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Immunocastration with Improvac™ reduces aggressive and sexual behaviours in male pigs
| Contributor(s):: Brewster, Veronica, Nevel, Amanda
Surgical castration of male pigs is a common practice to reduce the risk of boar taint, an accumulation of pheromones in the muscles of pigs giving an undesirable odour to the pork of entire boars. Castration is not widely practiced in the UK for welfare reasons and indeed, assurance schemes...
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The Public Health Risks of Three Potentially Zoonotic Viruses in Pigs and Pork in Canada
| Contributor(s):: Barbara Wilhelm
The research described in this thesis aims to describe the potential public health risks posed by three emerging and potentially zoonotic viruses (hepatitis E virus (HEV), Norovirus (NoV), and rotavirus (RV) in pigs and pork in Canada. This was investigated via a scoping review, surveys of...
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Group composition for fattening entire male pigs under enriched housing conditions - influences on behaviour, injuries and boar taint compounds
| Contributor(s):: Holinger, M., Fruh, B., Hillmann, E.
In organic farming, the production of pork from entire male pigs seems to be the most promising alternative to castration, as organic animal husbandry aims at high standards of animal welfare and elimination of mutilations. However, previous research on behaviour of entire male pigs was mostly...
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The ticking clock: addressing farm animal welfare in emerging countries
| Contributor(s):: Keyserlingk, M. A. G. von, Hotzel, M. J.
Over the last decade many emerging economies, and in particular Brazil, have established themselves as major players in global food animal production. Within these countries much of the increase in food animal production has been achieved by the adoption of intensive housing systems similar to...
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Production costs and animal welfare for four stylized hog production systems
| Contributor(s):: Seibert, L., Norwood, F. B.
Nonhuman animal welfare is arguably the most contentious issue facing the hog industry. Animal advocacy groups influence the regulation of hog farms and induce some consumers to demand more humane pork products. Hog producers are understandably reluctant to improve animal well being unless the...
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The welfare and productivity of dry sows in different group housing systems in New Zealand
| Contributor(s):: Chidgey, K. L., Morel, P. C. H., Barugh, I. W.
This research aimed to evaluate sow welfare and identify potential welfare compromise in specific group housing systems for sows in New Zealand. The relationship between overall welfare outcome on-farm and sow productivity was also investigated. Twenty commercial farms were chosen to represent...
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Docking the value of pigmeat? Prevalence and financial implications of welfare lesions in Irish slaughter pigs
| Contributor(s):: Harley, S., Boyle, L. A., O'Connell, N. E., More, S. J., Teixeira, D. L., Hanlon, A.
Expansion of the meat inspection process to incorporate animal-based welfare measurements could contribute towards significant improvements in pig ( Sus scrofa domesticus) welfare and farm profitability. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different welfare-related lesions on the...
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A field assessment of the effect of pre-slaughter conditions and genetic-stress susceptibility on blood welfare indicators in pigs
| Contributor(s):: Guardia, M. D., Estany, J., Alvarez-Rodriguez, J., Manteca, X., Tor, M., Oliver, M. A., Gispert, M., Diestre, A.
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A review of the welfare consequences of surgical castration in piglets and the evaluation of non-surgical methods
| Contributor(s):: Prunier, A., Bonneau, M., Borell, E. H. von, Cinotti, S., Gunn, M., Fredriksen, B., Giersing, M., Morton, D. B., Tuyttens, F. A. M., Velarde, A.
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Auditing animal welfare and making practical improvements in beef-, pork- and sheep-slaughter plants
| Contributor(s):: Grandin, T.
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Consumer attitudes towards alternatives to piglet castration without pain relief in organic farming: qualitative results from Germany
| Contributor(s):: Heid, A., Hamm, U.
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Developing measures to audit welfare of cattle and pigs at slaughter
| Contributor(s):: Grandin, T.
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Global Animal Partnership's 5-Step<sup>TM</sup> Animal Welfare Rating Standards: a welfare-labelling scheme that allows for continuous improvement
| Contributor(s):: Duncan, I. J. H., Park, M., Malleau, A. E.
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The effects of level of support for animal protection organisations on attitudes to the use of animals and other social issues
| Contributor(s):: Phillips, C. J. C., Izmirli, S.
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Impact of animal welfare on costs and viability of pig production in the UK
| Contributor(s):: Bornett, H. L. I., Guy, J. H., Cain, P. J.
The European Union welfare standards for intensively kept pigs have steadily increased over the past few years and are proposed to continue in the future. It is important that the cost implications of these changes in welfare standards are assessed. The aim of this study was to determine the...
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Societal concerns about pork and pork production and their relationships to the production system
| Contributor(s):: Kanis, E., Groen, A. F., Greef, K. H. de
This paper examines the aspects of modern pigmeat production systems that give rise to concerns within various groups of actors and thereby affect the acceptability of pigmeat by these groups in western Europe. A brief description of a present day pigmeat production system and the actors involved...
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The relationship between beliefs, attitudes and observed behaviours of abattoir personnel in the pig industry
| Contributor(s):: Coleman, G. J., McGregor, M., Hemsworth, P. H., Boyce, J., Dowling, S.
Previous research has indicated that frequent use of aversive pig handling techniques by stockpeople prior to slaughter, in particular the use of an electric prod, results in poorer welfare and reduced meat quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of attitudes in the prediction...
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Effect of temporary straw bedding on pigs' behaviour, performance, cortisol and meat quality
| Contributor(s):: Peeters, E., Driessen, B., Moons, C. P. H., Odberg, F. O., Geers, R.
The effect of temporary straw bedding for a period of 6, 4, or 2 weeks before slaughter was studied on pigs' performance, behaviour, cortisol concentration, intermediary metabolism, and meat quality. Pigs were barren housed on slatted concrete floors during growth and allocated to one of...
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Belgian consumers' attitude towards surgical castration and immunocastration of piglets
| Contributor(s):: Vanhonacker, F., Verbeke, W., Tuyttens, F. A. M.
In the vast majority of European countries, piglets are surgically castrated in order to eliminate the risk of boar taint, an odour or flavour that can be present when pork from entire males is cooked. However, surgical castration is the subject of much debate and criticism as a result of its...
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Genetic opportunities for pork production without castration
| Contributor(s):: Merks, J. W. M., Hanenberg, E. H. A. T., Bloemhof, S., Knol, E. F.
In most parts of the world, male pigs are castrated shortly after birth to prevent the production of meat with an unpleasant odour called 'boar taint'. However, public concerns regarding surgical castration are on the increase and it is becoming an important animal welfare issue due to the pain...
