Animal Welfare

Animal WelfareCommitment to Caring

Animal Husbandry:

What is Animal Husbandry:

• The way we take care of our animals to the best of our abilities every day

• Access to clean water

• Adequate nutrition• Fresh air and the proper environment

• Timely euthanasia

• Proper treatments when sick

• Most important part of animal production

• Healthy, well-cared for animals will have better production

• If something doesn’t seem right or you notice problems, inform your leaders. They can help to fix problems

Who is Responsible for Animal Husbandry?

Every employee in the farm plays a key role in maintaining a high standard of

animal husbandry

Food

WaterAir

1. Water is the most important nutrient to the

animals in our care!!2. Water intake drives feed

intake

• Do we make sure every animal gets up and eats?• If not, are we giving her a treatment after identifying the

problem?• If we have feed outages, do we have plans to quickly

address the cause?

Be observant when you walk into rooms– Within the first 5 seconds of entering that air

space–Is the air fresh?

Appropriate temperature? Anything abnormal?

Commitment to Caring

Animal Handling• Environment:

• Make sure path is clean and free of unnecessary equipment and debris

• Apply barn lime or sand to the floor if wet or slippery

• People: • Practice patience with the animals and other team

members• Act calmly• Avoid sudden movements, loud noises, other

distractions• Move pigs at their normal walking pace• Avoid aggressive handling• If you are losing your patience or getting frustrated,

• Take a deep breath and remain calm

• Have someone else replace you

• Evaluate why the situation is not going well

Blind Spot

Point of Balance

Flight Zone

Pigs experiencing daily, positive interactions with people are typically less fearful of people and are easier to handle


Approved Handling Tools:

Shakers

• This can be a gas can, metal can, or other forms of “shakers”

• Do not use to touch / physically stimulate animals

• Only use as a noise maker to stimulate animals to move

Sort Boards

• Can be used as a visual and physical barrier

• Do not use the narrow end to hit / stimulate an animal to move

**Always use a sort board when moving adult animals

Rattle Paddles• Should only be used with one hand• May be used to physically stimulate an adult animal to move; do not use

to physically stimulate / hit piglets• Should not be used in a fashion that leaves scratches or marks on the

animal• Do not use the blunt end of the handle to touch the animals• Bats with BB’s are not considered rattle paddles and are not to be used


Proper Handling

• Aggressive handling includes things such as:• Unprofessional language and behavior

• Moving pigs too fast

• Moving too many pigs per group

• Overcrowding them in chutes, ramps and alleyways

• Rough physical contact

• Scratching animals with an object such as a pen or sharpie marker

• Riding animals

Three Terminable Offenses in the Pipestone System

1. Hitting an animal with a gate rod / unapproved object or kicking an animal with malicious intent.

2. Throwing piglets.3. Improper euthanasia (outside the designated

euthanasia area; not confirming insensibility and death; not following Pipestone System approved methods)

There is no tolerance of these actions and immediate termination is the consequence

Proper animal handling (knowing animal instincts and using proper handling procedures) will improve pig well-being, improve productivity, and will positively impact worker safety

Report it to manager or call the

hotline number immediately

Pipestone Animal Welfare Hotline:

1-507-825-7090


Proper Piglet Handling

Always-

• Always pick a piglet up by the hind leg

• Hold only one pig at a time while processing.

• When giving an injection or tattooing, support the pig’s weight by holding it under the belly

• When placing a piglet back into the farrowing crate or an alley, the piglet’s front feet musttouch the ground before you release the piglet.

Never-

• Toss or throw piglets.

• Pick a piglet up by the front leg.

• Pick a piglet up by their ears→ can cause swollen ears

• Drop the piglet back into the crate.

Proper piglet handling techniques are essential to protect the health and well-

being of the piglet.


