Pre-sorting and pen size effects on the stress responses at loading and unloading and transport losses in market weight pigs

Thumbnail Image
Date
2010-01-01
Authors
Gesing, Leah
Major Professor
Advisor
Anna K. Johnson
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Altmetrics
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Animal Science

The Department of Animal Science originally concerned itself with teaching the selection, breeding, feeding and care of livestock. Today it continues this study of the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans, with practical focuses on agribusiness, science, and animal management.

History
The Department of Animal Husbandry was established in 1898. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Animal Science in 1962. The Department of Poultry Science was merged into the department in 1971.

Historical Names

Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Animal Science
Abstract

The management and facility design strategies of pre-sorting prior to loading and grow to finish pen size were studied to determine their individual effects on stress responses at loading and unloading and transport losses in market weight pigs. Each trial was conducted on three commercial wean to finish sites in the Midwest. Pre-sorting market weight pigs prior to loading reduced (P < 0.01) the incidence of open mouth breathing (OMB) and skin discoloration (SD) at loading, however; there were no differences (P < 0.05) between pre-sorted and not pre-sorted pigs for the incidence of muscle tremors (MT) at loading, OMB, SD, or MT at unloading, or any transport loss measures at the harvest facility. Pigs raised in small pens throughout the grow to finish period had reduced (P < 0.01) incidences of OMB and SD at loading compared to pigs raised in large pens. At unloading, however; pigs from large pens had a lower incidence (P < 0.01) of SD and no differences (P < 0.05) existed between treatments for OMB or MT. Finally, there were no differences (P < 0.05) between pen size treatments for any transport loss measures at the harvest facility.

Comments
Description
Keywords
Citation
Source
Subject Categories
Copyright
Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2010