Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:55:46.390Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Welfare of Slaughter Pigs During Transport

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

P D Warriss
P D Warriss*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The welfare of transported pigs can be compromised both by physical and psychological stresses. The animals’ responses can be assessed using records of mortality and trauma, physiological and behavioural observations and, to some degree, by measurements of meat quality since this can reflect the animals' physiological state at death. These assessments may, therefore, be used as measures of animal welfare. During transport pigs show weight loss, increased circulating concentrations of catecholamines, Cortisol and creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and an increase in heart rate and packed cell volume; sometimes there is evidence of dehydration. Increased levels of dark, firm, dry (DFD)meat after long transport reflect muscle glycogen depletion and possibly indicate some element of fatigue. There is experimental evidence that transport is aversive to pigs, which may be partially due to the fact that they become travel sick. Mortality in transport has ranged from < 0.1 to > 1.0 per cent in different European countries. Mortality is higher in more stress-susceptible breeds and at higher ambient temperatures. It is increased in pigs fed within 4h of transport, at higher stocking densities and after longer journeys at ambient temperatures greater than 10°C. Pigs may be fasted long enough before slaughter to prejudice their welfare through hunger. Long fasts may also reduce muscle glycogen levels and cause fatigue. Fighting between unfamiliar animals which have been mixed during the marketing procedure is also stressful, however, longer transport may actually reduce this problem by allowing animals to get used to one another under conditions in which it is difficult to fight.

Keywords

animal welfarepigstransport
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , November 1998 , pp. 365 - 381
Copyright
© 1998 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Abbott, T A, Guise, H J, Hunter, E J, Penny, R H C, Baynes, P J and Easby, C 1995 Factors influencing pig deaths during transit: an analysis of drivers’ reports. Animal Welfare 4: 29–40CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allen, W M 1979 Losses of pigs due to the ‘acute stress syndrome’ in the United Kingdom. Acta Agriculture Scandinavica (Supplement 21): 495–499CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allen, W M and Smith, L P 1974 Deaths during and after transportation of pigs in Great Britain. In: Proceedings of the 20th European Meeting of Meat Research Workers, 15-20 September 1974, Dublin p 45. An Foras Talúntais: Dublin, EireGoogle Scholar
Augustini, C and Fischer, K 1982 Physiological reaction of slaughter animals during transport. In: Moss R (ed) The Transport of Animals Intended for Breeding, Production and Slaughter (CEC Seminar 1981) pp 125-135. Martinus Nijhoff: The Hague, The NetherlandsCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Becker, B A, Nienaber, J A, DeShazer, J A and Hahn, G L 1985 Effect of transportation on Cortisol concentrations and on the circadian rhythm of Cortisol in gilts. American Journal of Veterinary Research 46: 1457–1459Google ScholarPubMed
Bradshaw, R H and Hall, S J G 1996 Incidence of travel sickness in pigs. Veterinary Record 139: 503 (letter)Google ScholarPubMed
Bradshaw, R H, Hall, S J G and Broom, D M 1996a Behavioural and Cortisol response of pigs and sheep during transport. Veterinary Record 138: 233–234CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bradshaw, R H, Parrott, R F, Forsling, M L, Goode, J A, Lloyd, D M, Rodway, R and Broom, D M 1996b Stress and travel sickness in pigs: effects of road transport on plasma concentrations of Cortisol, beta-endorphin and lysine vasopressin. Animal Science 63: 507–516CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broom, D M 1991 Animal welfare: concepts and measurement. Journal of Animal Science 69: 4167–4175CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brumm, M C, Jesse, G W, Mayes, H F, Zinn, G M and Clemens, E T 1987 Effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein on feeder pig performance. Journal of Animal Science 64: 1606–1611CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brumm, M C and Peo, E R 1985 Effect of receiving diets containing alfalfa and certain feed additives on performance of feeder pigs transported long distances. Journal of Animal Science 61: 9–17CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Christensen, L and Barton Gade, P 1996 Design of experimental vehicle for transport of pigs and some preliminary results of environmental measurements. In: Schütte A (ed) Proceedings of a Seminar ‘New Information on Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs as Related to Handling, Transport and Lairage Conditions’ pp 47-67. Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL): Braunschweig-Volkenrode: GermanyGoogle Scholar
