facing pigs: reduces pressure
-creating a visual barrier

Question 18

Emotional state characteristics:

Answer 18

-calm
-mild fear
-panic

Question 19

Calm:

Answer 19

-attention on movement
-ears are forward in direction of movement
-head down
-no/low vocalization (grunts)
-moving along easily

Question 20

Mild fear:

Answer 20

-increased attention on handler
-head raised
-flight zone increases
-need to reduce pressure

Question 21

Panic:

Answer 21

-full attention on handler
-flight response, strong vocalizations
-climbing over pen mates
-run through barrier or obstacles
-refusing to move, shutting down=highly stressed pig

Question 22

Smaller group sizes

Answer 22

-easier to manage when working with tight turns (potential bottle necks)
-better for large pigs (sow and boars)

Question 23

Larger group sizes:

Answer 23

-more manageable when working with large corridors, wide pen turns, few distractions
-supports the flow
-better for nursery pigs: strong herd instinct (less used to humans)

Question 24

Growing swine:

Answer 24

-intermittent human contact
-high fear response
-pressure and release easier

Question 25

Breeding animals:

Answer 25

-more contact with humans: not as fearful
>not as responsive to pressure and release
-good human-animal relationship beneficial
>calmer and more cooperative

Question 26

Moving sows:

Answer 26

-small groups: fighting can occur if left to mingle
-zig-zag in and out of blind spot (pressure and release)
-good human and animal relationship
>calm sows: willing to move
>positive reinforcement

Question 27

Risk factors for poor handling outcomes:

Answer 27

-failure to correctly apply pressure and release
-not observing pigs and changing behaviour
-too many handlers: all want to do something
-in a hurry to get the job done (slow is better than stop)

Question 28

Failure to correctly apply pressure and release:

Answer 28

-not releasing pressure
-applying too much pressure
-creating too much noise, and continuous noise

Question 29

Safety when handling swine:

Answer 29

-steel-toed boots
>good grip on sole
-handing board (pig board)
-ear protection
-eye protection
-mask
-tell people where you will be working
>cell phone and work in pairs

Question 30

Operating around swine:

Answer 30

-be aware of the animals
-be aware of the environment
-respond to the situation

Question 31

Aware of animals:

Answer 31

-how are they responding
-their perspective and field of vision
-level of fear: recognize the signs

Question 32

Aware of environment:

Answer 32

-hazards: slippery areas, bottlenecks
-facilities: escape routes?

Question 33

Respond to situation:

Answer 33

-learn to be responsive
-be aware of your actions
-be patient and respect the pig

Question 34

Identify dangerous situations:

Answer 34

-no escape route for you or pig
-too many animals and minimal escape routes
-lots of unrest in group of animals (aggression, competition over resources)
-defensive strategies, group level: bunching
*pigs may attack

Question 35

Pigs may attack:

Answer 35

-open mouthed and chomping
>vocalizations: snorting
>boars and sows
>can also occur in growing pigs

Question 36

Restraint of piglet:

Answer 36

1. Hold them
   -Support stomach
   -Close to body
   -Someone else close snout
2. V board:
   -Neck up

Question 37

Restraint of medium to large pigs:

Answer 37

-restraint necessary for tactile procedures
>blood sampling
>treatment
-bleeding pigs
>don’t do it in a group
>create a race way to do it individually

Question 38

Restraints for large swine:

Answer 38

-use crates
>stay outside of the crate

Question 39

Distraction techniques:

Answer 39

-provision of food
>trickle feed over the course of procedure to keep attention
-novel manipulable material to investigate
>rope can work well (prior experience is useful)