Based on: Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching F

1
Based on Guide for the Care and Use of
Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and
Teaching(First Revised Edition, 1999)Swine
Training Module, Released 2002

• Swine Training
• Level 1

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Outline

• General features of pigs and terminology
• Production systems and management practices
• Environmental management, facilities, and
  equipment
• Feeding and nutrition
• Pig health care (veterinary care)
• Research procedures
• Occupational healthand safety

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General Features of Pigs

• Highly adaptable
• Intelligent and curious
• Respond to a predictable daily routine
• Social
• No functional sweat glands
• Keen sense of smell
• Motivated to root and chew
• Omnivorous, simple stomach

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Terminology

• Order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
• Genus Species Sus scrofa (domesticus)
• Boar intact male Barrow castrated male
• Sow female Gilt young female

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Terminology

• Piglet young pig, usually before weaning
• Weaners, growers, finishers weaned, growing
  pigs
• Hog, swine, and pig are equivalent names in the
  USA

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Types of Production Systems

• Outdoor
• Dirt lots
• Pasture
• Indoor
• Floor type variations
• Solid, with or without bedding
• Partial or total slats
• Ventilation variations
• Open front
• Curtain sided
• Mechanically ventilated

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Stages and Types of Production
Farrow-to-feeder pig
Wean-to-finish
Farrow-to-finish
Feeder pig- to-finish

• Breeding
• Gestation
• Farrowing/lactation
• Nursery
• Growing/finishing

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Production Systems

• All-in, all-out
• Segregated, single-source in one room
• Co-mingled in the same room or site
• Continuous flow
• Multi-site systems One-site, two-site,
  three-site production

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Good Husbandry Practices

• House species separately
• Protect from extreme climates
• Handle gently
• Provide nutritionally balanced diets
• Provide water ad libitum
• Minimize number of times pigs are moved or
  mixed

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Standard Operating Procedures or SOP

• An SOP may be written and then approved by the
  IACUC to describe common procedures, especially
  management procedures, such as
• Cleaning and sanitation of facilities
• Feeding
• Litter processing
• Weaning
• Transportation

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Management Practices

• Biosecurity
• Identification and observation of pigs
• Standard Agricultural Practices for swine
  (potentially painful practices performed for a
  reason)
• Handling and transportation

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Guidelines for Swine Husbandry

• Biosecurity
• People movements and tasks
• Shower in to protect pigs
• Shower out to protect people
• Foot baths
• Sanitation
• Protect feed storage sitesfrom risks such as
  vermin

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Guidelines for Swine Husbandry

• Pig movements
• Isolate new introductions
• Evaluate risk of movement
• Transportation
• Drivers handlers should be trained
• Vehicle should have appropriate space and
  minimize potential for injury

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Observation of Pigs

• All animals should be observed twice daily,
  unless more is warranted
• Observe general comfort health
• Recognize need for emergency action
• Be sure pigs have the intended feed and water
  quality and quantity
• Address abnormalities among pigs or facilities
• Complete daily observation sheets, environmental
  data and animal treatment records
• Emergency contact information should always be
  posted

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Standard Agricultural Practices

• Castration
• 1 to 14 days of age
• Clipping needle teeth (trimming or grinding)
• Ear notching, tattoo, ortagging
• Tail docking
• Hoof trimming
• Level 2 provides moreinformation about
  thesepractices.

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Management Systems for Swine - Weaning

• Weaning can occur at any age
• Under 20 days is considered early weaning
• SEW (segregated early weaning) is a special case
  of early weaning
• MEW (medicated early weaning) refers to the use
  of antimicrobials in early weaned pigs
• Weaning age determines the amount of extra care
  required younger pigs require greater care
  (warmer environment, specialized diets)

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Handling and Transportation

• Environmental conditions during transport
• Temperature, ventilation
• Floor area and surface
• Sanitation
• No sharp objects
• Handle pigs calmly use flight zone
• Use a board to move pigs
• Electric prods should be avoided
• Never transport nonambulatory animals
• Observe swine handling video

