Pig

Lagoda, M. E., O’Driscoll, K., Galli, M. C. et al. 2023. Indicators of improved gestation housing of sows. Part I: Effects on behaviour, skin lesions, locomotion, and tear staining. Animal Welfare 32, e51.

Commercial gestation housing systems for sows generally fail to cater fully for their needs in terms of comfort or the ability to perform highly motivated behaviours, which can lead to chronic stress and an impairment...

Stærk, K., Langhorn, L., Andersen, T. E. 2023. Clean-catching urine from pigs: A method for collecting quality specimens for urinalysis and microbiological culturing in a laboratory environment. Laboratory Animals 57(3), 293–303.

Urine is an important biological specimen for assessing various metabolic functions and drug clearance. In urinary tract infection research, urine is particularly important as urinary bacterial titres constitute the main diagnostic outcome for assessing the...

Ringer, S. K., Schmid, A., Weiss, M. et al. 2023. Non-surgical external jugular vein catheterization using an ear vein access in piglets. Laboratory Animals 57(6), 642–649.

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of external jugular vein catheterization through an ear vein in piglets. Forty-six sevoflurane-midazolam anaesthetized piglets were included. External jugular vein catheterization was conducted through the...

Yoshida, K. 2023. Comparison of low and high doses of pentobarbital or thiopental for euthanasia of isoflurane-anesthetized pigs. JAALAS 62(2), 185–188.

Barbiturate overdose is a common method for euthanizing pigs. However, barbiturates can cause tissue damage and may affect experimental results, so the minimal dose should be used. The minimal dose of barbiturate for euthanasia in...

Winters, J. F. M., Kobek-Kjeldager, C., Foldager, L. et al. 2023. Stress responses in pigs postweaning: Effect of heavier hybrid and weaning intact litters. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 269, 106106.

Early and abrupt weaning of pigs is a stressful event. In addition, the use of hyperprolific sows with increasing numbers of live born piglets has decreased the average pig’s birth weight, colostrum intake and weaning...

Vargas, L. B., Caldara, F. R., Lippi, I. C. de C. et al. 2023. Environmental enrichment strategies for weaned pigs: Welfare and behavior. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 26(2), 205–217.

This research aims to evaluate the effects of different types and strategies of environmental enrichment for weaned pigs on behavior. Forty weaned piglets aged 21 to 28 days were distributed in a completely randomized design...

Valros, A., Norring, M., Ahlqvist, K. et al. 2024. Effects of repeated intramuscular injections on sow behaviour reactions and stress-related saliva biomarkers – A pilot study. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 271, 106173.

Medicating large production animals, such as sows, individually can be challenging, especially when repeated treatments are needed. Intramuscular (i.m.) injections have been shown to be aversive, and an increased reaction could be expected over consecutive...

Titto, C. G., Ricci, G. D. 2023. Behavioral and physiological changes in sows and piglets maintained in farrowing cages or open stalls during summer. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 63, 36–41.

Containment cages are one of the main causes of chronic stress and reduced welfare during swine production as well as in hot environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate behavioral changes and physiological...

Sánchez-Salcedo, J. A., Yáñez-Pizaña, A. 2024. Effects of free farrowing system on the productive performance and welfare of sows and piglets. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 27(1), 1–11.

Regardless of international animal welfare regulations, most sows in production currently spend most of their lives and the peripartum period in caged housing systems. Although this type of management is intended to reduce neonatal mortality...

Rørvang, M. V., Schild, S.-L. A., Wallenbeck, A. et al. 2023. Rub ‘n’ roll – Pigs, Sus scrofa domesticus, display rubbing and rolling behaviour when exposed to odours. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 266, 106022.

Pigs are regarded as having a highly developed sense of smell, although scientific information on the topic is sparse. Here, we describe two behaviours unexpectedly observed in a study assessing pigs’ responses to odours and...

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