Document type: Scientific article published in Frontiers in Animal Science
Authors: Conte S, Devillers N, Crowe TG, Zhang QY, Yan X, and Faucitano L
Preview: This study assessed the relationship between in-transit pig behavior and the vibrations recorded in a two-axle pot-belly trailer. During seven shipments (135 km) of pigs (125 kg) to the slaughter plant, five compartments (front-top [C1], rear-top [C4], front-middle [C5], center-middle [C7], and front-bottom [C9]) were equipped with accelerometers at the floor level. Four route sections (RS) lasting 17 min each were selected, and acceleration data were processed to calculate the vibration dose value (VDV) on the vertical, horizontal and lateral axes and the global vibration exposure (VDVv). Percentage of pigs standing, lying and sitting and the number of loss of balance (LOB) on the horizontal, lateral and vertical directions were observed in C1, C4 and C5. Data were analyzed for the effect of route section and compartment location using mixed models. The effect of compartment location on VDVs differed between route sections. Horizontal VDV was higher in C5 and C7 than C4 in RS1 (p = 0.005), whereas it was higher in C4 than C1, C5 and C9 in RS2 (p = 0.001). Lateral VDV in C1 was always the highest in every route section (p ≤ 0.001). C4 had the highest and C9 the lowest values for vertical VDV and VDVv for RS2, RS3 and RS4. Finally, C7 had the highest, and C5 the lowest vertical VDV and VDVv in RS1 (p ≤ 0.05). A greater percentage of pigs were standing in C5 compared to C1 and C4 (p ≤ 0.05), while pigs in C4 showed more vertical LOB than in C1 and C5 for all route sections. Finally, pigs in C4 had the lowest number of lateral LOB during RS2, but the highest during RS3 and RS4 (p ≤ 0.05). No clear relationship could be established between vibration levels and behavioral reaction of pigs. In the top rear compartment, more affected by vertical vibrations, pigs showed more instability during the end of the journey, whereas in front compartments, pigs showed more instability during RS2 which included roundabouts. The impact of vibrations and jolts in the trailer on pig behavior is most likely the result of several interacting factors.
