Tradeoffs in the externalities of pig production are not inevitable

Farming externalities are believed to co-vary negatively, yet trade-offs have rarely been quantified systematically. Here we present data from UK and Brazilian pig production systems representative of most commercial systems across the world ranging from ‘intensive’ indoor systems through to extensive free range, Organic and woodland systems to explore co-variation among four major externality costs. We found that no specific farming type was consistently associated with good performance across all domains. Generally, systems with low land use have low greenhouse gas emissions but high antimicrobial use and poor animal welfare, and vice versa. Some individual systems performed well in all domains but were not exclusive to any particular type of farming system. Our findings suggest that trade-offs may be avoidable if mitigation focuses on lowering impacts within system types rather than simply changing types of farming

Factors affecting mechanical (nociceptive) thresholds in piglets

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the stability and repeatability of measures of mechanical (nociceptive) thresholds in piglets and to examine potentially confounding factors when using a hand held algometer.Study designDescriptive, prospective cohort.AnimalsForty-four piglets from four litters, weighing 4.6 ± 1.0 kg (mean ± SD) at 2 weeks of age.MethodsMechanical thresholds were measured twice on each of 2 days during the first and second week of life. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures design to test the effects of behavior prior to testing, sex, week, day within week, and repetition within day. The effect of body weight and the interaction between piglet weight and behaviour were also tested. Piglet was entered into the model as a random effect as an additional test of repeatability. The effect of repeated testing was used to test the stability of measures. Pearson correlations between repeated measures were used to test the repeatability of measures. Variance component analysis was used to describe the variability in the data.ResultsVariance component analysis indicated that piglet explained only 17% of the variance in the data. All variables in the model (behaviour prior to testing, sex, week, day within week, repetition within day, body weight, the interaction between body weight and behaviour, piglet identity) except sex had a significant effect (p < 0.04 for all). Correlations between repeated measures increased from the first to the second week.Conclusions and Clinical relevanceRepeatability was acceptable only during the second week of testing and measures changed with repeated testing and increased with increasing piglet weight, indicating that time (age) and animal body weight should be taken into account when measuring mechanical (nociceptive) thresholds in piglets. Mechanical (nociceptive) thresholds can be used both for testing the efficacy of anaesthetics and analgesics, and for assessing hyperalgesia in chronic pain states in research and clinical settings

Behaviour of tail-docked lambs tested in isolation

peer-reviewedThe aims of the current study were to detect behavioural indicators of pain of tail-docked sheep tested in isolation and to determine the relationship between behaviour and the pain levels to which they were exposed. Twenty-four female lambs, randomly assigned to four pens, had their tail docked with a rubber ring (TD; n = 6) without pain control procedures, TD with anaesthesia (TDA; n = 6) or TD with anaesthesia and analgesia (TDAA; n = 6). Additionally, six lambs handled but without tail docking or application of pain relief measures were used as the control (C). On the day prior (Day –1) to the TD and on days 1, 3 and 5 post-procedure, each lamb was individually removed from its group and underwent a 2.5 min open field test in a separate pen. Frequencies of behaviours such as rest, running, standing, walking and exploring were directly observed. Frequencies of exploratory climbs (ECs) and abrupt climbs (ACs) over the testing pen’s walls were video-recorded. Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed models with repeated measurements, including treatment and day as fixed effects and behaviour on Day –1 as a linear covariate. Control and TDAA lambs stood more frequently than TD lambs. TD lambs performed significantly more ACs compared to all other treatment groups. No other treatment effects were detected. A day effect was detected for all behaviours, while the EC frequency was highest for all tail-docked lambs on Day 5. Findings suggest that standing, ACs and ECs could be used as potential indicators of pain in isolated tail-docked lambs. However, differences in ECs between treatments only appeared 3 d after tail docking

