Dr. John McGlone - Market pig transport
Transcript of Dr. John McGlone - Market pig transport
Marketing and Transportation
1:30 Growth and development implications at
heavier weights - Dr. John Patience
2:00 Impact of heavy market weights on facility
and equipment needs - Dr. Mike Brumm
3:00 Market transportation implications - Dr.
John McGlone
Establishing Bedding Requirements for
Finishing Pigs Going to Slaughter*
John J. McGlone, PhD, Professor, TTU
Anna Butters-Johnson, Assoc. Professor, ISU
Avi Sapkota, Graduate Student, TTU
Art Coquelin, Staff, TTU
Rebecca Davis, Graduate Student, ISU
And a host of other students, staff, drivers, and
farm and plant workers
* Boarding and Misting
requirements will be
assessed later
Overview
• Over 100 million pigs are transported
to market each year in the USA
• The rate of DOA has been about
0.2% in recent years and the rate of
non-ambulatory pigs is about the same
(~0.2% or more)
• Over 400,000/year pigs have a
negative welfare experience during
transport to market
Overview
• Pig transport losses are
major issues because:
• Its direct economic impact
for the farm and plant
• Its animal welfare concern
Background
Field data indicate that the rate of non-ambulatory, non-injured
pigs increases in cold weather (Sutherland, 2009).
50 F 86 F68 F
Background
Field data indicate that the rate of DOA pigs increases in
warm weather (Sutherland, 2009).
y = 0.0062x - 0.1091R2 = 0.9774
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
60 70 80 90 100 110
DO
A,
%
Air Temperature, F
Dead on Arrival (note linear increase above 70 F)
TQA Program
According to TQA Handbook, in driver code of
ethics,
• Transporter must have access to clean bedding approved
by the packer, and must be used during transport.
• Provide extra bedding (wood shavings, wheat straw, corn
stubble) during winter
• TQA recommendations:
* Minimum openings are needed for ventilation even in the coldest weather.
† Consider using sand or wetting bedding if it is not too humid and trucks are
moving.
Objective
• To define the bedding requirements of pigs
during transportation in commercial settings
during:
• Cold weather
• Mild weather
• Warm weather
Study Design and Sample Size
Months Bedding levels,
bales/trailer*
Air Temperature
Range
Jan-Feb 6, 12 -13 to 20 C
8 to 68 F
March-May 3, 6, 12 -2 to 21 C
28 to 70 F
June-July 3, 5, 7, 9 16 to 45 C
61 to 113 F
* 22.7 kg/bale or 50 lb
0.2 m3/bale or 7 ft3/bale
Background
Number of
bales/deck mm inches
Eights of
an inch
1 9.5 3/8 3/8
1.5 11.1 3.5/8 3.5/8
3 15.9 5/8 5/8
6 25.4 1 8/8
1 Bale
For a straight deck 53’ X 102” trailer
3 Bales
6 Bales
Study Design and Sample Size
Months Temperature Number
Trailers
Number pigs
Jan-Feb Cold 173 29,410
March-May Mild 345 58,650
June-July Warm 254 43,180
Total -- 772 131,240
Materials and Methods
At finishing site:
• Random assignment of bedding level
• Information on bedding level, number of loads on that
bedding, boarding percentage
• Five sensors collected temperature and humidity in
different four compartments and one outside the trailer
from start of load to unload
• Handling methods, handling devices, intensity (on a
scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the mildest; 5 being
aggressive/abusive)
Materials and methods
At finishing site:
• Number of vocalizations, slips/falls, signs of stress
• Management aspects of farms: type of barn, facilities
like pen size, aisle, chute, floor type, walls etc., and
weather information (temperature, humidity, and wind
speed)
• Surface skin temperatures on the pigs flank/side of 10
randomly selected pigs (5 of first 50 and 5 of last 50
pigs loaded into the trailer) in each load using laser
thermometer with sensitivity of 0.1 ̊ C
Materials and methods
At plant:
• Air temperature, humidity, surface temperature of 10
pigs (as in finishing site)
• Handling device(s), handling intensity (as in finishing
site), vocalizations, slips/falls, time of arrival, waiting
and unloading
• Collected bedding samples to determine moisture %
• Record DOA, NA and D & D in each trip
Statistical Analysis
Primary models, by season, effects of:
• Level of bedding,
• Air temperature (in 5 ̊ C bins),
• Interaction of bedding and air temperature
All data entered in Excel and analyzed using SAS
(General Linear Model). Regression lines calculated using
Excel and SAS.