Christensen, L, Barton Gade, P and Blaabjerg, L O 1994 Investigation of transport conditions in participating countries in the EC Project: PL 920262. In: Proceedings of the 40th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, 28 August - 2 September 1994, The Hague (Paper W-2.01). ID-DLO Institute for Animal Science and Health: Schoonoord, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Dalin, A M, Magnusson, U, Häggendal, A and Nyberg, L 1993 The effects of transport stress on plasma levels of catecholamines, Cortisol, corticosteroid-binding globulin, blood cell count and lymphocyte proliferation in pigs. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 34: 59–68CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dalin, A M, Myberg, L and Eliasson, L 1988 The effect of transportation/relocation on Cortisol, CBG and induction of puberty in gilts with delayed puberty. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 29: 207–218CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dantzer, R 1982 Research on farm animal transport in France: a survey. In: Moss, R (ed) Transport of Animals Intended for Breeding, Production and Slaughter pp 218–230. Martinus Nijhoff: The Hague, The NetherlandsCrossRefGoogle Scholar
English, P R, Fowler, V R, Baxter, S and Smith, B 1998 The Growing and Finishing Pig: Improving Efficiency. Farming Press Books: Ipswich, UKGoogle Scholar
Fabiansson, S, Lundström, K and Hansson, I 1979 Mortality among pigs during transport and waiting time before slaughter in Sweden. Swedish Journal of Agricultural Research 9: 25–28Google Scholar
Gispert, M, Guardia, M D, Oliver, M A and Diestre, A 1996 Effect of antemortem treatment in transport and lairage mortality in commercial pig abattoirs. Proceedings of the 42nd International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, 1-6 September 1996, Lillehammer, Norway p 440. MATFORSK, Norwegian Food Research Institute: NorwayGoogle Scholar
Guardia, M D, Gispert, M and Diestre, A 1996 La mortalidad en ganado porcino durante el periodo previo al sacrificio en mataderos comerciales. Investigación Agraria: Producción y Sanidad Animales 11: 171–179Google Scholar
Guise, H J and Penny, R H C 1993 Pig welfare from farm to factory: is there a need for more research? Pig Veterinary Journal 30: 16–22Google Scholar
Guise, H J, Penny, R H C, Abbott, T A and Weeding, C M 1992 In: Proceedings of the 12th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, 17-20 August 1992, The Hague ρ 384 (quoted in Guise H J and Penny R HC 1993).Google Scholar
Hails, M R 1978 Transport stress in animals: a review. Animal Regulation Studies 1: 289–343Google Scholar
Heinze, P H, Gouws, P J and Naudé, R T 1984 The influence of various factors on the occurrence of high ultimate pH values as an indication of dark, firm, dry (DFD) pork at a South African bacon factory. South African Journal of Animal Science 14: 97–104Google Scholar
Henning, P A 1993 Transportation of animals by road for slaughter in South Africa. In: Collins, E and Boon, C (eds) Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Livestock Environment, 6-9 July 1993 pp 536–541. American Society of Agricultural Engineers: St Joseph, Michigan, USAGoogle Scholar
Honkavaara, M 1989 Influence of selection phase, fasting and transport on porcine stress and on the development of PSE pork. Journal of Agricultural Science in Finland 61: 415–423Google Scholar
Honkavaara, M 1995 The effect of long distance transportation on live animals. In: Hinton, M H and Rowlings, C (eds) Factors Affecting the Microbial Quality of Meat (1): Disease Status, Production Methods and Transportation of the Live Animal — Report on Concerted Action Project CT94-1456 pp 111–115. University of Bristol Press: Bristol, UKGoogle Scholar
Ingram, D L 1964 The effect of environmental temperature on heat loss and thermal insulation in the young pig. Research in Veterinary Science 5: 357Google Scholar
Jesse, G W, Walker, J R, Weiss, C N and Mayes, H F 1988 Effect of supplemental potassium in the receiving diet and form of antibiotic on feeder pig performance. Journal of Animal Science 66: 1325–1334CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jesse, G W, Weiss, C N, Mayes, H F and Zinn, G M 1990 Effect of marketing treatments and transportation on feeder pig performance. Journal of Animal Science 68: 611–617CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knowles, T G, Warriss, P D, Brown, S N, Kestin, S C, Rhind, S M, Edwards, J E, Anil, M H and Dolan, S K 1993 Long distance transport of lambs and the time needed for subsequent recovery. Veterinary Record 133: 286–293CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lambooy, E 1983 Watering pigs during road transport through Europe. Fleischwirtschaft 63: 1456–1458Google Scholar
Lambooy, E 1988 Road transport of pigs over a long distance: some aspects of behaviour, temperature and humidity during transport and some effects of the last two factors. Animal Production 46: 257–263Google Scholar
Lambooy, E and Engel, B 1991 Transport of slaughter pigs by truck over a long distance: some aspects of loading density and ventilation. Livestock Production Science 28: 163–174CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambooy, E, Garssen, G J, Walstra, P, Mateman, G and Merkus, GSM 1985 Transport of pigs by car for 2 days: some aspects of watering and loading density. Livestock Production Science 13: 289–299CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambooy, E and Van Putten, G 1993 Transport of pigs. In: Grandin, T (ed) Livestock Handling and Transport pp 213–231. CAB International: Wallingford, UKGoogle Scholar
