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On-farm culling methods used for pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

FA Dalla Costa ,
TJ Gibson ,
SEO Oliveira ,
NG Gregory ,
L Faucitano  and
OA Dalla Costa
FA Dalla Costa*
Affiliation:
MSD Animal Health, Department of Strategy and Innovation, Av Dr Chicri Zaidan, 296, São Paulo - SP Brazil Programa de Pós-graduação em Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 14.884-900 Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Maneja bem-estar animal, MANEJA, 89.710-037 Concódia, SC, Brazil
TJ Gibson
Affiliation:
Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
SEO Oliveira
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-graduação em Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 14.884-900 Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Maneja bem-estar animal, MANEJA, 89.710-037 Concódia, SC, Brazil
NG Gregory
Affiliation:
Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
L Faucitano
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2000 College Street, J1M 0C8 Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
OA Dalla Costa
Affiliation:
Embrapa Swine and Poultry, BR 153, Km 110, Concórdia 89700-991, Brazil
*
* Contact for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The culling of injured and non-viable pigs (Sus scrofa) (neonate to breeding stock) is a routine and necessary procedure on most farms. Usually, pigs are culled using one of the following methods: blunt-force trauma (manual and mechanical), captive-bolt stunners, electrical stunning and electrocution or carbon dioxide. Manual blunt-force trauma is one of the most widely used methods due to its low or absent operational and investment costs. However, as a method, it has serious limitations, which include the risk of incomplete concussion, pain, and distress. Manual blunt-force trauma is also aesthetically unpleasant to operators and wider society. To address these issues there has been significant recent research into the development of alternatives to manual blunt-force trauma, these include: captive-bolt stunners, on-farm, gas-based controlled atmosphere systems, low atmospheric pressure systems and electrical stunning. Some of these are currently in commercial use while others are still in the developmental phase. This review brings together the relevant research in this field, evaluating the methods in terms of mechanism of action (mechanical and physiological), effectiveness and animal welfare.

Keywords

animal welfarecullingkillingneonatepigsuffering
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 30 , Issue 4 , November 2021 , pp. 507 - 522
Copyright
© 2021 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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