Prática de bem-estar animal privilegia sistema diferente de manejo de porcos

Summary

This report highlights a pig farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil, that follows progressive animal welfare practices, focusing on the well-being of pigs from birth to transport. The farm prioritizes spacious pens, environmental enrichment, and natural behaviors like rooting and wallowing in mud. Despite a higher mortality rate compared to confined systems, the farm's humane handling reduces stress and promotes health. With improved loading processes and better transport conditions, the farm significantly decreased mortality during transportation. This shift aligns with growing consumer demand for ethical animal treatment, setting an example for more humane farming practices.

Takeaways

• 😀 The farm in Mato Grosso follows animal welfare practices, with a focus on proper pig management, including maternity care and space for sows and piglets to move freely.
• 😀 Sows are housed in large, spacious pens (2.5m x 5m) where they can move around, unlike traditional smaller confinement systems, reducing stress.
• 😀 The farm provides special care for newborn piglets, including glucose injections and iron supplementation, with no tail docking or teeth clipping.
• 😀 The mortality rate of piglets is higher in open pens (18%) compared to confined ones (5-8%), but the farm focuses on minimizing stress through constant monitoring.
• 😀 To help piglets find their shelter, staff use noise cues, such as clapping or dragging a shovel, to teach them where to go for protection.
• 😀 The farm ensures pigs have an enriched environment with plenty of space, bedding, and natural features like grass and mud pools, promoting their natural behaviors.
• 😀 Mud pools serve as a natural sunscreen for pigs and help regulate their body temperature in hot weather, offering a significant welfare benefit.
• 😀 The farm's lower animal density and open environment help reduce the spread of diseases, with less chance of transmission compared to confined systems.
• 😀 The pigs are moved to a resting area before being transported, where they are allowed access to fresh water, ensuring their comfort during the pre-transport period.
• 😀 Embrapa's partnership with small producers, like Mr. Ladi, helps improve animal welfare during transport, with no force or violence used, reducing stress and injuries.
• 😀 Before adopting improved practices, the farm experienced high mortality rates during transport, but with Embrapa's guidelines, the number of deaths has dropped significantly (from 90,000 to 180 annually).

Q & A

What is one of the key differences between traditional pig farming and the farm in Mato Grosso mentioned in the report?

One of the key differences is the size of the sow pens, where pigs give birth. In this farm, sows are kept in larger pens with enough space to move, unlike traditional large-scale farms where sows are kept in smaller, confined stalls.

How many piglets are born on average per birth on the farm, and what is a key challenge for the caretakers?

On average, 14 piglets are born per litter, and a significant challenge for caretakers is preventing the piglets from being trampled by the sows, especially right after birth when they are very fragile.

What measures are taken to ensure the well-being of the piglets in their early days?

Piglets receive glucose injections to help them recover after birth, iron supplementation on the second day, and males are castrated on the sixth day. Additionally, piglets are trained to seek shelter when the sow becomes agitated.

What is the farm's mortality rate for piglets compared to traditional farms, and what is the cause of this difference?

The mortality rate for piglets on this farm is around 18%, compared to 5-8% on traditional farms with confined sow pens. This higher rate is mainly due to the increased space allowing more freedom of movement, but also making piglets more vulnerable.

How are piglets trained to use their shelter, and why is this important?

Piglets are trained to use their shelter by caretakers making noises like clapping or dragging a rake to guide them to the shelter. This is important for protecting the piglets from being stepped on or hurt by the sow when she becomes restless.

What is the purpose of installing iron bars in the pig pens, and how do the pigs respond?

The iron bars are installed to prevent sows from leaning against the pen walls when lying down. This helps protect the piglets, who quickly learn that the area near the bars is a safe space.

How does the farm enrich the environment for pigs, and why is this important?

The farm provides environmental enrichment like wood chips, sawdust, straw, and pastures for the pigs to root around in. This is important for their mental and physical well-being, as it mimics natural behaviors such as rooting and exploring.

Why do pigs enjoy the mud pools, and how does this relate to their welfare?

Pigs enjoy mud pools because they help protect them from the sun and keep them cool. The mud serves as a natural sunscreen and cooling agent, which is essential in hot climates to prevent heat stress and improve the pigs' comfort.

How is the health of the pigs maintained despite them being kept in more spacious environments?

Health is maintained by keeping the pigs in lower-density environments, which reduces the spread of diseases. Additionally, the farm's design allows for better airflow and more natural conditions, which contribute to the pigs' overall health.

What improvements were made to the transportation process for the pigs, and what was the impact?

The farm installed an elevator system for transporting pigs to the upper levels of the truck, reducing stress and injury during loading. This has made the process faster, with trucks being loaded in about an hour instead of two, and has improved animal welfare by reducing fatigue and injury.