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Environmental Management

• Thermal environment ventilation
• Air quality
• Noise
• Lighting
• Manure
• Environmental enrichment
• Facilities equipment

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Thermal Environment

• Effective environmental temperature takes into
  account all modes of heat flux consider
  ventilation rates, floor type, bedding,
  evaporative coolers, drippers

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Thermal Environment

• Pig behavior should be observed to determine
  whether pigs are comfortable
• Warm pigs spread out, increase respiratory rate
• Cold pigs huddle, pile, and shiver
• Specific temperature needs of pigs are given in
  the Ag Guide (p 73) and in Level 2

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Ventilation

• Good thermal environment air quality improve
  animal health
• The objective of winter ventilation is to remove
  animal moisture and gases while maintaining
  minimum temperature
• The objective of summer ventilation is to remove
  heat and gases, and water vapor will follow

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Air Quality

• Gases
• Ammonia (irritates eyes nose)
• Hydrogen sulfide (smells like rotten eggs)
• High humidity (water condensation)
• Others
• Dust (breathable)
• Feed
• Animal dander
• Products of combustion (from gas heaters or
  engines)

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Noise

• Pigs startle easily avoid sudden, loud noises
• Radios can reduce pig startling
• Excessive noise can interfere with nursing
  behavior

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Lighting

• Pigs may be less photosensitive than some
  species (in terms of annual reproductive cycles)
• Pigs depend more on senses other than vision
• Sufficient light intensity is required for
  animal observation of health and well being
• Pigs have no known preferred photoperiod
  photoperiod may impact research outcomes

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Manure

• Management and facilities should have
  established dunging areas to permit pigs to keep
  themselves clean
• Sanitation improves
• Air quality
• Microbial numbers
• Pig health
• Manure can be handled wet (liquid manure) or dry
  (with bedding)
• Manure disposal can impact biosecurity

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EnvironmentalEnrichment

• Environmental enrichment is a modification of
  the environment that improves the animals
  biological functioning and, hence, its physical,
  psychological, and/or social well-being (Ag
  Guide, p 8)

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EnvironmentalEnrichment

• Pigs normally are motivated to root, chew, and
  rub thus, enrichment in the form of hanging
  chains or hoses or material (such as straw
  bedding) to manipulate on the floor are often
  used as enrichment

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Facilities and Equipment

• Minimum 1 feeder space per 10 pigs
• Minimum 1 water space for 20 pigs
• Space requirements are given in the Ag Guide (p
  75)
• Crowded pigs show behavioral problems, grow
  slower, and have a higher injury rate than pigs
  with adequate space

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Feeding and Nutrition

• Feed represents a major cost, source of
  variation in performance, and a biosecurity risk
• Feed quality is important
• Nutrient composition
• Contaminants (microbes, toxins, molds, etc.)
• Vermin control measures should be considered
• NRC (1998) nutrient requirements of swine should
  be met
• Caretakers should make sure that pigs of a given
  stage are fed the correct diet

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Feeding Systems

• Growing pigs and lactating sows are often fed
  until full (ad libitum), but can be limit-fed in
  research projects
• Pregnant sows are fed less than ad libitum to
  maintain body condition (not too fat or too thin)
  and to enhance reproductive efficiency and health
• Feed may be provided dry or wet (mixed with
  water)
• Specific feed and water consumption estimates
  are given by NRC (1998)

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Pig Health Care(Veterinary Care)

• The objective of the veterinary care program is
  to minimize pain and suffering and to maintain
  animal health and productivity
• Biosecurity (covered previously)
• Health program
• Regulatory compliance
• Signs of pain and distress

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Pig Health Care(Veterinary Care)

• Monitor health
• Present status (known and unknown)
• Surveillance
• Necropsy
• Serology
• Tissue diagnostics
• Performance measures
• Caretaker observations
• Prevent disease
• Vaccination
• Sub-therapeutic antimicrobials

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Pig Health Care(Veterinary Care)

• Treat disease
• Isolation
• Individual animal treatments
• Water or feed medications
• Training of animal users
• Regulatory compliance
• FDA compliance (drug withdrawal times, following
  drug label requirements)
• DEA compliance for controlled substances
• USDA-APHIS-Animal Care

