Pigs
What is boar taint and how can it be prevented?
As male pigs reach puberty, they start producing andosterone, a male sex hormone, and skatole, a digestive by-product formed in the intestines. The production of andosterone and skatole is responsible for boar taint, an unpleasant odour and taste found in meat from some (not all) entire male pigs.
What are the animal welfare issues associated with pig production?
In Australia, pigs farmed for meat may be housed in intensive indoor, semi-indoor (outdoor-bred) or outdoor (free-range) farming systems. Intensive indoor housing systems can lead to several serious welfare problems.
What is the difference between, free range, outdoor bred, organic, sow-stall free, RSPCA Approved?
‘Free range’, ‘outdoor bred’, ‘organic’ and ‘sow-stall free’ are terms that are applied to animal-based food products, such as meat or eggs. They refer to the way in which animals are farmed and housed.
What are the animal welfare issues associated with different stunning methods for pigs at slaughter?
In Australia, it is legally required that pigs are stunned prior to slaughter. The purpose of stunning is to ensure an animal is unconscious and unable to experience pain, suffering or distress before slaughter.
What are the animal welfare issues with mass killing of farmed animals using ventilation shutdown?
Ventilation shutdown (VSD) methods cause prolonged distress and suffering of animals before death.
How are pigs farmed in Australia?
Pigs are intelligent, sociable and inquisitive animals. Historically pigs were farmed as an additional source of income in the dairy and grain industry, but pig farming has since evolved into its own industry with ~2. 4 million pigs currently being farmed in Australia.
What is mass killing?
Mass killing, or the killing of large numbers of farmed animals, is at times required in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak to control and prevent further spread of the disease.
What is a mating stall for pigs and is it different to a sow stall?
A mating stall is a crate used to hold a female pig for artificial insemination. A mating stall allows the female breeding pig to stand up or lie down but prevents her from turning around.
Why is environmental enrichment important for pig welfare?
Providing environmental enrichment may be an effective strategy to improve animal welfare by enabling positive affective (emotional) states and improving biological functioning, particularly where animals are confined indoors.
Why is group housing important for pig welfare?
Pigs are intelligent, social animals, with a complex range of behaviours and needs. Group housing of pregnant pigs allows them to engage in exploratory and foraging behaviour, or to interact socially with other pigs. In commercial systems, sows are managed in either static or dynamic groups.