Implementing animal well-being technologies, U.S. producer perspective

Abstract Text: How animals are housed may have recently become a hot topic to consumers, but it has always been a priority to animal caretakers. For example, moving pigs from a snow covered dirt lot to an environmentally controlled building in the 1970’s is a form of implementing modern housing to improve animal well-being; and in fact probably was the largest improvement in swine well-being in 50 years.  More recently, consumer demand has forced pork producers to re-think housing gestating sows, specifically in group-pens. This is not a new theory. Historically, sows have been housed in group-pens before the implementation of the gestation stall. However, with modern genetics and technological advances, new group housing options exist and need to be re-considered. There are multiple options to consider when deciding which housing system to implement, such as existing facility design, reliability and durability of the system, access to technical support, feeding strategies, grouping strategies, easy access to animals, and most importantly animal well-being and employee capabilities.  It is important for the system adopted to be compatible with the caretaker’s abilities, because proper husbandry will have a larger impact on animal well-being than a housing system.  Sows in any housing system can be managed poorly or extremely well. Therefore, determining which system works best for the caretaker’s management style is the most important contribution to animal well-being. Other things to consider when deciding on which housing system to implement are the durability and reliability of the housing system.  The capital cost to renovate an existing facility is substantial. Making sure that the equipment invested in, is durable enough to sustain the environment will allow the employees more time caring for animals than repairing equipment.  There are facility changes that can be implemented after selecting a group-housing system for sows that allow for the caretaker to have easier access to the animals and to provide better care, such as slide through gates between pens or reducing the gap width of slatted floors.  Another form of management strategies to improve well-being of group-housed sows is to consider alternative feeding strategies.  Feeding a more fibrous diet may increase satiety and reduce competition. Overall, when adopting a new housing system or technology there are several management strategies that can be implemented to improve well-being, but the most important to consider is the caretaker’s ability and understanding of how to manage that system and, therefore, care for the animals.

Keywords: Caretaker, Implementation, Well-being