Going Hot-Shot Free: Tips to Improve Hog Handling Areas to

Going Hot-Shot Free:
Tips to Improve Hog Handling
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M. Ritter1, A. Evers2, C. Maloney3, and I. Levis3
1
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Slide #0
Elanco Animal Health
2 Cooper Farms
3 Seaboard Farms
2010-11 Pork Bridge Grow-Finish Educational Series
December 9, 2010
Slide #1
Areas to Discuss
•  Provide an overview of transport losses in market weight pigs
Overview of Transport Losses in
Market Weight Pigs
•  Review the effects of electric prod use on stress responses and
transport losses in finishing pigs
•  Discuss practical tips to improve hog handling during loading
Matt Ritter, Ph.D.
Elanco Animal Health
[email protected]
•  Share key learnings from a large production system that has
implemented a “hot-shot” free policy
Slide #2
Slide #3
Classifying Non-ambulatory Pigs
Transport Losses: Definitions
•  Dead on arrival (DOA):
–  A pig that died during transport
•  Dead in Yard (DIY) or Dead in Pen (DIP)
–  A pig that died after unloading (usually in the lairage pen)
•  Non-ambulatory pig:
–  A pig unable to move or keep up with contemporaries
–  Subjects, slows, suspects, cripples, and stressors
Fatigued
(Stress related)
•  Transport losses:
Injured
(Structure/
injury related)
–  The sum of dead and non-ambulatory pigs at the plant
Slide #4
Ellis, M., F. McKeith, and M. Ritter. 2004. Handling Non-Ambulatory Pigs. Proceedings of the International Meat Animal Welfare
Research Conference, Kansas City, MO.
Slide #5
1
The Fatigued Pig Syndrome
Why are transport losses important?
•  Signs of acute stress
– 
– 
– 
– 
Open mouth breathing
Skin discoloration
Abnormal vocalizations
Muscle tremors
•  Transport losses represent many growing
concerns to the U.S. swine industry:
•  Metabolic state of acidosis
–  Animal welfare priority
–  High blood lactate (32.2 vs. 11.1 mmol/L)
–  Low blood pH (7.11 vs. 7.35)
–  High body temperature?
–  Increased regulations
•  Majority recover with 2-3 h rest
–  Economic losses
•  98% are HAL-1843 negative
Ritter, M. J., M. Ellis, N. L. Berry, S. E. Curtis, L. Anil, M. Benjamin, D. Butler, C. Dewey, B. Driessen, P. DuBois, J. Hill, J.
Marchant-Forde, P. Matzat, J. McGlone, P. Mormede, T. Moyer, K. Pfalzgraf, J. Salak-Johnson, J. Sterle, C. Stull, T.
Whiting, B. Wolter, S. R. Niekamp, and A. K. Johnson. 2009. Transport losses in market weight pigs: I. A review of
definitions, incidence and economic impact. Professional Animal Scientist. 25:404-414.
Slide #6
Ritter, M. J., M. Ellis, N. L. Berry, S. E. Curtis, L. Anil, M. Benjamin, D. Butler, C. Dewey, B. Driessen, P. DuBois, J. Hill, J.
Marchant-Forde, P. Matzat, J. McGlone, P. Mormede, T. Moyer, K. Pfalzgraf, J. Salak-Johnson, J. Sterle, C. Stull, T.
Whiting, B. Wolter, S. R. Niekamp, and A. K. Johnson. 2009. Transport losses in market weight pigs: I. A review of
definitions, incidence and economic impact. Professional Animal Scientist. 25:404-414.
Slide #7
U.S. Incidence of Transport Losses
Proposed Legislation (2007)
•  Dead pigs at the plant
–  2008 national statistics: 0.20% (FSIS, 2009)
•  Downed Animal Protection Act (H.R. 661 & S. 394)
–  Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce regulations for handling and
disposition of non-ambulatory livestock
–  Prevents movement of non-ambulatory livestock while animals are conscious
–  Requires non-ambulatory livestock to be humanely euthanized
–  Prohibits non-ambulatory livestock from entering the food chain
•  Non-ambulatory pigs at the plant
–  Data summarized on 23 field trials in the U.S. (Ritter et al., 2009)
•  Non-ambulatory pigs prior to weigh scale: 0.44%
•  Majority of non-ambulatory pigs classified as fatigued
•  Bill is being reviewed by U.S. House and Senate Ag subcommittees
•  If this bill passes, fatigued and injured pigs will have zero value!
