Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Mixing of animals
Bruising and bite marks on the surface of the skin of pigs
cause depreciation in market value. The incidence of this
type of damage, severe enough to result in downgrading,
has been recorded as 7.3% (MLC, 1985) with a difference
between boars and non-boars of 10 and 5.4%, respec-
tively (Warriss, 1984). Most bruises occur during trans-
port, a minor proportion during loading and unloading.
Pigs from different farms loaded on the same lorry
behave comparatively quietly once the lorry is in motion
but start fighting as soon as the lorry stops. Reducing the
stopping periods by 50% reduces the incidence of bite
marks by 25%. Pre-mixing of socially unfamiliar groups
of pigs in a holding pen for a couple of days prior to
transport also considerably reduces injuries from fight-
ing. In the lairage, it is important to avoid mixing pigs
from different sources, different social groups and differ-
ent ages if at all possible. Spraying pigs with water on
arrival has been used to decrease the incidence of PSE
pork by cooling the pigs, but care must be taken in cold
weather not to induce hypothermia by leaving the sprays
on for extended periods.
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Breed
Some breeds of cattle, for example, the Brahman and
Afrikaner, are notoriously excitable. Certain breeds of
pigs are so susceptible to the effects of stress, for exam-
ple, the Piétrain and Poland China, that steps are being
taken to identify the 'stress gene' and remove it from
the population by breeding strategy and genetic
engineering.
Incentives and education
An effective tool in the education of animal handlers
about the damage careless handling can do to stock is to
allow them to see the results on the carcase. Bruises on
cattle, stick marks on pigs and wool pulls on sheep all
leave their obvious, permanent and costly marks on the
dressed meat. When producers are made aware that they
are losing money through the loss of carcase weight due
to the trimming of these defects, the pressure to improve
handling facilities and stockmanship to prevent bruising
is increased.
References
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