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D'Alessio RM, McAloon CG, Boyle LA, Hanlon A, O'Driscoll K. Comparison between two scoring methods to assess tail damage of docked pig carcasses during postmortem inspection in Ireland. Vet Rec Open 2023; 10:e66. [PMID: 37614914 PMCID: PMC10442492 DOI: 10.1002/vro2.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tail inspection in the abattoir is a tool to help determine the welfare status of pigs. However, methodologies vary widely. Moreover, meat inspection is moving from palpation and incision towards visual-only (VIS) examination. This study investigated whether a VIS examination was sufficient to detect tail damage compared to handling (HAND), which ensures examination of all aspects of the tail. Method The severity of tail skin damage (0 [undamaged] - 4 [partial/full loss of tail]) and presence/absence of bruises was scored using both methods after scalding/dehairing of 5498 pig carcasses. Results There was a good relationship between methods when evaluating tail skin damage (sensitivity, 82.48%; specificity, 99.98%; accuracy, 98.98%; correlation ρ = 0.84). The results were similar for the presence of bruises (sensitivity, 74.98%; specificity, 99.09%; accuracy, 89.94%; correlation ρ = 0.79). However, the percentage of tails classified as undamaged was higher using VIS (69.9%) than HAND (63.55%) examination. Conversely, VIS detected fewer mild lesions (score 1 - 13.64%; score 2 - 11.73%) than HAND (score 1 - 15.21%; score 2 - 15.53%). A higher percentage of bruises was detected using HAND than VIS (37.96% vs. 29.03%). Conclusions Visual evaluation is a valid alternative to handling evaluation of carcass tail damage and bruising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Maria D'Alessio
- Department of Pig Development, TeagascAnimal & Grassland Research and Innovation CentreMoorepark, Fermoy, Co. CorkIreland
- UCD Veterinary Sciences CentreUniversity College Dublin, BelfieldDublinIreland
| | - Conor G. McAloon
- UCD Veterinary Sciences CentreUniversity College Dublin, BelfieldDublinIreland
| | - Laura Ann Boyle
- Department of Pig Development, TeagascAnimal & Grassland Research and Innovation CentreMoorepark, Fermoy, Co. CorkIreland
| | - Alison Hanlon
- UCD Veterinary Sciences CentreUniversity College Dublin, BelfieldDublinIreland
| | - Keelin O'Driscoll
- Department of Pig Development, TeagascAnimal & Grassland Research and Innovation CentreMoorepark, Fermoy, Co. CorkIreland
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Svoboda M, Hodkovicova N, Siwicki A, Szweda W. The importance of slaughterhouses in monitoring the occurrence of tail biting in pigs - Review. VET MED-CZECH 2023; 68:349-358. [PMID: 37981944 PMCID: PMC10646543 DOI: 10.17221/85/2023-vetmed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Tail biting in pigs represents a very serious problem in modern pig farming, particularly with the intensification of the industry. It is considered a multifactorial syndrome and can be caused by various factors, leading to significant economic losses through reduced weight gain and partial or total condemnation of slaughtered carcasses due to secondary bacterial infections. The aim of this article is to summarise the current knowledge regarding tail biting in pigs, with a primary focus on the use of slaughterhouses for evaluating tail lesions and monitoring their prevalence. The introduction addresses the factors influencing the incidence of tail biting in pig farms and prevention strategies. Subsequent sections cover topics such as tail docking, the negative effects of pig tail biting, the advantages and drawbacks of examining tail lesions in slaughterhouses, and the methodical procedure for evaluating such lesions. Additionally, the article discusses the relationship between tail lesions and meat inspection findings, as well as the prevalence of tail lesions in various European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Svoboda
- Ruminant and Swine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Hodkovicova
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrzej Siwicki
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Wojciech Szweda
- Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
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Drexl V, Dittrich I, Haase A, Klingelhöller H, Diers S, Krieter J. Tail posture as an early indicator of tail biting - a comparison of animal and pen level in weaner pigs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Vitali M, Luppi A, Bonilauri P, Spinelli E, Santacroce E, Trevisi P. Benchmarking of anatomopathological lesions assessed at slaughter and their association with tail lesions and carcass traits in heavy pigs. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2021.1944339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marika Vitali
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari– DISTAL, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Luppi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna –IZLER, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonilauri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna –IZLER, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisa Spinelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari– DISTAL, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Santacroce
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari– DISTAL, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Trevisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari– DISTAL, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Vitali M, Nannoni E, Sardi L, Martelli G. Knowledge and Perspectives on the Welfare of Italian Heavy Pigs on Farms. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1690. [PMID: 34204037 PMCID: PMC8227195 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This review aims to give an overview of the most significant available information on welfare issues of Italian heavy pigs on farms. These animals, whose meat is used to produce typical products, are characterized by much higher body weights and age at slaughter (approximately 160-170 kg, and 9 months of age) than most pigs reared in Europe, resulting in peculiar behavioral and rearing-related needs. To highlight the main findings and the areas in which additional research is needed, the paper was organized by allocating the studies on the basis of the Welfare Quality four principles framework, i.e., good feeding, good housing, good health, and appropriate behavior. The results indicate the possibility of improvement with regard to the management of feeding, watering, and some environmental parameters (light, thermal comfort, enrichments) and a lack of knowledge on the actual space requirements (and a corresponding regulatory gap). Moreover, deficiencies concerning the prevalence of injuries and disease and the relationship between lesions observed post-mortem and rearing conditions needs to be addressed. Lastly, the absence of research concerning the evaluation of the emotional state of animals has been highlighted. It is hoped that these findings will, in the future, serve as a basis for the development of specific policies for these animals in order to increase the ethical value of the entire production chain, in accordance with consumers' demand and expectation for high animal welfare standards.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleonora Nannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (M.V.); (L.S.); (G.M.)
