Animal welfare and pre-transport fasting of pigs - short review

TY - GEN

T1 - Animal welfare and pre-transport fasting of pigs - short review

AU - Herskin, Mette S

AU - Kernberger-Fischer, Isa

AU - van Bijnen-Hendrikx, Lysanne

PY - 2023/12

Y1 - 2023/12

N2 - In this review, pre-transport fasting of different categories of pigs was considered. Despite the lack of scientific data, this management procedure appears to be quite common, especially when pigs are destined for slaughter. Reasons for fasting include improved hygiene during transport and at slaughterhouses, and reduced costs for feed during the last day(s) while pigs are kept on farm. There may also be welfare benefits from this practice in terms of reduced risk of in-transit mortality, hyperthermia and motion sickness. However, the evidence underlying these welfare benefits is weak.

AB - In this review, pre-transport fasting of different categories of pigs was considered. Despite the lack of scientific data, this management procedure appears to be quite common, especially when pigs are destined for slaughter. Reasons for fasting include improved hygiene during transport and at slaughterhouses, and reduced costs for feed during the last day(s) while pigs are kept on farm. There may also be welfare benefits from this practice in terms of reduced risk of in-transit mortality, hyperthermia and motion sickness. However, the evidence underlying these welfare benefits is weak.

U2 - 10.5281/zenodo.10464492

DO - 10.5281/zenodo.10464492

M3 - Review

BT - European Union Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

ER -