Problems: Electric Prod Use on Pigs

Source: dnlfarmsltd


The US and Canadian swine industries have developed training programs: TQA and CLT for truckers, PQAPlus and ACA for other handlers. Each of these programs covers a range of topics and a lot of useful information. There is very little variation in the pig handling content of these programs and it is essentially the same information we tried to practice in our own barns in the ’80s and early ’90s.

If I were a handler or trucker having problems moving pigs and attended one of these courses:

1. I would not gain the information I need to correct my problems.
2. There’s a very good chance I’d pick up ideas that would make my situation worse. 

Yes, I have stated my concerns to the bodies responsible for these courses.

Electric prod use is far more than just a pig welfare concern.

When handlers use electric shocks excessively and inappropriately, they make moving pigs more difficult, more time consuming, and more dangerous to their own health and safety than it needs to be. 

While they might not be conscious of it, aggressive use of an electric prod to move pigs plays heavily on the hearts and minds of the handler using the prod and on others witnessing it.

My experience is that people don’t shock pigs because they enjoy doing it. They do it because they honestly don’t know any other way to get their work done. Once they know a better way most are more than happy to ditch the electric prod or at least quit squeezing the button.

Over the years many people have told me how Low Stress Pig Handling techniques have saved them time, reduced labor requirements and workplace injuries, helped them master pig moving tasks that previously caused them despair.

They often finish with “… and I don’t have to use a prod” or “and we don’t have prods in the barn anymore” or some variation on the theme of reduced prod use.

More than just telling of their accomplishments, these people display obvious relief that they no longer need to rely on an electric prod to move pigs.

Electric prod use isn’t just a pig welfare issue. It’s also a human health, safety, and welfare issue. I don’t believe we can totally eliminate all electric prod use - there are situations when a single strategic shock may be our best option- but those situation constitute only a tiny fraction of the times prods are currently used.

We need to do everything we can to reduce handlers’ dependency on electric shocks to move pigs.  That starts with providing a clear and accurate understanding of how pigs respond to their handlers.

Even before you hit the button, the very act of getting into position so you can shock a pig sets you on a course for handling problems.

Review: Last week’s blog showed a handler moving pigs out of a pen. He was carrying an electric prod but not using it as a driving tool.


Side position, body language, and distance encouraging pigs to Flow

It is important to understand these pigs would not have moved that easily if the handler had:

-          even attempted to get close enough to use his electric prod on them

-          positioned himself behind the pigs as per the Flight Zone / Point of Balance diagram 

 The main reasons handlers use energized electric prods are:

-          to keep pigs moving and prevent them from stopping

-          to get pigs moving again after they’ve stopped

We can reduce electric prod use simply by showing handlers how their actions stop pig movement.

Handler position is important and is the theme of this week’s examples.

Pigs want to keep track of us. Our position in the pen determines:

-          where pigs want to go and

-          whether pigs can go

Example 1: follows two handlers moving through a pen and shows pig responses at three different handler locations. 

Picture 1:

Handlers entering along side of pen

-          Handlers were on the inside of the arc that would carry pigs towards the open gate

-          The handlers’ bubble was guiding and confining pigs to a stream that could continue Flowing through the open gate

-          Handler A had already gone too far

Picture 2:

Handlers have gone too deep in the pen

-          Handlers were too far into the pen and their bubble was no longer restricting pigs to a stream narrow enough to keep Flowing when they arrived at the gate

-          Pigs arrived at the gate faster than they could leave. Movement stopped which  encouraged Bunching herd behaviour and pigs to turn back

-          Handler position was drawing pigs’ attention away from the gate

Picture 3:

Handlers broadside behind pigs

-          Rear pigs were facing towards the handlers and wanting to circle back

-          Congestion at the gate

These handlers blew right past their most effective position- along the side of the pen, in a rush to get behind the pigs and chase them out.

If instead of paddles these handlers had been aggressively using electric prods, they would have crowded forward so they could reach the pigs with their prods.  Increased fear from extra crowding and fear and pain from shocks would have made it even more difficult for pigs to turn their attention away from the handlers and leave the pen.

That is precisely the situation many handlers create for themselves when they rely on electric prods to move pigs.

On the time side, one handler using his/her position effectively could have moved pigs out of  the pen more easily and effectively than these two people did.

Example 2: This handler was using a prod primarily on the pen hardware but also on some of the pigs.

Remember that pigs want to keep track of us:; even more so if they are scared or closely confined. Electric shocks increase pigs’ fear levels and attention to their handler.

Handler\’s position stopping movement

Watch VIdeo





Handler's position stopping movement



This handler stayed close to the gate which was a good thing but by working in position ”A” , he pulled pigs in an arc along the yellow arrow into a dead end and back into the pen. The prod snapping got pigs riled up and more attentive to the handler. 

Working from position “B” would have pulled pigs in an arc along the green arrow and out of the pen. No stopping. No reason for the electric prod.

 

This handler always entered pens along the right hand side. On the opposite side of the alley that put him on the correct side of the pen.

Why always enter on the right hand side? If you don’t make a conscious decision based on something else, something as simple as your handedness can direct which hand you carry each tool in and in turn how you position yourself in the pen.
 

Summary:

I’ve seen handlers and truckers fight vehemently for the right to use an electric prod then willingly set it aside when they realized that and how they can move pigs more easily without one.

Pigs respond in predictable patterns whether handlers are aware of those patterns and use them to their advantage or fight them.

The pig handling training programs promoted and sanctioned by the North American swine industry: TQA, CLT, ACA, PQAPlus… don’t tell handlers about the range of pig response patterns and how to work with them. All these programs promote the Flight zone / Point of Balance diagram which was originally devised to tells handlers how to position themselves to move one cow through a curved single file chute: suitable for its intended purpose but a position and approach that interferes with easy pig movement in the vast majority of pig handling situations.

Concern for handlers has driven all our efforts including development of DNL’s online “Low Stress Pig Handling Course for Truckers” using lots of real life loading and unloading video to show truckers how to use pigs’ response patterns to their advantage. It’s at  www.dnlfarmstraining.com

Finally, this will be the last Low Stress Pig Handling blog.

Thanks to all who have followed us, emailed, commented, or visited with us over the past 2 1/2 years. We truly appreciate you.

We will continue to provide Low Stress Pig Handling training, presentations, coaching, and consulting and can be reached:

by phone:  1-306-276-5761 
or by email: dnlfarms@xplornet.com

We wish you all the best. 

Take care
Nancy Lidster