Do umbilical outpouchings affect the behaviour or clinical condition of pigs during 6 h housing in a pre-transport pick-up facility?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Do umbilical outpouchings affect the behaviour or clinical condition of pigs during 6 h housing in a pre-transport pick-up facility?

AU - Schild, Sarah-Lina Aa.

AU - Rousing, Tine

AU - Jensen, Henrik Elvang

AU - Barington, Kristiane

AU - Herskin, Mette S.

PY - 2015/8/1

Y1 - 2015/8/1

N2 - This study focused on behavioural and clinical effects of umbilical outpouchings (UOs) in pigs. Matched pairs of pigs with UOs (diameter 12 cm; range 4-20; diagnosed p.m. as hernia or non-hernia) and controls (N = 28) were compared during a 6-h stay in a pick-up facility. Overall, skin lesion scores were increased after the 6-h stay. Behaviour of the UO-pigs differed from the controls (a shorter latency to lie down ( P< 0.05) and decreased aggression ( P< 0.05)). Pigs with umbilical hernia showed e.g. increased sitting ( P< 0.05) and decreased lying ( P< 0.05) compared to pigs with non-hernia UOs. No effects of the size of the OUs were found. These results are among the first to establish knowledge about UO-pigs and suggest that a stay in a pick-up facility can be challenging for pig welfare. The behavioural findings suggest that UO-pigs, and especially pigs with hernia, may be less fit for mixing and housing in barren environments.

AB - This study focused on behavioural and clinical effects of umbilical outpouchings (UOs) in pigs. Matched pairs of pigs with UOs (diameter 12 cm; range 4-20; diagnosed p.m. as hernia or non-hernia) and controls (N = 28) were compared during a 6-h stay in a pick-up facility. Overall, skin lesion scores were increased after the 6-h stay. Behaviour of the UO-pigs differed from the controls (a shorter latency to lie down ( P< 0.05) and decreased aggression ( P< 0.05)). Pigs with umbilical hernia showed e.g. increased sitting ( P< 0.05) and decreased lying ( P< 0.05) compared to pigs with non-hernia UOs. No effects of the size of the OUs were found. These results are among the first to establish knowledge about UO-pigs and suggest that a stay in a pick-up facility can be challenging for pig welfare. The behavioural findings suggest that UO-pigs, and especially pigs with hernia, may be less fit for mixing and housing in barren environments.

U2 - 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.06.005

DO - 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.06.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26267102

SN - 0034-5288

VL - 101

SP - 126

EP - 131

JO - Research in Veterinary Science

JF - Research in Veterinary Science

ER -