Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be
Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be
Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be
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Mhairi Sutherland presents Oral paper 2<br />
In session 1: Development, validation and automated measurements <strong>of</strong> indicators <strong>of</strong> animal welfare<br />
Thursday, 11 Septem<strong>be</strong>r 2008 from 11h15-11h30 in the Aula chaired by Isa<strong>be</strong>lle Veissier<br />
30<br />
Oral paper 2<br />
A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF TAIL<br />
BITING ON PIG WELFARE<br />
M.A. Sutherland, P. Bryer, N. Krebs, J.J. McGlone<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA<br />
Tail biting in pigs is a <strong>be</strong>havioral problem that is a welfare and economic concern for producers.<br />
The objective <strong>of</strong> this research was to assess the effect <strong>of</strong> tail biting on pig welfare.<br />
At 6 days <strong>of</strong> age, piglets were either tail docked using a cautery iron (Caut; n=20), using cutters<br />
(Cut; n=20), or their tails were left intact (Con; n=40). At 3 weeks <strong>of</strong> age, pigs were weaned and<br />
moved into nursery pens with woven wire floors. Ten pigs were housed in each pen. Blood samples<br />
were taken from pigs at 3 and 7 weeks <strong>of</strong> age to measure the acute phase protein C-reactive protein<br />
(CRP); an indicator <strong>of</strong> infection, inflammation, and tissue damage. Tail biting lesions were scored<br />
at 3, 5, and 7 weeks <strong>of</strong> age. Pig body weights were recorded at 3 and 7 weeks <strong>of</strong> age. Finally,<br />
<strong>be</strong>havior was recorded for 72 hours once tail biting broke out amongst the Con pigs at 7 weeks <strong>of</strong><br />
age.<br />
Tail biting lesion scores were similar among treatments at 3 and 5 weeks <strong>of</strong> age, however at 7<br />
weeks <strong>of</strong> age lesion scores were greater (P < 0.001) among Con compared with Caut and Cut pigs.<br />
At the end <strong>of</strong> the study, body weight was lower (P < 0.001) among Con compared with Caut or Cut<br />
pigs and CRP was elevated (P < 0.05) in Con compared with Caut and Cut pigs. Furthermore, there<br />
was a positive correlation (r=0.51; P < 0.001) <strong>be</strong>tween CRP concentrations and the severity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
lesion score. The majority <strong>of</strong> tail biting occurred while pigs were lying in the pen (48 %) or<br />
standing at the feeder (30 %).<br />
Tail biting is a stressful experience which causes a reliable stimulation <strong>of</strong> the acute phase response<br />
and a reduction in performance among young growing pigs. Poor welfare was associated with<br />
severity <strong>of</strong> lesion, level <strong>of</strong> CRP, and pig body weights, each <strong>of</strong> which was predictive <strong>of</strong> welfare<br />
status.<br />
Contact information: Mhairi Sutherland or email mhairi.sutherland@ttu.edu<br />
Complete address: Texas tech University, Department <strong>of</strong> Animal and Food Sciences, Lubbock, TX<br />
79409, USA<br />
Species: Pig
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