A5026159486- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Healthcare and Venom Research
- Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Fatty Acid Research and Health
Texas Tech University
2022-2025
University of Minnesota
2023-2025
University of Minnesota System
2024-2025
Background/Objectives: Environmental enrichment (EE) devices are required in various countries and markets to promote animal welfare, with dual-purpose more likely encourage adoption. We developed an EE device that allows pigs self-administer liquids, designed align natural play behaviors, utilized a maternal pheromone (MP) attract the device. This study aimed evaluate efficacy of this delivering vaccines for Erysipelas, Ileitis, Mycoplasma, Influenza growing pigs. Methods: Pigs were...
Abstract The injury and stress associated with tail biting poses a welfare challenge for the swine industry. Differences in immune status may predispose pigs to tail-biting. Our aim was evaluate whether tail-biting differ from non-biters growth performance, injury, markers. Pigs (n = 252) intact tails were allocated pens (7 pigs/pen) conventional growing-finishing barn at 10 weeks of age based on litter origin (12 pens/treatment): littermates (all pen same sow), half-littermates (half one...
Abstract Among the numerous management challenges related to tail biting, identification of biters is near top list. In this study, we evaluated behaviors pigs identified as and non-biters. Pigs (n=216; 9 wks age) with intact tails were allocated growing-finishing pens (9 pigs/pen) video-recorded using NUtrack system for 14 wks. Tail injuries caused by biting assessed weekly a scoring from 0 4 (0 = no injury; 1 healed 2 visible blood; 3 wounds or abscesses; loss). A pen was recorded have...
Abstract Tail-biting is a persistent welfare problem in growing-finishing pigs. Identifying pigs that initiate tail-biting and understanding factors predisposing to tail biting remains challenging. This study aimed identify characterize biters compare growth, injury behavior between non-tail biters. Pigs (n = 432) with intact tails were assigned small (9 pigs/pen) or large (18 pens at 9 weeks of age remained the same pen until market weight 23 age. Growth performance was measured over...
The post-weaning environment in commercial pig nursery buildings is typically devoid of both the sow and her semiochemicals. Among other factors, loss maternal odors may contribute to stress. In this work, we report four studies (studies 1-4) using 192 weaned pigs evaluate effects a pheromone (MP) containing Myristic Acid Skatole on behavior performance. Study 1 examined among with focus lying, aggression feeding behaviors. All used body weight gain percentage that lost first 7 days after...
Abstract Hand vaccinating is time consuming and inefficient. Oral vaccines delivered by drenching are less likely to be used due a lack of labor on farms. Current environmental enrichment (EE) technologies do not allow pigs express certain natural behaviors such as rooting getting reward. We developed sprayer so that domestic can self-apply any liquid. By adding an attractant (pig maternal pheromone), the use EE devices individual increased. In this study, we Salmonella oral vaccine evaluate...
Some cats experience stress when they have novel experiences, such as infrequent transport. This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded that sought to objectively evaluate the effects of 2M2B collar on transported cat physiology and behavior. The statistical model included treatment (2M2B vs. control), period (70 min), sex, interactions. Cats wearing collars had an 8% lower PR (
Abstract Tail biting can compromise the welfare of pigs and cause economic losses for pork producers, but little is known about development tail its resulting impact on pigs. In this study, we investigated victimization by impacts performance housed in two group sizes. Pigs (n = 432, initial body weight 22.0 ± 3.7 kg) with intact tails were large (LG 18 pigs/pen, 12 pens) or small groups (SG 9 24 a barn fully slatted floors 14 wk until market (120.7 11.8 kg). Floor space (0.76 m2/pig) feeder...
Abstract Tail biting is a multifactorial phenomenon with many aspects contributing to tail outbreak. Little known about how social structures influence biting. Our objective was determine if litter origin impacts growth performance and damage caused by behaviors of undocked growing-finishing pigs. Pigs were separated based on their origin. Three treatments (12 pens/treatment) tested: LM = all littermates (all 7 pigs/pen farrowed nursed the same sow), N non-littermates (7 different sows), H...
Abstract Tail biting is both an economic and welfare problem of grower-finishing pigs. This destructive chewing behavior tails pen-mates causes challenges for farmers who raise pigs with intact tails, resulting in the need to find management solutions. Our objective was determine if group size influences growth performance tail damage caused by undocked growing-finishing Pigs (n = 432; initial BW 22 ± 3.8 kg) were allocated small pens or large on totally slatted floors, equal ratio barrows...
Abstract Hand vaccinating is time consuming and inefficient. Oral vaccines delivered by drenching are less likely to be used due a lack of labor on farms. Current environmental enrichment (EE) technologies do not allow pigs express natural behaviors such as rooting getting reward. We developed sprayer so that domestic can self-apply any liquid. By adding an attractant (pig maternal pheromone), use EE devices increased. In this study, we Salmonella oral vaccine evaluate efficacy three...