Animal Welfare and Production Challenges Associated with Pasture Pig Systems: A Review

Silvana Pietrosemoli and Clara Tang
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Silvana Pietrosemoli: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7621, USA
Clara Tang: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7612, USA

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 6, 1-34

Abstract: A review of published literature was conducted to identify pasture pig production system features that pose risks to animal welfare, and to develop recommendations aimed at improving the wellbeing of the animals managed in those systems. Pasture pig production systems present specific challenges to animal welfare that are inherent to the nature of these systems where producers have little room to make improvements. However, these systems present other challenges that could be reduced with a carefully designed system, by adopting appropriate management strategies and by avoiding management practices that are likely to negatively affect animal wellbeing. In pasture pig production systems, exposure to extreme temperatures, potential contact with wildlife and pathogens (especially parasites), vulnerability to predators, risk of malnutrition, pre-weaning piglet mortality, complexity of processes for monitoring and treating sick animals, and for cleaning and disinfection of facilities and equipment are among the main threats to animal welfare.

Keywords: pasture pig systems; threats; animal welfare; pasture-based pig systems; pig production; alternative pig production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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