FSIS. 2009. Market swine condemned ante-mortem for deads in USDA inspected plants for the calendar year of 2008. FOIA Case #09-00071.
U.S. House of Representatives. 2007. H. R. 661: Downed animal and food safety protection act.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:1:./temp/~bdurJU:@@@L&summ2=m&|/bss/110search.html| Accessed Dec. 3, 2007.
U.S. Senate. 2007. S. 394: Downed animal and food safety protection act.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:1:./temp/~bdurJU:@@@L&summ2=m&|/bss/110search.html| Accessed Dec. 3, 2007.
Slide #8
Ritter, M. J., M. Ellis, N. L. Berry, S. E. Curtis, L. Anil, M. Benjamin, D. Butler, C. Dewey, B. Driessen, P. DuBois, J. Hill, J. Marchant-Forde, P.
Matzat, J. McGlone, P. Mormede, T. Moyer, K. Pfalzgraf, J. Salak-Johnson, J. Sterle, C. Stull, T. Whiting, B. Wolter, S. R. Niekamp, and A. K.
Johnson. 2009. Transport losses in market weight pigs: I. A review of definitions, incidence and economic impact. Professional Animal Scientist.
25:404-414.
Slide #9
Multi-factorial Problem
Economic Impact of Transport Losses
Transportation Factors
Floor Space
People Factors
* Handling *
•  Ritter et al., 2009
–  Transport losses cost the U.S. swine industry ~$46 million in 2006
–  This translates to approximately $0.44 per pig marketed
Pig Factors
Genetics
Facility Design Factors
Pre-sorting
Transport
Losses
Plant Factors
Wait at the Plant
Environmental Factors
Season
Growers, loading crews, truck drivers, and handlers
at the plant can impact transport losses!
Ritter, M. J., M. Ellis, N. L. Berry, S. E. Curtis, L. Anil, M. Benjamin, D. Butler, C. Dewey, B. Driessen, P. DuBois, J. Hill, J.
Marchant-Forde, P. Matzat, J. McGlone, P. Mormede, T. Moyer, K. Pfalzgraf, J. Salak-Johnson, J. Sterle, C. Stull, T.
Whiting, B. Wolter, S. R. Niekamp, and A. K. Johnson. 2009. Transport losses in market weight pigs: I. A review of
definitions, incidence and economic impact. Professional Animal Scientist. 25:404-414.
Slide #10
Ritter, M. J., M. Ellis, N. L. Berry, S. E. Curtis, L. Anil, M. Benjamin, D. Butler, C. Dewey, B. Driessen, P. DuBois, J. Hill, J.
Marchant-Forde, P. Matzat, J. McGlone, P. Mormede, T. Moyer, K. Pfalzgraf, J. Salak-Johnson, J. Sterle, C. Stull, T.
Whiting, B. Wolter, S. R. Niekamp, and A. K. Johnson. 2009. Transport losses in market weight pigs: I. a review of
definitions, incidence and economic impact. Professional Animal Scientist. 25:404-414.
Slide #11
2
Transport Losses - Summary
Effects of electric prod use on stress
responses and transport losses in
market weight pigs
•  Transport losses represent growing animal welfare, legal, and
economic concerns to the U.S. swine industry
•  ~0.6% of all pigs transported die or become non-ambulatory
•  Transport losses are a multi-factorial problem
•  It is well established that transport losses are increased by:
– 
– 
– 
– 
Matt Ritter, Ph.D.
Elanco Animal Health
[email protected]
Aggressive handling with electric prods
Porcine stress syndrome (stress gene)
Crowding pigs during transport
Extreme weather conditions
Slide #12
Slide #13
Common Pig Handling Tools
At the Farm
Handling Intensity
At the Plant
Sorting
Board
Flag
Livestock
Paddle
Livestock
Paddle
•  Benjamin et al., 2001
–  Compared moving pigs with aggressive or gentle handling
•  Aggressive: pigs moved rapidly with hot shots
•  Gentle: pigs moved at their own pace with plastic cane
Electric Prod
(Hot Shot)
Gentle
Handling
Aggressive
Handling
Rectal temperature, °F
104.9a
106.6b
Blood lactate, mmol/L
4.0a
25.2b
Fatigued pigs, %
0.0a
20.4b
Measurements
Witch’s
Cape
a,b
Slide #14
(Photos courtesy of www.qcsupply.com and www.grandin.com)
Means with different superscripts differ
Benjamin, M. E., H. W. Gonyou, D. J. Ivers, L. F. Richardson, D. J. Jones, J. R. Wagner, R. Seneriz, and D. B. Anderson.
