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Researchers Target Improved Comfort During Transport

Scientists working on behalf of Swine Innovation Porc are striving to improve the comfort of young pigs being moved throughout North America. As part of research being conducted on behalf of Swine Innovation Porc a multi-institutional team of scientists is working with commercial transporters to identify the effects of short and long duration transport on early weaned piglets.
 
Dr. Yolande Seddon, an Assistant Professor in Swine Behavior and Welfare with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare, says the work will help identify priority areas to be targeted to improve the transportation of weaned pigs.
 
Clip-Dr. Yolande Seddon-Western College of Veterinary Medicine:
 
Why do we transport weaned pigs? Typically it is because we have high health sow barns and piglets are being removed from the sow barns and transferred to growing facilities, essentially where the markets are, where there is more feed supplies, so efficient production practices essentially. Some of them are transported across Canada itself, many are also transported across the border into the Midwestern United States.
 
They're typically moved in trucks, typically flatbeds but there are some potbellied trailers that are still being used to transport weaner pigs. If there are short haul journeys, it may be just going from a sow barn to nursery unit, then they may be moved by the facility in smaller trailers. Essentially this look will be able to tell us if there are some concerns with existing practices from which would be an initial area to target to rectify.
 
If there are no concerns, I would have no doubt there's probably still areas for improvement. So what are the main risk factors for compromise to pig welfare and dead on arrival and then it provides priority areas to be targeted to improve the transportation of weaned pigs.
Source : Farmscape

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Lambs Are Taking Over The Farm!

Video: Lambs Are Taking Over The Farm!

In today's exciting episode of our daily sheep farming vlog at Ewetopia Farms, we witness the lambs taking over the lambing barn as it rapidly fills up. Join us as we embark on a thrilling day of managing lambs as we work on emptying lambing jugs to accommodate the lambs that just keep on coming!

We begin by providing updates on the events of the previous night and share the progress of all the lambs. Throughout the day, we engage in various tasks such as tagging, vaccinating, docking, and recording the lambs as they demonstrate their readiness to leave the lambing jugs and join the group pen. As lambs are moved in and out of the jugs, we ensure each pen is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with lime before welcoming the next ewe and her lambs. Along the way, we encounter and resolve a few challenges related to lambing, including unplugging a ewe's teat to facilitate milk flow for her lamb's nourishment and addressing a bleeding umbilical cord on a newborn Dorset lamb. We remain hopeful for the lamb's full recovery and will keep you updated on its progress in future videos.

To conclude the day, we take a moment to relax in the group pen, reflecting on our busy day of sheep farming and cherishing the rewards of our hard work. Join us in this well-deserved break and immerse yourself in the joys of sheep farming and caring for these adorable lambs