Effect of short-term separations on weaning stress in foals

Early-life events can modify the HPA-axis’ responsiveness to stressors. In rodents shortterm separations and handling lead to intensified mother-pup interactions which in turn lead to a reduced stress response later in life. We investigated the impact of shortterm separations on the response of foals to weaning. We hypothesized that separations would aid foals in regaining homeostasis post-weaning. Beginning at approximately two weeks old, five Quarterhorse foals (T; 3 female, 2 male) underwent six ten-minute separations from their dam at two-week intervals. A control group (C; 3 female, 2 male) of five foals was not separated. Foals were weaned in pairs (1T, 1C) in separate stalls. Behavioral and physiological measurements were collected on the days pre-, during, and post-weaning. Behavioral observations occurred between 7.00-9.00h, 11.00-13.00h, and 15.00-17.00h. Heart rate (HR; Beats per minute, BPM) was measured from 6.30-18.30h and saliva samples for cortisol measurement were collected prior to observations and at 18.30h. All data were analyzed using ANOVA. Seven behaviors, chosen for consistency between observations, were analyzed. Weaning caused a significant increase from day 1 to days 2 and 3 in the frequency of vocalizing (F2,61=60.41; p<0.0001), defecating (F2,61=6.72; p=0.0023), pawing (F2,61=10.41; p=0.0001), investigating (F2,61=4.32; p=0.0176), looking forward (F2,61=54.46; p<0.0001), standing (F2,61=33.39; p<0.0001), and walking (F2,61=51.91; p<0.0001). There were no consistent behavioral differences between treatment and control animals. Cortisol levels did not differ between separated and non-separated foals. The first sample after weaning showed the highest cortisol level (mean 6.57±2.26 nmol/l). Weaning caused a significant increase in HR from day 1 to days 2 and 3 (F4,54=6.48; p=0.0002). This study thoroughly assessed weaning stress in foals. In contrast to other species, maternal separations did not affect the short-term response to weaning

Impact of unfamiliar adults on the behavior of weanlings

International audienceDifferent approaches have been investigated to reduce weaning stress in foals. The present study examines whether the presence of unrelated adult horses at weaning would reduce the social stress of weaning and the emergence of undesirable behaviours. This study was conducted in two sites. Subjects were 12 colts and 20 fillies from Arab (site 1), Anglo-Arab and French-Saddlebred (site 2) breeds. Weaning occurred outdoors at 4.5 (site 1) or 7 (site 2) months of age. At both sites, foals were divided into Peer-Weaned (PW) and Adult-Weaned (AW) groups: in the formers, foals were maintained after weaning in same-age groups; in the latters, two unfamiliar adult horses were introduced following the removal of all mares. At farm 1, one PW group (nPW1-1=5) and one AW group (nAW1-1=4) were constituted. At farm 2, four balanced groups, 2 PW groups (nPW2-1=6, nPW2-2=6) and 2 AW groups (nAW2-1=6, nAW2-2=5), were formed. Thus, three separate trials were conducted, with each trial consisting of one AW group and one PW group. PW and AW groups were kept in separate pastures throughout the study period. Levels of salivary cortisol were measured one day before to four days after the weaning day. Foals behaviours were recorded prior to weaning and through one month post-weaning. Statistical significance was tested using non-parametric tests. In all groups, weaning was followed by increased vocalization, increased locomotion and increased salivary cortisol concentration. However, signs of stress were less pronounced and shorter in duration in weanlings with adults (e.g. whinnies: P<0.05; salivary cortisol: P<0.05). Only foals without adults exhibited for several weeks post-weaning aggressiveness towards peers (P<0.05) and abnormal behaviours (P<0.05) including excessive wood-chewing and redirected sucking towards peers. In conclusion, introducing adults to minimize weaning stress in foals and later on aggressiveness and abnormal behaviours appears as the most promising approach to date

Changes in Stereotypies: Effects over Time and over Generations.

Stereotypies comprise a wide range of repeated and apparently functionless behaviors that develop in individuals whose neural condition or environment results in poor welfare. While stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare at the time of occurrence, they may have various consequences. Environmental enrichment modifies causal factors and reduces the occurrence of stereotypies, providing evidence that stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare. However, stereotypy occurrence and consequences change over time. Furthermore, there are complex direct and epigenetic effects when mother mammals that are kept in negative conditions do or do not show stereotypies. It is proposed that, when trying to deal with challenging situations, stereotypies might initially help animals to cope. After further time in the conditions, the performance of the stereotypy may impair brain function and change brain connections, neurophysiology and eventually neuroanatomy. It is possible that reported neuroanatomical changes are an effect of the stereotypy rather than a cause