Transport of pigs

Abstract

Transport stress is both an animal welfare issue, resulting in animal losses and fatigued animals at slaughter, and a meat quality issue, resulting in carcass depreciation and meat quality defects. Both issues may result in significant economic losses for the industry. The welfare of pigs during transport (by road and by air) depends on many interacting factors, such as the condition of the animal, ambient temperature and relative humidity, loading density and time in transit, among other factors. Death losses during road and air transport of pigs can vary from a low of 0.03% under good conditions to a high of 3% under overcrowd¬ing conditions. The results arising from road transportation studies run over the last years have shown that both short and long journeys may be stressful for pigs and that poor vehicle design reduces ease of loading/unloading and thermal comfort of pigs during transport, sometimes resulting in meat quality defects. These effects can be exacerbated by the use of stress-susceptible pigs and vulnerable animals, such as piglets and cull sows, and by insufficient space allowed for pigs to lie down, drink, thermoregulate and rest during transport. These factors can also account for animal losses during air transportation of breeding pigs, and significantly more research in this area is needed to improve the pre- and in-flight practices and conditions.