Number of animals to be moved at a timeAnimal group Location/Circumstance

Recommendations for number of animals to move

Sows

Open Sows (Example- moving weaned sows back to the gestation barn)

Use your best judgement

Pregnant sows 5 sows

Loading Due to Farrow (DTF) sows 5 sows

Sows and gilts Loading culls 5 animals

Replacement giltsUnloading gilts 5 gilts

In stalls 5 gilts

Growing gilts In pens up to 10

Nursery age gilts Pens up to 20

Weaned Pigs

Moving from farrowing room to hallway 50 pigs or less

Hallways to load out area 200 pigs or less

In the load out area (transition area/loadout ramp) 50 pigs or less


Transport–Wean, cull

• Minimizing the stress of loading and unloading will reduce the risk of injury to caretakers as well as reduce the risk of fatigued animals, downers, and DOA animals.

• Follow transport spacing numbers for loading the trailer

**Examples of animals that are unfit for transport:• Unable to stand without assistance or cannot bear weight on all four legs• Animals that are blind• Pregnant animals in the last 2 weeks prior to farrowing• Sows that were weaned less than 7 days• Sows with prolapses that have not been repaired

** Depending on health status of your farm and based on veterinary directive - If the pig is not “fit for transport” you need to humanely euthanize the animal OR treat & monitor for

response.

TQA Recommendations


Working with Boars• Never trust boars– regardless of how gentle they usually

are• Behavior of boars can be VERY UNPREDICTABLE

• If he seems agitated→ put him back and choose another boar

• Never turn your back to a boar

• Boar movements: • Always use a sort board– keep the sort board between you

and the boar• Have gates set up appropriately• Always walk behind the boars

• Always get out of the way if a boar is coming toward you aggressively

• Have a plan to escape the area if the boar becomes aggressive

• Cull or euthanize boars that are unable to be handled appropriately– become aggressive towards staff

Patient handling and training of boars is critical –poor handling of boars can lead to aggressiveness

Human safety is our #1 priority when

working with boars!

Never house boars together that have not been raised together!–

They will fight!

Why do we euthanize?• Euthanasia is the humane process where a pig is rendered

insensible (unconscious) with minimal pain and distress until death.

• Our goal is to prevent prolonged pain or distress of an animal

• Despite our best efforts there will be times when euthanasia may be the best option for the well-being of the pig and it is important to make this decision in a timely fashion

• Euthanasia does NOT imply failure

• Not performing euthanasia when needed is a failure

Who needs to be trained on proper euthanasia?• Everyone is responsible for

identifying animals that may need to be euthanized.

• Everyone needs to go through euthanasia training

•However, not everyone is required to conduct the euthanasia

• Employees that have not been with Pipestone System for 90 days will not conduct euthanasia

Day “0” = animal is identified as ill/injured/etc.

• Determine if there is a chance of improving, provide treatment/care

• If there is no chance of improving, euthanize.

• If animal is the same or improving, treat again.

• If animal is getting worse, euthanize.

• If animal is improved, treat again (if required by treatment protocol).

• If not improving, euthanize.

Day 0

NOTE: Remember the “Two Day Rule”

Day 1 Day 2

Timely euthanasia

Gilts, Sows, and Boars• Examples of Animals to be euthanized:

• Immediately for severely injured or pigs that cannot walk with inability to recover

• Pigs with no prospect of improvement or that show inadequate improvement after two days of treatment and care

• Pigs that cannot walk on all 4 legs and have a body condition score of 1

• Pigs with hernias that are perforated or large hernias that touch the ground while standing

• Any pig with an untreated prolapse that the tissue that has become black

• Uterine prolapses need to be euthanized

Piglets• Euthanize now

• Have an injury where they lost a significant amount of skin- painful injuries

• Intestines are sticking out of the body following processing

• Piglets identified for euthanasia on initial room walk-through should be euthanized within 2 hours of starting farrowing chores.

• This same process should be repeated in the second half of the day.

Where do I euthanize a sow if she is not able to walk?

Right where she is located – do not move her or force her to move.


Confirming Insensibility and DeathStep 1:

• Confirmation of insensibility (ability to feel pain) should be checked within 30 seconds after euthanasia is administered

• Signs that euthanasia was ineffective:• Rhythmic breathing• Attempts to raise the head• Vocalization• Eye blinks when the eyelash or

surface of eye is touched

IF THE PIG SHOWS SIGNS OF SENSIBILITY, REPEAT EUTHANASIA METHOD.

