ZDST.htm

NR ZDST

AU Schäffer,D.; von Borell,E.; Laube,R.-B.

TI Separation of slaughter pigs in transfer chutes: a welfare-friendly driving procedure

QU Pig News and Information 2003; 24(2): 63N-66N

AB A patented method for a welfare-friendly separation of individual animals from a group was tested within a transfer chute equipped with triangular barriers in a slaughterhouse. Locomotor behaviour of 200 slaughter pigs was observed by video. Groups of 4 and 6 pigs were driven through a transfer chute containing triangle-shaped barriers of different widths (1.00 m and 1.22 m, respectively). On the basis of the highest separation success (86% in each group of 6 pigs) and the least usage of driving aids (0.02 and 0.05 flap blows/animal, respectively), a passage width of 1.00 m between barriers is recommended. The results indicate that the transfer chute with these barriers and corresponding constructive and technological adjustments (group size, width between elements and a passage width of 1.90 m to 2.00 m) as well as functional testing are suitable for a welfare-friendly individual separation of slaughter pigs. The advantages of individual separation are:
(1) prevention of group crowding by segregation of the group to individual animals walking in a row; (2) no animal blockage in the waiting pen occurs as animals are separated as they move through the passage; (3) a few flap strikes and human voice control are sufficient driving aids.

SP englisch

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