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Pain and Distress

• Pain A sensation of discomfort that may lead
  to distress and feelings of urgency resulting
  from the stimulation of specialized nerve
  endings
• Relieve the causative factor
• Give remedial medical treatment or humane
  euthanasia
• Report to appropriate authorities
• Anesthetics may not provide analgesia
• Follow approved procedures when animals are
  observed in pain or distress

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Normal Pig Behavior

• Understand normal behavior (pigs not in pain)
• Interest in surroundings
• Willingness to move around
• Exploring, rooting, chewing behaviors
• Tail wagging
• Reaction to handling
• Vocalization when presented with feed and
  willingness to eat
• Understand normal behavior prior to potentially
  painful procedures

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Signs of Pain and Distress in Pigs

• Lethargy, restlessness
• Lack of appetite
• Increased vocalization, especially when
  palpating a painful area (pigs may vocalize at
  other times, when not in pain)
• Increased aggression
• Guarded posture
• Self mutilation
• Intense rubbing or scratching of skin
• Increased or shallow breathing
• Abnormal appearance or behavior

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Painful Experiences

• Lameness, swollen joints, broken bones, or hoof
  pad damage
• Bitten tail, ear, or vulva or prolapsed rectum
• Physical injuries
• Infectious diseases
• Rough handling
• Certain research procedures
• Standard Agricultural Practices (tail docking,
  castration, teeth clipping, tattooing, or ear
  notching)

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Blood Sampling

• Most common blood sampling sites
• Neck (superior vena cava or jugular vein)
• Ear veins

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Physical Restraint

• Manual restraint
• V-trough for younger pigs
• Snare older animals
• Self-locking head catch gate
• Pig slings
• Chemical restraint
• Metabolism stalls

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Examples of Invasive Research

• Major surgery Any surgery that penetrates and
  exposes a body cavity or produces substantial
  impairment of physical or physiological function
• Examples of chronic catheterization or
  cannulation
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Gastrointestinal tract
• Bile and pancreatic excretions
• Venous

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Euthanasia (painless, rapid death)

• Worker safety and humane euthanasia are important
  considerations
• Refer to the most recent AVMA panel on euthanasia
  or NPB/American Association of Swine
  Veterinarians (AASV) recommendations
• Carbon dioxide chamber for young pigs
• Penetrating captive bolt and exsanguination for
  older pigs
• Overdose of anesthetic or euthanasia solution

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Examples of Research Procedures

• Physical restraint
• Body weight measurement
• Blood collection
• More invasive procedures (such as surgery)
• Administration of test compounds

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Administration of Compounds

• Subcutaneous (SC)
• Lateral side of the neck
• Flank
• Intramuscular (IM)
• Cervical muscle groups
• Intravenous (IV)
• Central or ventrolateral ear veins
• Jugular vein or superior vena cava
• Intraperitoneal (IP)
• Injection into the main body cavity

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Occupational Health Safety

• Occupational health and safety is important for
  the well being of pigs and for people who work
  with animals.
• Occupational health and safety of farm animals
  falls into two general categories
• Worker safety
• Protection from zoonotic diseases and allergies

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Minimizing Human Health Risk

• People who have a healthy immune system have
  very low risk of zoonoses
• Practice appropriate pen sanitation and personal
  hygiene such as hand washing
• Never eat, drink, or smoke near animals
• Use proper personal protective equipment (PPE
  e.g., gloves, farm clothes, masks) to lower risk
  of a zoonotic incident or exposure

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General Farm Safety

• Use safety procedures when lifting heavy objects
• Use hearing protection when restraining pigs or
  when noisy environments are expected
• Obtain training on use of farm equipment (e.g.,
  tractors, hydraulics) prior to use
• Understand procedures in case of fire, natural
  disaster, power failure, or other emergency
  situations

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Summary Conclusions

• General features of pigs and terminology
• Husbandry systems and management
  practices
• Environmental management, facilities, and
  equipment
• Feeding and nutrition
• Veterinary care
• Research procedures
• Occupational healthand safety

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The End