2001. Effect of animal handling method on the incidence of stress response in market swine in a model system. Journal of
Animal Science. 79(Suppl. 1):279. (Abstr.)
Handling Intensity
Slide #15
Recent Work
•  Gonyou, unpublished data
•  Correa et al., 2010
40
–  Evaluated the effects of three different moving devices
during loading on the behavior, physiology, and meat
quality traits of market weight pigs
34.0
Fatigued Pigs, %
30
20
15.0
10
2.0
with Paddles
Description
Electric prod
Used electric prods and sorting boards
Paddle
0
Gentle Handling
Treatment
Aggressive Handling
Compressed air
Aggressive Handling
with Paddles
Used paddles and sorting boards
Paddle treatment plus compressed air on the chute
with Electric Prods
Correa, J. A., S. Torrey, N. Devillers, J. P. Laforest, H. W. Gonyou, and L. Faucitano. 2010. Effects of different moving devices at loading
on stress response and meat quality in pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 88:4086-4093.
Elanco Trial #AF7CA0101. Data on file.
Slide #16
Slide #17
3
Electric Prod vs. Paddle Results
Electric Prod vs. Paddle Results
•  Electric prods decreased the following handling parameters:
•  Electric prods increased:
–  Number of turn attempts
–  Number of stops
–  Loading time by ~50%
–  Number of slips / falls
–  Pig vocalizations (# and duration)
•  Minimal differences were observed between handling methods
for blood lactate and plasma CPK values at stunning
–  Heart rate during loading
–  Fatigued pigs (2.5% vs. 0%)
–  Other carcass bruise types (excludes fighting and mounting)
–  Incidence of blood splash in hams
Correa, J. A., S. Torrey, N. Devillers, J. P. Laforest, H. W. Gonyou, and L. Faucitano. 2010. Effects of different moving devices at loading
on stress response and meat quality in pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 88:4086-4093.
Slide #18
•  Compared to paddles, electric prods:
–  Had no effect on ultimate pH of the Longissimus muscle
–  Increased ultimate pH of Adductor and Semimembranosus muscles
Correa, J. A., S. Torrey, N. Devillers, J. P. Laforest, H. W. Gonyou, and L. Faucitano. 2010. Effects of different moving devices at loading
on stress response and meat quality in pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 88:4086-4093.
Slide #19
Electric Prod - Summary
•  It is well documented that aggressive handling with electric prods
increases transport losses
•  Replacing electric prods with plastic paddles can reduce slips/falls
during handling, transport losses, carcass bruising, and blood
splash, but this comes at the expense of increased loading times
•  Therefore, there currently is not a perfect alternative to the hot shot!
•  Need to identify methods that improve the efficacy and loading
efficiencies of paddles without adversely affecting pig well-being
Practical tips to improve hog
handling during loading
Alan Evers
Cooper Farms
[email protected]
Slide #20
Going Hot-Shot Free – First Step
Slide #21
Identifying Target Areas
•  2/3 of our shocks occur
at the door
•  Track and monitor usage
•  Identify challenging areas
•  1/3 of our shocks occur
on the chute
•  Less than 2% occur on
truck ramp
Slide #22
Slide #23
4
Going Hot-Shot Free – Second Step
Acclimate pigs to walking in aisles
prior to loading
•  Make pigs easier to handle
Slide #24
Our target - once in the nursery and
once in finisher
Slide #25
Solid Front Pens
Slide #26
Remove Restrictions
Slide #27
Loading Pad Wider than Door
Slide #28
Slide #29
5
Going Hot-Shot Free – 3rd Step
Pre-sorting prior to Loading
•  Reduce stress and fatigue on the pigs
•  PRE-SORT
Slide #30
Pre-sorting prior to Loading
Slide #31
Pre-Sorting Procedures
•  Pigs are moved to the front of the barn into holding pens.
•  Pigs are given a REST period of 10 min to 1 hr to
recover.
•  Especially beneficial to pigs from the back end of the
barn and to pigs going into the top deck
•  Breaks up the “marathon”
Slide #32
Going Hot-Shot Free – 4th Step
Slide #33
Bubble Concept
•  Worked with Nancy Lidster
[email protected]
•  Focus on Handling
•  Pigs respond to our ACTIONS
•  Starts with your position in the
pen. This position determines
which direction the pigs will
circle past and sets up the
“pressure” on the pigs.
•  Flow pigs along gate line with
your position. Pigs want us on
their side to watch as they move
away from the pressure.