Step 2:

• Confirmation of death should be checked 3 minutes after euthanizing:

• No breathing• No heart beat• No movement or muscle

tone• No vocalization• No corneal reflex (no eye

blink when touching the surface of the eye)

Check for insensibility and death for each euthanasia

performed

Euthanasia equipment needs to be kept clean and well maintained so it will work well when you need it.


Scrotal rupture repair–taping methodProcedure:

1. With your thumb or pointer finger, gently push on the inguinal ring to try to get the intestines to go back into the abdominal cavity

2. While maintaining pressure on the inguinal ring, castrate the pig.

3. If the intestines fall out of the body cavity while castrating, you can gently push the intestines back into the body cavity and continue with the taping method

4. With the duct tape: wrap the tape around the back legs—(see picture A and B)

5. Press the tape against the pig’s legs so it is tight and sticks to the pig (See picture C)

6. Remove duct tape 3 days after applied—A. The taped rupture pig should be identified on the sow cardB. Follow up to remove the duct tape.

Materials needed:

Duct tape


The Football Hold: Oral Dosing Technique

• Used when administering oral medications such as Spectam or Marquis

Procedure:

• Using both hands, position the pig so one hand is supporting the back of the pig's neck & spine and the pig's body is supported between the crook of your elbow and your body.

• With your hand that is not supporting the neck/body of the pig, pick up the oral medication and administer in the mouth.

• Once the pig has swallowed, set the pig back into the crate

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Keeping our food safe…

Clear, complete and accurate

treatment records• There should be an electronic or paper copy of

the master treatment records on the farm.

• Keep on the farm for 2 years

• Do not have all of the information required and thus the master treatment record is still necessary

• Use as a tool for farm staff to quickly recognize that the sow has been identified and treated.

• Look at closely prior to loading cull animals to confirm that all withdrawal periods have been met.

Pipestone will provide producers the tools for Responsible Antibiotic Use to enhance animal

well-being and minimize antibiotic resistance

Record→ Review→

Respond

Needle Size Recommendation:

Production Stage Gauge Length

Baby Pigs 20 5/8" or 1/2"

Nursery 16, 18 3/4" or 5/8"

Finisher 16 1"

Breeding Stock 14, 16, 20 1" or 1.5"

Prevent needle breakage: • Use the correct needle for the age of the

animal• Use only Highly Detectable Needles

(HDN)• Never ever straighten a bent needle–

replace it instead!!

Mas

ter

Tre

atm

ent

Re

cord

Red Treatment Cards

Photo courtesy of National Hog Farmer

Feed medications• Record the

start and stop dates of the medications used in the feed

• Keep on the farm for 2 years Commitment to Caring

Vice Behavior Prevention: Identify the cause and fix immediately!

Causes of side biting/flank biting, tail

biting and ear tip necrosis

Improper Ventilation• Speed of air, quality of air• Too much humidity• Static pressure• Improper temperature or

frequent temperature fluctuations• Heaters, high/lows, temp

curve, etc.• Environmental fluctuations• Pits that are too full to properly

ventilate

Feed• Poor feed quality• Improper diet or formulation• Limited Feeder space• Frequent out-of-feed events

Water• Water availability or

inadequate flow• Limited water space

Inadequate Square Footage (overcrowded)

HealthBacterial or viral disease

Trauma from other pen mates


Provide environmental enrichment/Toys and rotate them every couple days

• Pigs tend to prefer if enrichment is mounted/free of manure• Options:

• Chains• PVC pipe• Traffic cones• 12-18 inch sections of feedline flighting mounted on

gates• Thick ropes• Rubber boots

Vice Behavior Treatment

Euthanize tail bitten pigs if the tail is gone or the pigs are unable to walk as these will not recover

First… Identify the contributing causes and fix it!

