Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Paulo V. Steagall, Hedie Bustamante, Craig B. Johnson, Patricia V. Turner
Summary: Pain is a common cause of compromised animal welfare in farm animals, necessitating better pain management and improved welfare for food animals. Recommendations include enhancing pain assessment and mitigation in husbandry practices, promoting better agricultural practices and ethical considerations.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alison Small, Andrew David Fisher, Caroline Lee, Ian Colditz
Summary: Increasing societal and customer pressure has led to efforts in the livestock industry to alleviate pain associated with husbandry practices, injury, and illness. Research has been conducted to develop analgesic approaches specific to sheep, but challenges in pain mitigation and phasing out of painful husbandry practices remain. Additional research is needed to address these challenges.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Michail Kakanis, Katerina Marinou, Evangelia N. Sossidou
Summary: This study examines the attitudes of Greek pig farmers towards tail biting and tail docking through a structured questionnaire. The study found that in case of an outbreak, Greek farmers mainly choose to remove the victim, while 64.4% have tried raising pigs with intact tails. Chains are still the most commonly used enrichment material. Feed quality, environmental factors, and health problems are considered the most important risk factors. The study suggests that solutions for reducing tail docking should consider farmers' perceptions and practices.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Torun Wallgren, Stefan Gunnarsson
Summary: Provision of straw can reduce tail biting in pigs but large amounts may cause sanitation issues. Providing straw in racks instead of on the floor may enable greater access to straw but may require time for pigs to adapt. Further research is needed to understand the impact of delayed use of racks on pigs' behavior.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
K. Kongara, R. Corner-Thomas, S. Bruere, K. Lawrence, M. C. Gates
Summary: This study aimed to collect baseline data from New Zealand sheep farmers regarding techniques for docking and castrating lambs, their perceptions of lamb pain following these procedures, and their opinions on using pain relief. The results showed that a majority of farmers rarely used pain relief during docking and castration, with time and cost being major barriers to providing pain relief.
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Annalisa Scollo, Mustansar Abbas, Barbara Contiero, Flaviana Gottardo
Summary: Many factors contribute to the onset of tail biting on pig farms, which is an expensive and welfare-decreasing complication. This study aimed to monitor the lesions in various organs in slaughtering pigs with or without docked tails. The results showed a higher prevalence of tail lesions in pigs without docked tails, suggesting the need for more efforts in managing long-tailed animals. Undocked pigs also had higher frequencies of lung lesions and gastric ulcers, and the relationship between tail lesions and these conditions should be further explored.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Paolo Ferrari, Alessandro Ulrici, Matteo Barbari
Summary: Animal welfare in pig production is a major challenge in Europe as producers strive to comply with EU legislation while meeting the increasing societal demand for sustainable pork. Monitoring pig welfare requires consideration of both farm-level and animal-based indicators.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lenka Valkova, Vladimir Vecerek, Eva Voslarova, Michal Kaluza, Daniela Takacova
Summary: The study evaluated traumatic injuries in cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs in the Czech Republic. Traumatic lesions were found at a low frequency, with cows being the most affected category and small ruminants and bulls having lower rates of traumatic findings. This suggests that factors such as animal housing and rearing environment may impact the occurrence of traumatic injuries.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Laura Amatucci, Diana Luise, Andrea Luppi, Sara Virdis, Alice Prosperi, Agatha Cirelli, Claudia Bosco, Paolo Trevisi
Summary: This study aimed to measure the prevalence of pleurisy, bronchopneumonia, and tail and body lesions in heavy pigs subjected to tail docking or not. The study also investigated the effect of tail docking and season on carcass quality. The results showed that undocked tail and warm season were risk factors for tail lesions, while long transport increased limb lesions.