Lendfers, L H 1970 Transport stress in pigs. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Stress in the Pig, 20-21 October 1970, Beerse, Belgium pp 56–67. Janssen Pharmaceutica: BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Lendfers, L H H M 1971 Loss of pigs due to death during transport; a one year survey at an abattoir. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on the Condition and Meat Quality of Pigs pp 225–229. Pudoc: Wageningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Lister, D, Gregory, N G and Warriss, P D 1981 Stress in meat animals. In: Lawrie R (ed) Developments in Meat Science -2 pp 61 -92. Applied Science Publishers: London and New JerseyGoogle Scholar
Löhr, J 1970 Mortality in pigs due to transport. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Stress in the Pig, 20-21 October 1970, Beerse, Belgium pp 56–67. Janssen Pharmaceutica: BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Malmfors, G 1982 Studies on some factors affecting pig meat quality. In: Proceedings of the 28th European Meeting of Meat Research Workers: 21–23Google Scholar
Markov, E 1981 Studies on weight losses and death rate in pigs transported over long distances. Meat Industry Bulletin 14: 5Google Scholar
McGIone, J J, Salak, J L, Lumpkin, E A, Nicholson, R I, Gibson, M and Norman, R L 1993 Shipping stress and social status effects on pig performance, plasma Cortisol, natural killer cell activity and leukocyte numbers. Journal of Animal Science 71: 888–896CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission 1993 In: Pig Yearbook 1993 pp 52–53. Meat and Livestock Commission: Milton Keynes, UKGoogle Scholar
Moss, B W 1986 Cut carcass damage. Farmers Weekly 104: 17Google Scholar
Moss, B W and Trimble, D 1988 Effect of on farm mixing and transport conditions on carcass quality of bacon weight pigs. Record of Agricultural Research (N. Ireland), 36: 95–100Google Scholar
Newsholme, E A, Blomstrand, E and Ekblom, B 1992 Physical and mental fatigue: metabolic mechanisms and importance of plasma amino acids. British Medical Bulletin 48: 477–495.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nyberg, L, Lundström, K, Edfors-Lilja, I and Rundgren, M 1988 Effect of transport stress on concentrations of Cortisol, corticosteroid-binding globulin and glucocorticoid receptors in pigs with different halothane genotypes. Journal of Animal Science 66: 1201–1211CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perremans, S, Randall, J, Vileé, H, Stiles, M, Duchateau, W and Geers, R 1995 Quantification of pig response to vibration during vertical motion. In: Schütte, A (ed) Proceedings of a Seminar ‘New Information on Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs as Related to Handling, Transport and Lairage Conditions’ pp 135–141. Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL): Braunschweig-Volkenrode, GermanyGoogle Scholar
Petersson, H and Gahne, B 1988 Eliminerad Stresskänslighet 80 - talets största avelsinsats. Svinskötsel 10: 1819Google Scholar
Randall, J M 1992 Human subjective response to lorry vibration: implications for farm animal transport. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 52: 295–307CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Randall, J M, Duggan, J A and Alami, M A 1995a Influence of motion and vibration on animals. Fleischwirtschaft 75: 158–160Google Scholar
Randall, J M, Stiles, M A, Geers, R, Schütte, A, Christenson, L and Bradshaw, R H 1995b Vibration on pig transporters; implications for reducing stress. In: Schütte, A (ed) Proceedings of a Seminar ‘New Information on Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs as Related to Handling, Transport and Lairage Conditions’ pp 143–159. Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL): Braunschweig-Volkenrode, GermanyGoogle Scholar
Riches, H L, Guise, H J and Cuthbertson, A 1996a A national survey of transport conditions for pigs to slaughter in GB. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, 7-10 July 1996, Bologna, Italy p724Google Scholar
Riches, H L, Guise, H J and Penny, R H C 1996b A national survey of transport conditions for pigs. Pig Journal 38: 8Google Scholar
Riches, H L, Guise, H J and Penny, R H C 1996c Preliminary investigation of frequency of vomiting by pigs in transport. Veterinary Record 139: 428 (letter)Google ScholarPubMed
Rutter, S M and Randall, J M 1993 Aversion of the domestic fowl to whole-body vibratory motion. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 37: 69–73CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sains, A G 1980 Deaths in transit: what British surveys show. Pig Farming 28: 40–41Google Scholar
Schütte, A, Mergens, A, Pott, U and Venthien, S 1996 Effect of transport conditions (straw; stoppage) and unloading procedures on physiological and meat quality. In: Schütte, A (ed) Proceedings of a Seminar ‘New Information on Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs as Related to Handling, Transport and Lairage Conditions’ pp 117–132. Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL): Braunschweig-Volkenrode, GermanyGoogle Scholar
