Stressful Handling of Pigs
By Harold W. Gonyou and published by the Prairie Swine Center - 'Downer’ pigs are a problem for both packers and producers. Levels of downer pigs arriving at various U.S. packing plants are typically reported at 0.25 to 0.75 %; however, levels as high as 10 % have been reported for individual loads. The incidence of downer pigs has increased from 0.08 to 0.30 % over the past 10 years. Stressful handling appears to be a triggering factor for the occasional high levels of downer pigs.
19 December 2004
2 minute read
