Researchers from the Prairie Swine Centre, Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Guelph are studying the movement of weaned pigs when they are transported from western to eastern Canada. They are carrying out the research to document the challenges of the journey. They will also provide data that will inform discussions related to regulatory changes in the sector.

According to Dr Yolande Seddon, an assistant professor in swine behaviour and welfare with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare, factors like entering a new environment, road conditions, temperature changes and duration of travel could all contribute to increased stress levels in recently weaned pigs.

The trails will specifically compare different transport times and measure the stress levels exhibited by the pigs. The researchers will look for signs of dehydration, fatigue and other behavioural indicators that will show if the pigs are adjusting to their environments.

The research will aggregate data from commercial practices to see how the animals respond in the production environment. Dr Seddon says that the work will identify priority areas for improving the transport of weaned pigs and provide information that will inform regulatory changes.

Read the original story from Farmscape here.