Smith, L P and Alien, W M 1976 A study of the weather conditions related to the death of pigs during and after their transportation in England. Agricultural Meteorology 16: 115–124CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spencer, G S G, Wilkins, L J and Hallett, K G 1984 Hormonal and metabolite changes in the blood of pigs following loading and during transport and their possible relationship with subsequent meat quality. Proceedings of the 30th European Meeting of Meat Research Workers, 9-14 September 1984, Meat Research Institute, Bristol pp 15–16. Meat Research Institute: Bristol, UKGoogle Scholar
Stephens, D B, Bailey, K J, Sharman, D F and Ingram, D L 1985 An analysis of some behavioural effects of the vibration and noise components of transport in pigs. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 70: 211–217CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stephens, D B and Perry, G C 1990 The effects of restraint, handling, simulated and real transport in the pig (with reference to man and other species). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28: 41–55CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tarrant, P V 1989 The effects of handling, transport, slaughter and chilling on meat quality and yield in pigs - A review. Irish Journal of Food Science and Technology 13: 79–107Google Scholar
Van Putten, G and Elshof, W J 1978 Observations on the effect of transport on the well-being and lean quality of slaughter pigs. Animal Regulation Studies I: 247–271Google Scholar
Warriss, P D 1984 The incidence of carcass damage in slaughter pigs. In: Proceedings of the 30th European Meeting of Meat Research Workers, 9-14 September 1984, Meat Research Institute, Bristol pp 17–18. Meat Research Institute: Bristol, UKGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D 1985 Marketing losses caused by fasting and transport during the preslaughter handling of pigs. Pig News and Information 6: 155–157Google Scholar
Warriss, P D 1987 The effect of time and conditions of transport and lairage on pig meat quality. In: Tarrant, P V, Eikelenboom, G and Monin, G (eds) Evaluation and Control of Meat Quality in Pigs pp 245–264. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D 1993 Ante-mortem factors which influence carcass shrinkage and meat quality. Proceedings of the 39th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, 1-6 August 1993 Calgary, Canada pp 51–65. Agriculture Canada: Ottowa, CanadaGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D 1994 Ante-mortem handling of pigs. In: Cole, D J A, Wiseman, J and Varley, M A (eds) Principles of Pig Science pp 425–432. Nottingham University Press: Loughborough, UKGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D 1995a Pig handling - guidelines for the handling of pigs antemortem. Meat Focus International 4: 491–494Google Scholar
Warriss, P D 1995b The welfare of animals during transport. In: Raw, M E and Parkinson, T J (eds) The Veterinary Annual, Volume 36 pp 73–85. Blackwell Science Ltd: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D 1996a Introduction: what is meat quality. In: Taylor, S A, Raimundo, A, Severini, M and Smulders, F J M (eds) Meat Quality and Meat Packaging pp 3–10. European Consortium for Continuing Education in Advanced Meat Science and Technology (ECCEAMST): Utrecht, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D 1996b The consequences of fighting between mixed groups of unfamiliar pigs before slaughter. Meat Focus International 5: 89–92Google Scholar
Warriss, P D 1998 Choosing appropriate space allowances for slaughter pigs transported by road: a review. Veterinary Record 142: 449–454Google Scholar
Warriss, P D and Bevis, E A 1986 Transport and lairage times in British slaughter pigs. British Veterinary Journal 142: 124–130CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warriss, P D and Bevis, E A 1987 Liver glycogen in slaughtered pigs and estimated lime of fasting before slaughter. British Veterinary Journal 143: 354–360CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D, Bevis, E A, Edwards, J E, Brown, S N and Knowles, T G 1991 Effect of the angle of slope on the ease with which pigs negotiate loading ramps. Veterinary Record 128: 419–421CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warriss, P D, Bevis, E A and Ekins, P J 1989 The relationships between glycogen stores and muscle ultimate pH in commercially slaughtered pigs. British Veterinary Journal 145: 378–383CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warriss, P D and Brown, S N 1994 A survey of mortality in slaughter pigs during transport and lairage. Veterinary Record 134: 513–515CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warriss, P D, Brown, S N, Edwards, J E, and Knowles, T G 1995 Effect of lairage time on levels of stress and meat quality in pigs. In: Schütte, A (ed) Proceedings of a Seminar ‘New Information on Welfare and Meat Quality of Pigs as Related to Handling, Transport and Lairage Conditions’ pp 163–170. Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL): Braunschweig-Volkenrode, GermanyGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D, Brown, S N, Knowles, T G, Edwards, J E, Kettlewell, P J and Guise, H J (in press) The effect of stocking density in transit on the welfare and carcass quality of slaughter pigs: 2 Results from the analysis of blood and meat samples. Meat ScienceGoogle Scholar
Warriss, P D, Dudley, C P and Brown, S N 1983 Reduction in carcass yield in transported pigs. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 34: 351 -356CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed