ANIMAL WELFARE (Pig Handling) Flashcards
Importance of handling swine:
-human safety
-animal welfare
-cost to production (stress reduces meat quality)
Natural behaviour instincts:
-highly social
-vocalizations
-group defensive strategies if threatened
-highly curious, investigate with their mouth
Handling tools:
-yourself (presence and voice)
-pig board
-snare
-shaker cans
-snare
-paddles (with rattle)
-flags
-long arm/cape
-electric prods
Unacceptable handling tools:
-pitch forks and shovels
-slaps, hits and kicks
Flight zone:
-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)
Allow the release of pressure:
-hold back and then move forward again
Pressure and release:
-used to aid in moving/handling pigs
Handling problems:
-arise when pigs get scared
-usually due to incorrect pressure and release
-handlers not respecting pig’s space and needs
Point of balance:
-at shoulder
-in front: animal will move backwards
-if behind: animal will move forward
Group movement patterns:
- Flow
- Bunch
- Circle
Flow:
-calm
-easiest movement
-being given release
-responding to herd movement
>relates back to herd instinct=feel safe in a group
Flow characteristics:
-pigs spaced out
-heads down
-ears forward (only one paying attention to the handler)
Handlers bubble:
-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
Bunch:
-fearful and defensive
-kills movement
-blocked from getting released
-responding to handler
*don’t want when moving them
*useful for vaccinations and ear tagging
Circle:
-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
Use of tools: increase handler’s bubble:
-need to do it in a smart way
-failure to release the pressure=counter productive
>reduces your bubble
Manipulating pressure: using the board
-board facing pigs: increases pressure
-board not facing pigs: reduces pressure
-creating a visual barrier
Emotional state characteristics:
-calm
-mild fear
-panic
Calm:
-attention on movement
-ears are forward in direction of movement
-head down
-no/low vocalization (grunts)
-moving along easily
Mild fear:
-increased attention on handler
-head raised
-flight zone increases
-need to reduce pressure
Panic:
-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
Smaller group sizes
-easier to manage when working with tight turns (potential bottle necks)
-better for large pigs (sow and boars)
Larger group sizes:
-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)
Growing swine:
-intermittent human contact
-high fear response
-pressure and release easier
Breeding animals:
-more contact with humans: not as fearful
>not as responsive to pressure and release
-good human-animal relationship beneficial
>calmer and more cooperative
Moving sows:
-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
Risk factors for poor handling outcomes:
-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)
Failure to correctly apply pressure and release:
-not releasing pressure
-applying too much pressure
-creating too much noise, and continuous noise
Safety when handling swine:
-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
Operating around swine:
-be aware of the animals
-be aware of the environment
-respond to the situation
Aware of animals:
-how are they responding
-their perspective and field of vision
-level of fear: recognize the signs
Aware of environment:
-hazards: slippery areas, bottlenecks
-facilities: escape routes?
Respond to situation:
-learn to be responsive
-be aware of your actions
-be patient and respect the pig
Identify dangerous situations:
-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
Pigs may attack:
-open mouthed and chomping
>vocalizations: snorting
>boars and sows
>can also occur in growing pigs
Restraint of piglet:
- Hold them
-Support stomach
-Close to body
-Someone else close snout - V board:
-Neck up
Restraint of medium to large pigs:
-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
Restraints for large swine:
-use crates
>stay outside of the crate
Distraction techniques:
-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)