Slide #34
Slide #35
6
Bubble Concept
Bubble Concept
•  Keep adequate spacing
between you and the pigs to
maintain the bubble out of
the pen. Closing the gap too
far and the pig’s attention
diverts back to you instead
of where they are going.
•  Move your position forward
towards the opening to hold
pigs along gate line taking
only the number needed
•  Too much space and you
lose “pressure” on the pig
and he’ll stop. Close the
space to re-apply the
pressure.
Slide #36
Slide #37
Movement Concept
Movement Concept
•  Starts with the position of your
hurdle and spacing between you
and the pig. This position
determines where the attention of
the pig will be focused. Either on
you or on where they are going.
•  Minimize paddle contact
•  Paddle use directs the pigs
attention to you creating a
distraction and reduces
effectiveness when used
constantly
•  Opening the hurdle reduces the
threat to the pig by allowing them
to see what is applying “pressure”.
•  Paddle use closes the space
between you and the pig
creating balking
•  Close the hurdle when the pigs
turn on you. Work the pig to redirect, then establish the spacing,
and open the hurdle again.
Slide #38
Movement Concept
Slide #39
Practical Tips – Summary
•  Track and monitor
•  Pigs will constantly keep an
eye on you, or other people, or
distractions. Your position and
spacing applies the “pressure”.
–  Identify critical areas to improve
–  Chart progress making it a whole team effort
•  Acclimate pigs to aisles and barn preparation
•  Too much space and you lose
pressure. Not enough space
and the pressure is too much
creating the pig to balk
–  Easier to handle
•  Pre-sort
–  Reduce stress and fatigue
•  Work to keep the focus off of
you and on where the pig is
supposed to be going.
•  Handling
–  Pigs react to our actions. Bubble and Movement concepts
Slide #40
Slide #41
7
Large System Implementation
•  Marketing Strategies
Key learnings from implementing
a “hot-shot” free policy in a large
production system
–  1 cut 3-weeks pre-barn dump
•  165 head
•  At least 2 heaviest pigs from every pen
–  Complete barn dump
Craig Maloney
Seaboard Farms
•  Many of the same principles that have already been
discussed
•  Small groups, staging pens, solid pen fronts at the door,
sort off pen, etc.
Ian Levis, DVM
Seaboard Farms
Slide #42
Large System Implementation
Slide #43
Large System Implementation
•  Additional techniques…
•  Implementation
–  Complete removal of all hot shots at one time
–  Dedicated crews of 4 to 6 people
•  No phasing in of “hot-shot free” program
•  Fully equipped with all necessary items.
–  Systematic approach to improvement
–  Lighting on chute and truck
•  Allow crews to develop/improve processes
•  Trucks are prewired and loadout crews have lights available if
the barn is not appropriately equipped.
•  Monitoring
–  Animal Welfare/Handling Audits
–  Rattle cans
•  Internal and 3rd party
•  Progression from traditional tools.
•  Most effective for movement and lowest risk for the animal
•  No paddles, sort sticks, etc. at any point in the process
–  Feedback from the processing plant
•  Scald tank shows all
Slide #44
Overall Summary
Slide #45
Overall Summary
•  Transport losses represent growing animal welfare, legal, and
economic concerns to the U.S. swine industry
•  ~0.6% of all pigs transported die or become non-ambulatory
•  Replacing electric prods with plastic paddles can
reduce slips/falls during handling, transport losses and
carcass defects, but this comes at the expense of
increased loading times
•  Transport losses are a multi-factorial problem
•  Therefore, we need to identify methods that improve
the loading efficiencies of paddles without adversely
affecting pig well-being
•  It is well established that transport losses are increased by:
– 
– 
– 
– 
Aggressive handling with electric prods
Porcine stress syndrome (stress gene)
Crowding pigs during transport
Extreme weather conditions
Slide #46
Slide #47
8
Overall Summary
Overall Summary
•  Practical tips to improve pig handling include:
•  Key lessons learned from implementing a “hot-shot
free” policy in a large production system include:
–  Track electric prod use and identify areas for improvement
–  Acclimate pigs to the aisle prior to loading
–  Rattle cans appear to be the most effective handling tool
–  Remove distractions
–  Go 100% hot-shot free at the start (no phase out)
–  Provide additional lighting
–  Pre-sort pigs prior to loading
–  Allow loading crews to develop / improve processes
–  Understand and apply the bubble and movement concepts
–  Monitor processes through audits and plant feedback
–  Move pigs in small groups
Slide #48
Slide #49
9