• Immediately (day you notice): • Move the tail-bitten pig to the hospital pen• Spray the wound with Barrier or Iodine• Give Linco 300 or LA300 and (Flunixin) medication if

needed• If you can identify the pig that is biting, remove that pig

from the pen• Communicate to evaluate the big picture solution:

• Talk to your veterinarian, production supervisor, and nutrition team to evaluate the big picture solution

• Add a salt block to pens affected with vice behavior


Pictures/Description Prevention Treatment

Vulva Injuries

Benchmark: <5%

Vulva injuries resulting in open wounds, bleeding,

or infection

• More common in gestating sows in group sow housing• Can see more at time of

mixing or late gestation

• Opportunities for reduction: • Pen gestation diets • Pen Feeding protocols• Reduce stressers

• Consistency in feeding, watering, walking pens, etc

• Reducing stocking density

• Move the vulva bitten sow to an individual pen

• Spray vulva bitten sows with Barrier or Iodine

See the Pen Gestation Snapshots for more specific recommendations


HerniasBenchmark: <5% of animals have hernias larger than softballs


Not observed in breeding herds…

Umbilical/ belly rupture

Scrotal Rupture

Umbilical/Belly Rupture: • Crate cleanliness • Maximize colostrum intake in the first

12 hours after birth→ create a robust immune system

Scrotal Rupture: • Proper processing techniques (cut

the testicle vs. pull) • Proper identification of scrotal

ruptures at processing to get them taped up

• If holding pigs between your legs while processing, avoid squeezing the pigs too much around the belly

Umbilical/Belly Rupture: • No applicable on-

farm treatments for belly ruptures

• Discuss other options with your veterinarian

Scrotal rupture: • At processing—

Timely identification and adequate taping of pigs with scrotal ruptures

• No applicable on-farm treatments for scrotal ruptures at weaning

Protrusion of the intestines through the muscles of the

abdomen (belly rupture) or groin (scrotal rupture)

(AKA “rupture”)



Prolapses

Benchmark: <1%

Turning “inside out” of the lining of the rectum, uterus (≥8 inches), or vagina (<8 inches).

• Evaluate the causes: • Rectal prolapses (GDU)

• Piling• Temperature• Respiratory concerns• Straining (gut

concerns)• Sows–

• Rectal- straining• Vaginal/Uterine-

• Major industry problem today

• Multiple causes

• Move the prolapsed pig to an individual pen (if available)

• Rectal & Vaginal ➔ FIX: Attempt to fix the prolapse if it is fresh and does not protrude more than 8 inches (see Pipestone system prolapse training)• If the repair fails, the sow

should be euthanized immediately.

• EUTHANIZE IMMEDIATELY• Uterine (8” or more)• Necrotic/black rectal

• Euthanize the sow where she is… do not move her to the mortality room and then euthanize

This is an example of a

rectal prolapse that is

necrotic/black… need to

euthanize.

This is a Fresh rectal prolapse…Ok to fix.

ONE & DONE – only fix one time. If this does not hold,

euthanize the animal.


Lameness

3rd party auditor looks at both sows

and piglets

Pictures/Description Prevention

• Severely lame-• non-weight bearing lame

on the affected limb when either walking or standing

• Moderately lame-• Hesitant to stand or walk• Clear limp when walking

with adaptive behaviors (arched back, shortened stride, etc)

• Mildly lame-• Stands easily but shifts

weight off affected limb when standing

• Limping with adaptive behaviors when walking

• Quality gilt program and gilt flow• Need to be able to perform gilt

selection.

• Proper timing of culling of the right sows

• Early identification and intervention• Find sows in the mild to moderately lame

category to have the best treatment response. • Timely individual treatment and Mat

• Make sure sows get up twice daily

• Evaluate them when they are standing

• Designate your best “health” person to evaluate the sows and piglets that are lame

Both pig photos provided by SMEC (Swine Medicine Education Center)

Benchmark: <2% of pigs showing signs of severe lameness


Treatment Options for Lameness

Treatment:• Piglets:

• Penicillin (antibiotic) + Dexamethasone (steroid)

• Gilts: Individual treatment• Linco (antibiotic) +

Dexamethasone (steroid)

• Sows: Individual treatment• Linco (antibiotic) +

Flunix-S (Pain/antinflammatory)

• Mat to reduce pressure on the other non-damaged claws / leg

Timely Culling:• Is timely culling an option?