Results
Ranges of conditions during data collection:
• Load time: 13 to 94 min
• Transit time: 16 to 459 min
• Waiting time at plant: 0 to 198 min
• Total D & D in a trip: 0 to 8
• Handing Intensity ranged: 1-5
• 43/440 (9.8%) loads at finishing sites had a handling
intensity of 5 (aggressive, abusive)
• 1/429 (0.23%) observations at plants had a handling
intensity of 5
Results – Jan-Feb Bedding Effects
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
6 12
DO
A %
Bedding Level
DOA % by Bedding level(P=0.13)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
6 12
NA
%
Bedding Level
NA % by Bedding level(P=0.73)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
6 12
D &
D %
Bedding Level
D & D % by Bedding level(P=0.29)
No effect of
bedding
Results – Jan-Feb Temp Effects
No interaction
between bedding
and air temperature
y = 0.000x3 - 0.006x2 + 0.049x + 0.009
R² = 0.610
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
-5 0 5 10 15 20
DO
A %
Outside temp bin
DOA % by outside temp binP > 0.05
y = 0.011x3 - 0.106x2 + 0.276x - 0.126
R² = 0.905
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
-5 0 5 10 15 20
NA
%
Outside temp bin
NA% by outside temp binP > 0.05
y = 0.011x3 - 0.112x2 + 0.325x - 0.117
R² = 0.767
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
-5 0 5 10 15 20
D &
D %
Outside temp bin
D & D % by outside temp binP > 0.05
Results – Jan-Feb Surface
Temperatures
P-value:<0.001
The lower the outside
temperature, the lower
was the pig surface
temperature
y = 0.211x3 - 2.082x2 + 7.758x + 13.85
R² = 0.779
15
20
25
30
35
-5 0 5 10 15 20
Su
rf T
emp
, C
Outside Air Temp Bin *C
Average Pig Surface Temperature at plant
at different air temperatures (P < 0.01)
Results – March-May Bedding
Effects
No effect of
bedding
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
3 6 12
DO
A %
bedding level
DOA % by Bedding level(Treatment not significant, P=0.21)
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
3 6 12
NA
%
bedding level
NA % by Bedding level(Treatment not significant, P=0.84)
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
3 6 12
D &
D %
bedding level
D & D % by Bedding level(Treatment not significant, P=0.34)
Results – March-May Temp Effects
No interaction
between bedding
and air temperature
y = 0.019x2 - 0.113x + 0.212
R² = 0.646
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0 5 10 15 20 25
DOA % by outside temperature binP > 0.05
y = 0.027x2 - 0.281x + 0.722
R² = 0.867
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0 5 10 15 20 25
NA % by outside temperature binP < 0.05
y = 0.047x2 - 0.394x + 0.934
R² = 0.834
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0 5 10 15 20 25
D&
D, %
Air Temperature, C
D & D % by outside temperature binP < 0.05
Results – March-May Surface
Temperatures
P-value:<0.001
The lower the outside
temperature, the lower
was the pig surface
temperature
y = 2.2579x + 21.83
R² = 0.9321
15
20
25
30
35
0 5 10 15 20
Su
rf T
emp
*C
Air Temp bin
Average Pig Surface Temperature at plant at
different air temperatures (P < 0.01)
Results – June-July Bedding
Effects
More bedding is
harmful in warm
weather
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
3 5 7 9
DO
A %
Bedding Level
DOA % by Bedding LevelP=0.054
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
3 5 7 9
NA
%
Bedding Level
NA % by Bedding LevelP=0.206
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
3 5 7 9
D &
D %
Bedding Level
D & D % by Bedding LevelP=0.076
Results – June-July Temp Effects
No interaction
between bedding
and air temperature
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
10 15 20 25 30
DO
A %
Outside Air Temp Bin
DOA % by Air TemperatureP < 0.01
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
10 15 20 25 30
D &
D %
Outside Air Temp Bin
D & D % by Air TemperatureP < 0.01
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
10 15 20 25 30
NA
%
Outside Air Temp Bin
NA % by Air TemperatureP > 0.05
Results – June-July Surface Temps
P-value:<0.001
The warmer the
outside temperature,
the warmer was the
pig surface
temperature
y = 1.069x + 29.27
R² = 0.974
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
10 15 20 25 30
Su
rfa
ce T
emp
era
ture
, C
Air Temp, C
Average Pig Surface Temperature at plant at
different air temperatures (P < 0.01)
Results
3 bags, second load6 bags, second load
Fresh bedding (6 Bags)
Results
12 bags, first load
Fresh bedding with only 5% moisture
12 bags, first load, 26% moisture
12 bags, second load, 51% moisture
Results
73.87% moisture, 6 bags, 4th load, 60% boardingUsed bedding inside the trailer
