Welfare Health and Productivity in Commercial Pig Herds
Przemysław Racewicz,
Agnieszka Ludwiczak,
Ewa Skrzypczak,
Joanna Składanowska-Baryza,
Hanna Biesiada,
Tomasz Nowak,
Sebastian Nowaczewski,
Maciej Zaborowicz,
Marek Stanisz,
Piotr Ślósarz
Affiliations
Przemysław Racewicz
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Protection, Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Agnieszka Ludwiczak
Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Ewa Skrzypczak
Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Joanna Składanowska-Baryza
Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Hanna Biesiada
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Protection, Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Tomasz Nowak
Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Sebastian Nowaczewski
Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Maciej Zaborowicz
Institute of Biosystems Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Marek Stanisz
Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Piotr Ślósarz
Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
In recent years, there have been very dynamic changes in both pork production and pig breeding technology around the world. The general trend of increasing the efficiency of pig production, with reduced employment, requires optimisation and a comprehensive approach to herd management. One of the most important elements on the way to achieving this goal is to maintain animal welfare and health. The health of the pigs on the farm is also a key aspect in production economics. The need to maintain a high health status of pig herds by eliminating the frequency of different disease units and reducing the need for antimicrobial substances is part of a broadly understood high potential herd management strategy. Thanks to the use of sensors (cameras, microphones, accelerometers, or radio-frequency identification transponders), the images, sounds, movements, and vital signs of animals are combined through algorithms and analysed for non-invasive monitoring of animals, which allows for early detection of diseases, improves their welfare, and increases the productivity of breeding. Automated, innovative early warning systems based on continuous monitoring of specific physiological (e.g., body temperature) and behavioural parameters can provide an alternative to direct diagnosis and visual assessment by the veterinarian or the herd keeper.
