Animal Welfare :Group Size Has Limited Effect on Stress Levels At Marketing- Swine Research Review

摘要

The size of grow-finish groups of pigs had Hmited effect on stress responses at loading and unloading and transport losses in market weight pigs in a study at Iowa State University. At loading, pigs raised in small groups of 36 pigs had reduced open-mouth breathing and skin discoloration compared to pigs kept in large groups of 324 pigs/pen. But following a one-hour journey to the packing plant, pigs raised in large groups throughout grow-finish had reduced skin discoloration when compared to pigs raised in small groups.