main aspects of the provisions for pig welfare

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Farm Animal Welfare

An NGO´s perspective on the enforcement of Council Directive 2008/120/EC

Overview

1. Short presentation of PROVIEH

2. Main animal welfare aspects of the „Pig Directive“

3. Major problem areas of correct implementation

4. New findings & practical solutions from Germany

5. Conclusions

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Main aspects of the provisions for pig welfare

Council Directive 2001/88/EC / Council Directive 2008/120/EC

•Group housing of pregnant sows and gilts

•Floor space allowance

•Floor design

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•Provision of nesting material for sows

•Provision of proper enrichment material

•Prohibition of routine tail docking & tooth clipping

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Provision of nesting material for sows

Commission Directive 2001/93/ECCHAPTER II - SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF PIGS

B. SOWS AND GILTS

3. In the week before the expected farrowing time sows and giltsmust be given suitable nesting material in sufficient quantity unless it is not technically feasible for the slurry system used in the establishment.

JUTE BAGS AND CORN SILAGE ARE

SUITABLE & PERFECTLY COMPATIBLE

WITH SLATTED FLOORS / SLURRY SYSTEMS!

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Enrichment material for sowsArticle 3

5. Member States shall ensure that, without prejudice to the requirements laid down in Annex I, sows and gilts have permanent access to manipulable material at least complying with the relevant requirements of that Annex.

7. Member States shall ensure that all dry pregnant sows and gilts, in order to satisfy their hunger and given the need to chew, are given a sufficient quantity of bulky or high-fibre food as well as high-energy food.

Possible Solutions:

Straw pellet dispensers &

Straw / hay racks in groups

4© funbar

Provisions on tail docking & enrichment material

Council Directive 91/630/EEC - ANNEX - CHAPTER I, GENERAL CONDITIONS

12. All pigs must be provided with a diet appropriate to their age, weight and behavioural and physiological needs, to promote a positive state of health and well-being.

16. In addition to the measures normally taken to prevent tail-biting and other vices and in order to enable them to satisfy their behavioural needs, all pigs, taking into account environment and stocking density, must be able to obtain straw or any other suitable material or object.

=> Suitable is what satisfies the foraging instinct

76 % of activity = search for food (needs reward) !5

The need to explore, chew and eat

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PROPER ENRICHMENT MATERIAL IS NECESSARY !

Foraging: 76 %

Resting 6 %Resting 6 %

Social behavior

11 %

Social behavior

11 %Others

7 %Others

7 %

Acc. to: Prof. Dr. Thomas Blaha, TiHo Hannover, GermanyAcc. to: Prof. Dr. Thomas Blaha, TiHo Hannover, Germany

BehaviorBehavior

QUEST FOR FOOD

Example of enrichment material for weaners

Suisse

hay basket

(alternative

filling: straw

or alfalfa)

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Suitable provision of enrichment material

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Foraging on the ground !

Arena with straw bedding

© Haus Düsse

Important alarm function of the pig tail

A curly, healthy, entire pig tail = animal is + feels well

A docked tail can hardly indicate anything !

A bad sign: The tail tucked between the hind legs

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How can we keep tails undocked and healthy?

…mostly caused by endotoxines !Scientific evidence by Prof. Dr. F. Jaeger (TU, issue 1-2/2013)

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Ear and tail necrosis…

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Development of ear- and tail necrosis

Excessive strain on piglets´ digestive system…EARLY WEANING…EARLY WEANING

…HIGH ENERGY, LOW FIBER FEED AFTER WEANING…HIGH ENERGY, LOW FIBER FEED AFTER WEANING

…WATERSTRESS AFTER WEANING…WATERSTRESS AFTER WEANING

CHRONIC INFLAMMATIONS (HEART, LIVER…) AS WELL AS EAR- AND TAIL-NECROSIS

ENDOTOXIN PROLIFERATION

ENDOTOXIN PROLIFERATION

EAR- AND/OR TAIL BITING EAR- AND/OR TAIL BITING

Prevention starts even before weaning !

1. Weaning age 28 days (CD 2008/120/EC !)

2. Peat for suckling picklets and weaners

3. High drinking water quality & availability in the flatdeck (bowl instead of nipple drinkers, low iron)

4. Enough proper (fresh and edible) enrichment material for all pigs

5. Proper feed quality and composition (proteins !)

6. Observation of animal behavior & swift intervention where signs of alarm appear

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Early warning signs for endotoxine intoxication

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Tails stuck out horizontally

Swollen eyes / loss of hair around eyes

Swollen ear vains

Test for waterstress

Field trials with bowls of fresh, clean drinking water

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Inadecuate water supply to weaners (nipple drinker, lack of quality)

Swollen ear vains indicate dehydration

Manipulable material

(Artificial) toys do not provide proper enrichment

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Bulky feed is indispensible for animal health & welfare !

ADDITIONAL RISIK-FACTORS FOR TAIL BITING

Tail biting can be caused by other factors than necrosis and lack of adecuate enrichment material, such as:-> too few well functioning teats of highly fertile sows with large litters (frustrated, re-directed suckling instinct)

-> inadecuate feed composition (proteins, minerals…)

-> too much competition for feed / trough space

-> stress (draft, heat/cold, humidity, noise…)

-> illness / parasites (PRRS, mycoplasma, mycotoxines...)

-> stocking density too high …

=> Management and housing conditions must be revised before pig tails can be left intact !

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Some measures against tail biting

Early reactions to incidents of tail / ear biting include:

•identify biting / bitten animal(s), isolate for a few days

•check feed quality & composition (aminoacids, mycotoxins...)

•provide additional fresh roughage (alfalfa !)

•mineral licks / salt

•carob / locust bean gum

(Johannesbrotkernmehl)

•rock flour (Gesteinsmehl)

•vitamine E + selenium

•…17

Careful observation is necessary !

Conclusions

- Routine tail docking is forbidden & can be succesfully avoided

- Early weaning as well as waterstress and high energy/low fiber diet for weaners and pigs promote endotoxine intoxication, necrosis and tail biting

- Access to proper (edible) enrichment material is essential to avoid gut health problems and tail biting

- EU compliance-inspections should include the provision of proper nesting / enrichment materials for sows, fattening pigs and weaners (300 g / 50 g / 25 / g per day)

- The bi-annual inspection reports of Member States to the Commission on compliance with the „pig directive“ should be made available to the public

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THANK YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTION !

Special thanks to: Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Jaeger, MKULNV (NRW), Mirjam Lechner, Rudi Wiedmann, Ueli Koller for field studies, pictures, advice and support.

To keep healthy, long pig tails …