Animals

233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the Truck Suspension System on Animal Welfare, Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Pigs

by Filipe Antônio Dalla Costa, Letícia S. Lopes and Osmar Antônio Dalla Costa

Animals 2017, 7(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7010005 - 18 Jan 2017

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5665

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of two types of commercial suspension (leaf-spring (LS) vs. air suspension (AS)) installed on two similar double-decked trucks on blood cortisol and lactate concentration, lairage behavior, carcass skin lesions and pork quality traits of 120 crossbred pigs. The suspension type neither influenced pig behaviour in lairage nor blood cortisol and lactate concentrations (p > 0.10). However, when compared with the AS suspension system, the use of LS increased the number of skin lesions in the back and thigh (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively) and produced thigh with lower pH_u (p < 0.001) and yellower colour (higher b* value; p = 0.03), and paler back muscles (subjective colour; p < 0.05), with a tendency to lower pH (p = 0.06). Therefore, the use air suspension system can improve carcass and meat quality traits of pigs transported to slaughter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pig Transport 2016)

744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Whip Rule Breaches in a Major Australian Racing Jurisdiction: Welfare and Regulatory Implications

by Jennifer Hood, Carolyn McDonald, Bethany Wilson, Phil McManus and Paul McGreevy

Animals 2017, 7(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7010004 - 16 Jan 2017

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 10686

Abstract

Whip use in horseracing is increasingly being questioned on ethical, animal welfare, social sustainability, and legal grounds. Despite this, there is weak evidence for whip use and its regulation by Stewards in Australia. To help address this, we characterised whip rule breaches recorded by Stewards using Stewards Reports and Race Diaries from 2013 and 2016 in New SouthWales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). There were more recorded breaches at Metropolitan (M) than Country (C) or Provincial (P) locations, and by riders of horses that finished first, second, or third than by riders of horses that finished in other positions. The most commonly recorded breaches were forehand whip use on more than five occasions before the 100-metre (m) mark (44%), and whip use that raises the jockey’s arm above shoulder height (24%). It is recommended that racing compliance data be analysed annually to inform the evidence-base for policy, education, and regulatory change, and ensure the welfare of racehorses and racing integrity. Full article

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307 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Animals in 2016

by Animals Editorial Office

Animals 2017, 7(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7010003 - 11 Jan 2017

Viewed by 3256

Abstract

The editors of Animals would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2016.[...] Full article

719 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fencing Large Predator-Free and Competitor-Free Landscapes for the Recovery of Woodland Caribou in Western Alberta: An Ineffective Conservation Option

by Gilbert Proulx and Ryan K. Brook

Animals 2017, 7(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7010002 - 28 Dec 2016

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 11502

Abstract

In Canada, boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are listed as “threatened” throughout their range due directly and indirectly to habitat loss. In western Alberta, in order to recover the Little Smoky boreal caribou population, the provincial government announced a plan to create a 100-km²-fenced enclosure that would encompass part of the caribou population range. Within the enclosure, all predators and other ungulate species will be killed. The fenced area will be dedicated entirely to the farming of caribou, with the intent of releasing weaned calves into adjacent areas with continued intensive wolf (Canis lupus) killing throughout the region. Industrial activities will be allowed to continue within the enclosure. In this review, we assess the government’s proposed program on the basis of questions related to the long-term recovery and sustainability of the caribou population, and the conservation and welfare of wildlife populations and individuals. We conclude that this program is unlikely to safeguard the future of this caribou population, will jeopardize wildlife communities inside and outside the fenced enclosure, and will cause harm to wild populations and individual animals. We recommend an alternative habitat conservation program which is ecologically justified over the long term, and invite the scientific community to object to the implementation of the government’s proposed Little Smoky caribou recovery program. Full article

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201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Housing of Cull Sows in the Hours before Transport to the Abattoir—An Initial Description of Sow Behaviour While Waiting in a Transfer Vehicle

by Mette S. Herskin, Katrine K. Fogsgaard, Ditte Erichsen, Mia Bonnichsen, Charlotte Gaillard and Karen Thodberg

Animals 2017, 7(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7010001 - 22 Dec 2016

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4582

Abstract

In modern pig production, sows are transported by road to abattoirs. For reasons of biosecurity, commercial trucks may have limited access to farms. According to Danish regulations, sows can be kept in stationary transfer vehicles away from the farm for up to two hours before being loaded onto the commercial truck. We aimed to describe the behaviour of sows in transfer vehicles. This preliminary, exploratory study included data from 11 loads from a total of six Danish sow herds. Selection of animals to be slaughtered was done by the farmers. Clinical registrations were made before collection of the sows, after which they (in groups of 7–13) were mixed and moved to the transfer vehicle (median stocking density: 1.2 sow/m²), and driven a short distance to a public road. The duration of the stays in the transfer vehicles before being loaded onto the commercial trucks ranged from 6–59 min. During this period, the median frequency of aggressive interactions per load was 18 (range: 4–65), whereas the median frequency of lying per load was 1 (range: 0–23). The duration of the stay correlated positively with the frequency of aggressive interactions (r_s = 0.89; n = 11; p < 0.001) and with the frequency of lying (r_s = 0.62; n = 11; p < 0.05). Frequency of aggressive interactions correlated positively with the temperature inside the transfer vehicle (r_s= 0.89; n = 7; p < 0.001). These preliminary results are the first to describe the behaviour of cull sows during waiting in transfer vehicles, and may suggest that this period can be challenging for sow welfare, especially for longer stays and during hot days. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pig Transport 2016)

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