• Yes-- Should be culled when mildly or moderately lame (stands

but hesitant to walk and can have an arched back or short stride when walking)

• No—Severely lame (non-weight bearing on one leg when either standing or walking)• Treat or Euthanize

Euthanize: • Severely lame

A. Euthanize now if: • No ability to recover within 2

days (ie- broken shoulder or broken leg)

B. Euthanize if not responding when doing “2 Day Rule”:

A. Unable to get up for the second day in a row (despite treatment)

All pig photos provided by SMEC (Swine Medicine Education Center)


Body ConditionBenchmark: <1% BCS


This sow has a body condition score (BCS) of 1.

Picture taken from the Common Swine Industry Audit.

• Gastric ulcers is one cause–• Avoid out-of-feed events• Appropriate feed

grind/micron size

• Appropriate culling

• Timely feed adjustments

• Feeder boxes that fill and empty appropriately• Feeders and feed lines in a

good state of repair• Clear feed delivery from

box to trough• Feed trough with 1 inch or

less of water at the time that feed is dropped

• Group “thin sows” together to reduce the competition for feed intake from boss sows

• Take away the “energy drain”• Nurse off a BCS 1 sow that

farrows

• Maximize feed intake and/or top dress if needed

• Appropriate and timely culling

• Consider euthanasia of BCS 1 sows


Shoulder SoresBenchmark: <5%

Pictures/Description

• Ulceration of the skin over the point of the shoulder

What/Why Shoulder Sores Form:

Picture Score Description

1No Lesion to Redness

2 Lesion ¾ inch – 2 ½ inches in diameter

3Lesions 2 ½ inches or more in

diameter + callus/ raised

• Risk Factors: • Thin Sows• Sows that developed

Shoulder sores on previous lactation

• Large or Old Sows• Ill Sows• Lame Sows• Sows with hoof problems• Genetics

“Pressure Sore” over the the shoulder blade of the sow following prolonged lying behavior


Prevention Treatment

Shoulder Sores

• Thin sows are more likely to develop these pressure sores

• Get the sows up at least twice daily

• Maximize lactation intake

• Early topical treatment (when redness occurs) will help reduce the progression of the ulceration throughout farrowing

• Rubber mat on entry into farrowing–• Sows or gilts with BCS of 1 or 2• Sows who have scars from previous shoulder

sores

Picture Score Treatment

1

• Topical treatments 2-3x/week: • Barrier• Greasy Pig Mix

2• Topical treatments 2-3x/week• Mat under the sow

3

• Topical treatments 2-3x/week• Mat under the sow• Euthanasia if meets 2-3 criteria below:

• Body condition 1• Score 3 Shoulder Sore• Moderately to Severely Lame

Prevention of Shoulder Sores is more effective than Treatment!!


AbscessesBenchmark: <5%


• A swollen area within body tissue that contains an accumulation of pus

• Change needles every 25 sows

• Change out needles that have a barb on the end

• Focus on Hygiene• Do not inject through

wet skin or a manure-covered area

• Do not open these to drain (lance open) unless preventing walking or eating OR if directed by vet

• No individual treatment needed unless directed by vet

**Work with your vet if you have specific questions

Scratches

Benchmark: <10%

• Injuries to the skin that are longer than 12 inches

• Pen gestation– have extra feed available prior to mixing of animals**For Pen Gest farms, implement Pen Gestation feeding protocol

• Avoid unnecessarily mixing• Usually caused by

fighting/re-socializing behaviors

• Keep pen integrity when moving pigs (GDU)

• Injured pigs need individual treatment:• Flunixin • Barrier or Iodine

• Timely removal from pen is crucial for recovery

Picture taken from the Common Swine Industry Audit.


Animal Welfare

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