Welfare implications of invasive piglet husbandry procedures, methods of alleviation and alternatives: a review

摘要: Iron administration, teeth clipping, tail docking and castration are common invasive husbandry procedures performed on piglets commercial farms, generally within the first week of life. These to prevent potential health welfare problems and/or sow, or, with respect castration, enhance meat quality. The objectives this review were firstly, provide rationale scientific evidence for performing these procedures, secondly, describe implications lastly, mitigation strategies or alternatives that can be used eliminate reduce pain caused by procedures. Administering supplementary iron is necessary anaemia in procedure has a low impact. stated benefits clipping udder lesions do not appear outweigh risk from injury infection following procedure. Tail reduces prevalence biting, but does behaviour practice cause acute pain. Castration primarily occurrence boar taint, now available negate need perform Teeth all behavioural physiological changes indicative have potentially long-term negative consequences such as causing abscesses, formation neuromas. Therefore effective (e.g. analgesia, local general anaesthesia) markedly alleviate improve piglets. Alternatively, if management practices altogether, then they should adopted.