Results
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
4:45 5:45 6:45 7:45 8:45
Tem
per
atu
re (
*F
)
Temperature of Trailer Compartments
Front Top
Front Bottom
Rear Top
Rear Bottom
Outside
Inside trailer temperature
Results
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
4:45 5:45 6:45 7:45 8:45
Rel
ati
ve
Hu
mid
ity
(%
)
Relative Humidity of Trailer Compartments
Front Top
Front Bottom
Rear Top
Rear Bottom
Outside
Inside trailer relative humidity
Synthesis of Surface Temperatures
y = 0.4269x + 23.247
R² = 0.8039
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Su
rface
Tem
per
atu
re,
C
Outside Air Temperature, C
Surface and Outside Air Temperatures, C
(all data)
In Warm Weather, Surface Temperature
Rise Explains Increased DOA
y = 0.081x2 - 5.194x + 82.28
R² = 0.888
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
30 31 32 33 34 35
DO
A%
Surface Temp *C
June-July Surface Temperature & DOA %
y = 0.071x2 - 0.277x + 0.232
R² = 0.951
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
10 15 20 25 30
DO
A %
Outside Air Temp Bin
June-July Air Temperature & DOA %
Bedding and Temperature Effects
Are Additive
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
15 20 25 30
DO
A, %
Air Temperature, C
Combined Temperature and Bedding Effects
3 bales
9 bales
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
3 9
DO
A, %
Bales of bedding per trailer
Bedding EffectP = 0.05
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
10 15 20 25 30
DO
A %
Outside Air Temp Bin
DOA % by Air TemperatureP < 0.01
The effects of bedding and
temperature are ADDITIVE in
warm weather
DOA rate was over 1% when
heavy bedding was used and
the air temperature was above
30 C (86 F)
Conclusions – Bedding
Season Temp
range
Significant
bedding
effect?
Conclusions Recom,
Bales/trailer
Cold
weather
< 32 F No Added bedding
-- no advantage
beyond 6 bales
6*
* No data on
less than 6
bales
Mild
weather
32 - 70 F No Added bedding
– no advantage
above 3 bales
3
Warm
weather
> 70 F Yes Added bedding
negative effect
on DOA
3*
* No data on
less than 3 or
0 bedding
Economics of Bedding Use
Item Amount
Approximate number of pigs processed
per day in the USA
420,000
Average pigs per truck/trailer 170
Approximate number of
trucks/trailers/day
2,470
% fresh bedding used per truck/trailer 50%
Trailers using new bedding/day 1,235
Economics of Bedding Use
Item Amount Dollar amount,
@ $6/bale
Trailers using new bedding/day 1,235
Number of daily bales at 3 extra
bales/day (in summer)
3,705 $22,230
Number of daily bales at 6 extra
bales/day (in winter)
7,410 $44,460
30 days cold, added bedding cost 6 extra
bales
$1,333,800
120 days warm, added bedding 3 extra
bales
$2,667,600
Total added bedding cost Per year $4,001,400
Economics of Bedding Use
Item Amount
Approximate number of trucks/trailers/day 2,470
Increased D&D (0.3%) during over 30 C
days from over bedding (assumes 50% over
bedded), number pigs
630
pigs/day
Market price $0.6/lb @ 270 lb $162
Added industry pig losses from bedding
overuse in 60 warm days/summer
$6,123,600
Economics of Bedding Use
Item Amount /year
Total added bedding cost from over
use
$4,001,400
Added industry pig losses from
bedding overuse in 60 warm
days/summer
$6,123,600
Total Industry Losses/year $10,125,000
Conclusions – Air Temperature
• Cold weather increased NA
• Warm weather increased DOA
• No interaction between bedding and air
temperature
Conclusions – Pig Surface Temperature
• Pig surface temperature
changes with air temperature
• In warm weather, increased
surface temperature predicts
increased DOA
Conclusions
Overuse of bedding causes:
• Increased bedding cost for no return
• Increased pigs losses (dead and down)
• At least a $16 million economic cost (in added
bedding and pig losses) per year unless bedding
levels are adjusted
• A welfare problem in warm weather
Preliminary Data on Boarding
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
< 40 40-59 59+
% D
OA
% Boarding
DOAN = 74 trailers; Trt P = 0.09
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
< 40 40-59 59+
% N
AN
I
% Boarding
% NANIN = 74 trailers; Trt P = 0.68
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
< 40 40-59 59+
% D
&D
% Boarding
Total Dead & DownN = 74 trailers; Trt P = 0.33Although this
represents
over 11,000
pigs, this is
preliminary;
More to come
*
*
Future Transportation Studies
• Is bedding needed and positive for the pig?
• Examine zero bales in the summer and less than 6 bales in cold
weather for efficacy
• Define the boarding needs for the industry
• Define misting requirements
Thank you
Questions?