Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid Region
Reducing losses during pig transport is essential for breeders and transporters, particularly in semi-arid regions, where high temperatures exacerbate transport-related stress and risk of losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transport duration (short vs. long trips) on animal welfare a...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/214 |
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| author | Ana Letícia Vieira e Silva Nítalo André Farias Machado José Antonio Delfino Barbosa-Filho Carla Renata Figueiredo Gadelha Jordânio Inácio Marques Patrício Gomes Leite Andressa Carvalho de Sousa Wellington Cruz Corrêa Maria Gabriela Marcineiro Araújo Andreza Maciel de Sousa Telmo José Mendes Marcos Vinícius da Silva |
| author_facet | Ana Letícia Vieira e Silva Nítalo André Farias Machado José Antonio Delfino Barbosa-Filho Carla Renata Figueiredo Gadelha Jordânio Inácio Marques Patrício Gomes Leite Andressa Carvalho de Sousa Wellington Cruz Corrêa Maria Gabriela Marcineiro Araújo Andreza Maciel de Sousa Telmo José Mendes Marcos Vinícius da Silva |
| author_sort | Ana Letícia Vieira e Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reducing losses during pig transport is essential for breeders and transporters, particularly in semi-arid regions, where high temperatures exacerbate transport-related stress and risk of losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transport duration (short vs. long trips) on animal welfare and production losses during the commercial transport of weaner pigs in a semi-arid region. A total of 20 commercial journeys were monitored, with transport times of 30 min (15 km) and 150 min (170 km). Upon arrival, physiological and behavioral stress indicators were assessed in 960 weaner pigs (26.4 ± 2.8 kg body weight, 48 per journey). Production losses were determined by calculating the percentage of injured pigs (NAI), fatigued pigs (NANI), and those that were dead on arrival (DOA), whereas the total loss was expressed by the sum of NAI + NANI + DOA. Weaner pigs transported for 30 min exhibited significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and stress biomarkers (cortisol and creatine kinase levels). Additionally, this group showed a higher percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.05) of “sitting” pigs and a lower percentage of “lying” pigs in transit, as well as a higher frequency of agonistic behavior after transport compared to those transported for 150 min. Furthermore, higher production losses were recorded in the 30 min transport group, primarily due to the increased percentage of fatigued pigs and DOA pigs. Therefore, shorter transport operations in the Brazilian semi-arid region increased the risk to animal welfare and productive losses, likely due to handling-induced stress during loading. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9faed8383b1c48ba998d8d8a6cd7997e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-9faed8383b1c48ba998d8d8a6cd7997e2025-08-20T01:49:53ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-03-0112321410.3390/vetsci12030214Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid RegionAna Letícia Vieira e Silva0Nítalo André Farias Machado1José Antonio Delfino Barbosa-Filho2Carla Renata Figueiredo Gadelha3Jordânio Inácio Marques4Patrício Gomes Leite5Andressa Carvalho de Sousa6Wellington Cruz Corrêa7Maria Gabriela Marcineiro Araújo8Andreza Maciel de Sousa9Telmo José Mendes10Marcos Vinícius da Silva11Centro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Mister Hull, Fortaleza 60440-554, CE, BrazilCentro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Mister Hull, Fortaleza 60440-554, CE, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilCentro de Ciências Chapadinha, Universidade Federal de Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, BrazilReducing losses during pig transport is essential for breeders and transporters, particularly in semi-arid regions, where high temperatures exacerbate transport-related stress and risk of losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transport duration (short vs. long trips) on animal welfare and production losses during the commercial transport of weaner pigs in a semi-arid region. A total of 20 commercial journeys were monitored, with transport times of 30 min (15 km) and 150 min (170 km). Upon arrival, physiological and behavioral stress indicators were assessed in 960 weaner pigs (26.4 ± 2.8 kg body weight, 48 per journey). Production losses were determined by calculating the percentage of injured pigs (NAI), fatigued pigs (NANI), and those that were dead on arrival (DOA), whereas the total loss was expressed by the sum of NAI + NANI + DOA. Weaner pigs transported for 30 min exhibited significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and stress biomarkers (cortisol and creatine kinase levels). Additionally, this group showed a higher percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.05) of “sitting” pigs and a lower percentage of “lying” pigs in transit, as well as a higher frequency of agonistic behavior after transport compared to those transported for 150 min. Furthermore, higher production losses were recorded in the 30 min transport group, primarily due to the increased percentage of fatigued pigs and DOA pigs. Therefore, shorter transport operations in the Brazilian semi-arid region increased the risk to animal welfare and productive losses, likely due to handling-induced stress during loading.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/214animal transportstressthermoregulationproductive losses |
| spellingShingle | Ana Letícia Vieira e Silva Nítalo André Farias Machado José Antonio Delfino Barbosa-Filho Carla Renata Figueiredo Gadelha Jordânio Inácio Marques Patrício Gomes Leite Andressa Carvalho de Sousa Wellington Cruz Corrêa Maria Gabriela Marcineiro Araújo Andreza Maciel de Sousa Telmo José Mendes Marcos Vinícius da Silva Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid Region Veterinary Sciences animal transport stress thermoregulation productive losses |
| title | Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid Region |
| title_full | Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid Region |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid Region |
| title_short | Effect of Transportation Time on Weaner Pigs’ Welfare and Productive Losses in a Semi-Arid Region |
| title_sort | effect of transportation time on weaner pigs welfare and productive losses in a semi arid region |
| topic | animal transport stress thermoregulation productive losses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/214 |
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