PORCINE HEALTH MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
P. M. Iglesias, I. Camerlink
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between pigs' natural behavior and their tail posture and motion. The results showed that tail posture and motion were associated with different behaviors, but hanging tails were not primarily linked to tail biting behavior.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria E. Lou, Michael D. Kleinhenz, Robin Schroeder, Kelly Lechtenberg, Shawnee Montgomery, Johann F. Coetzee, Abbie V. Viscardi
Summary: Using a CO2 surgical laser to dock piglets' tails can reduce pain and facilitate wound healing. Compared to cutting pliers, the laser has the potential to improve piglet welfare.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Grazia Pastorelli, Valentina Serra, Lauretta Turin, Veronica Redaelli, Fabio Luzi, Sara Barbieri
Summary: This study investigated the effects of adding Passiflora incarnata extract on the behavior and physiological indicators of post-weaning piglets. The results showed that the group supplemented with the extract had similar growth performance compared to the control group, but exhibited fewer ear lesions, less aggressive behavior, higher enrichment exploration, and lower cortisol levels. Significant differences were observed over time for tail lesions and behavioral observations. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of Passiflora incarnata extract supplementation.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Zhu Caiye, Shuzhen Song, Minna Li, Xaioyu Huang, Yan Luo, Suli Fang
Summary: The study aimed to analyze genome-wide DNA differential methylation in Lanzhou Large-tailed sheep, Altay sheep and Tibetan sheep, which have different tail types, and identify the differentially methylated genes (DMGs) affecting tail type. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was used to detect three individuals from each breed, and the degree of methylation, differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and DMGs were analyzed. Functional analysis revealed several genes involved in fat metabolism, such as NFATC4, LPIN2, MGAT2 and MAT2B. These findings provide new insights into the epigenetic regulation mechanisms of fat deposition in sheep tails and contribute to the study of local sheep.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
A. Valros
Summary: Tail biting is a serious problem in pig production, but Finland has successfully managed to rear non-docked pigs. The success in Finland may be attributed to improved farming conditions, government support, and industry recommendations. The experiences from Finland demonstrate that it is possible to rear non-docked pigs in intensive production, with potential positive effects including good growth rate, reduced use of antimicrobials, and improved animal welfare levels.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Teubes, S. W. P. Cloete, K. Dzama, A. J. Scholtz
Summary: This study estimated the genetic and environmental parameters of tail length, birth weight, and docking weight in a South African Merino flock. The findings suggest that selecting for shorter tails may reduce size if breeding values are not adjusted for docking weight. Further research is needed to explore the genetic basis of tail length and its genetic correlations with other economically important traits.
ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
K. E. Schutz, V. M. Cave, N. R. Cox, F. J. Huddart, C. B. Tucker
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Grazyne Tresoldi, Karin E. Schutz, Cassandra B. Tucker
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mhairi Sutherland, Gemma Worth, Catherine Cameron, Else Verbeek
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mhairi Sutherland, Suzanne Dowling, Richard Shaw, Jackie Hickey, Diane Fraser, Catherine Cameron, Ian Sutherland
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gemma Lowe, Mhairi Sutherland, Joe Waas, Allan Schaefer, Neil Cox, Mairi Stewart
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lorenzo Alvarez, Sarah J. J. Adcock, Cassandra B. Tucker
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah J. J. Adcock, Cassandra B. Tucker
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gemma Lowe, Brendan McCane, Mhairi Sutherland, Joe Waas, Allan Schaefer, Neil Cox, Mairi Stewart
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mhairi A. Sutherland, Gemma M. Worth, Suzanne K. Dowling, Gemma L. Lowe, Vanessa M. Cave, Mairi Stewart
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Melissa N. Hempstead, Joseph R. Waas, Mairi Stewart, Vanessa M. Cave, Mhairi A. Sutherland
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alycia M. Drwencke, Grazyne Tresoldi, Matthew M. Stevens, Vinod Narayanan, Angelica Carrazco, Frank M. Mitloehner, Theresa E. Pistochini, Cassandra B. Tucker
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Grazyne Tresoldi, Karin E. Schuetz, Cassandra B. Tucker
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
G. L. Lowe, M. A. Sutherland, M. Stewart, J. R. Waas, N. R. Cox, E. Schutz
Summary: This study investigated the effects of water provision and milk allowance on the behavior and growth of calves. The results suggest that calves should have free access to drinking water from birth, and that access to water may aid in hay intake and rumen development.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Mhairi Sutherland, Alan Julian, Frances Huddart
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lily N. Edwards-Callaway, Jennifer Walker, Cassandra B. Tucker
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2019)