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De Luca S, Zanardi E, Alborali GL, Ianieri A, Ghidini S. Abattoir-Based Measures to Assess Swine Welfare: Analysis of the Methods Adopted in European Slaughterhouses. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:226. [PMID: 33477630 PMCID: PMC7831492 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The assessment of swine welfare requires feasible, reliable, and reasonable indicators. On-farm evaluation of pig welfare can provide valuable information to veterinarians and farmers. However, such protocols can result expensive and time-consuming. With this regard, an interest in the appraisal of swine welfare at abattoir has grown over the recent years. In particular, the use of certain lesions collected directly from slaughtered animals to determine the welfare status of pigs has been evaluated by several authors. In the present review, the different methods developed to score lesions collected directly from the body and the viscera of animals slaughtered in European abattoirs ("abattoir-based measures") are presented. The text specifically focuses on the methods currently available in the literature for the scoring of body, pluck and gastric lesions during post-mortem activities. Moreover, the strengths and weaknesses of abattoir-based measures schemes are discussed. To conclude, the future perspectives of the assessment of pig welfare at the slaughterhouse are described, appealing for a benchmarking system that can be systematically used by veterinarians and other professional figures involved in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvio De Luca
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (E.Z.); (A.I.); (S.G.)
| | - Emanuela Zanardi
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (E.Z.); (A.I.); (S.G.)
| | - Giovanni Loris Alborali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna-Headquarters, Via A. Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Adriana Ianieri
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (E.Z.); (A.I.); (S.G.)
| | - Sergio Ghidini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (E.Z.); (A.I.); (S.G.)
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Valros A, Välimäki E, Nordgren H, Vugts J, Fàbrega E, Heinonen M. Intact Tails as a Welfare Indicator in Finishing Pigs? Scoring of Tail Lesions and Defining Intact Tails in Undocked Pigs at the Abattoir. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:405. [PMID: 32766295 PMCID: PMC7378396 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tail biting lesions are a potential measure of on-farm animal welfare, as a large range of stressors increase the risk for tail biting outbreaks. Further, tail biting is a major challenge, as lesions due to tail biting decrease animal welfare and health, as well as production efficiency and carcass quality. The aim of this study was to suggest a tail scoring system for use at slaughterhouses processing undocked pigs, and to link tail lesion scores to meat inspection data. A further aim was to suggest a definition for an intact enough tail. To validate the suggested scoring system we assessed tails before and after scalding and compared results to pathological examinations. In total, 14,433 tails were scored, and 117 tails were collected for pathological examination. After scalding, 49.2% of all tails were scored as fully intact. Of tails with lesions 2.5% were scored as having major acute wounds (>2 cm), while 11.6% had minor acute wounds (<2 cm), and 36.7% healed lesions. Intact tails were on average 31.5 cm (SD 2.5 cm) long. Lesion scored at the slaughter-line agreed well with the pathological assessment. Tail lesions were associated with several meat inspection findings: tails with more severe lesions and of shorter length increased the risk for meat inspection findings to a higher degree. A detailed lesion scoring method helps to identify carcasses at risk for condemnations, as well as being a potential method for on-farm welfare estimation. We suggest that a system for scoring tail lesions in undocked pigs should utilize a combination of scoring of the lesion and measuring the tail length. As bite marks or bruises on an otherwise intact tail were not a concern for meat hygiene, we suggest the definition of an intact enough tail could allow the inclusion of tails with these mild changes. Meat inspection findings in carcasses with tails scored as healed, but with no fresh lesions, and with more than 75% of the average intact length remaining were rather similar to those of fully intact tails. Based on these findings we suggest that a tail of this length, and with no visible fresh lesions could also be considered intact enough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Valros
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Heli Nordgren
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Emma Fàbrega
- Animal Welfare Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentària (IRTA), Monells, Spain
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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