Eleonora Nannoni

Effects of a soybean-free diet supplied to Italian heavy pigs on fattening performance, and meat and dry-cured ham quality

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a diet containing non-conventional (i.e. alternative to soybean meal) vegetable protein sources on fattening performance, and meat and dry-cured ham quality of heavy pigs. Fifty-six (Landrace x Large White) castrated males with an initial average body weight of 50 kg were allocated to two experimental groups: a control group in which pigs received a traditional soybean meal-based diet, and a treatment group in which soybean meal was replaced by vegetable protein sources (i.e. sunflower meal, potato protein, corn gluten feed, faba beans and dehydrated alfalfa meal), mainly locally grown and not genetically modified. Pigs were slaughtered at approximately 160 kg body weight. Dietary treatment had no significant effect on fattening performance, or meat, fat or dry-cured ham properties. Results suggest that it is possible to feed heavy pigs a soybean-free diet without impairing fattening performance or the quality of meat and Italian PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) hams.

Fundamentals of Animal Welfare in Meat Animals and Consumer Attitudes to Animal Welfare

The science of animal welfare has made significant advances in understanding the feelings of animals in production and proposing a variety of novel practices to create a fair balance between animal needs, production costs, and consumers’ requirements. Nowadays consumers base their buying decisions on their personal perceptions of value, resulting from a balance between price and quality and differences in social, cultural, and educational status. The lack of knowledge about livestock production practices and their impact on animal welfare and meat quality also explains the poor consciousness in large part of meat consumers worldwide. The numerous initiatives of the food supply chain in response to the consumer requirements for improved animal welfare are having the most visible influence on their purchase behavior. However, they are also creating some confusion due to lack of transparency and completeness of information through specific product labeling at the retail level.

Enrichments For Pigs: Improving Animal-Environment Relations

This paper provides a brief introduction on the welfare of pigs in the European Union (with special emphasis on their specific exploratory need). After describing the requirements of legislation and the main welfare challenges for the swine specie, we will explore the case of Italian heavy pigs intended for dry-cured Parma ham production, and describe the peculiar welfare issues in this production system. Lastly, we will address the directions in which we see potential collaboration with technology and design experts, both for application in behavioural research and for on-farm animal welfare assessment and monitoring. The possibility to create technologic (digital?) enrichments, or to integrate technology in manipulable substrates appears promising, although its effects on animal welfare and its applicability on a large scale should be further investigated.

Evaluation of pre-slaughter losses of Italian heavy pigs

A retrospective observational study evaluated the risk factors for pre-slaughter losses (i.e. animal deaths occurring during transport and lairage) and their economic impact in Italian heavy pigs (~160 kg bodyweight). Of the 3u2009344u2009730 pigs transported, 1780 (0.053%) died before slaughter, with most losses occurring during transport (56.6%). The estimated economic impact was of 424u2009000 €. The percentage of batches with at least one animal lost pre-slaughter increased during summer (P < 0.001). The proportion of pre-slaughter losses was higher when journey lasted more than 90 min (P < 0.001) and was positively correlated with transport duration (P < 0.01). Losses were higher (P < 0.01) in batches transported at low stocking densities (i.e. when heavier pigs were transported). Batches with lower slaughtering order (i.e. longer lairage time) had higher proportions of losses (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of a given batch to have at least one animal lost pre-slaughter were 1.32 times higher for batches slaughtered in summer, 1.54 times higher if journey durations exceeded 90 min, 1.25 times higher for batches with low slaughtering order, and not significantly influenced by stocking density during transport.

Enrichment devices for undocked heavy pigs: effects on animal welfare, blood parameters and production traits

Abstract Two independent trials were carried out to test the effectiveness of different environmental enrichments in improving Italian heavy pigs’ welfare. Eighty undocked Landraceu2009×u2009Large White barrows (body weight range: 27.1–158.4u2009kg) were used. In Trial 1, group C1 received a metal chain and group WL wooden logs (placed inside a specifically designed metal rack). In trial two, the enrichments proposed were a hanging chain (C2), and a vegetal edible block (EB) inside the metal rack. General health, animal behaviour, hair cortisol, blood parameters and growth performance were recorded. In Trial 1, WL pigs interacted with the enrichment at a lower extent than C1 (pu2009<u2009.01) and walked less (pu2009<u2009.05). In Trial 2, EB pigs spent less time in lateral recumbency and rooting/exploring the pen floor (pu2009<u2009.05 and pu2009<u2009.01, respectively), and interacted more with the enrichment (pu2009<u2009.001) than C2. Motivation to explore both WL and EB was maintained over time, conversely to what happened to C1 and C2. No differences were observed in hair cortisol concentration, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, skin lesions and growth parameters. Tail lesions were higher in WL than in C1 (pu2009<u2009.05) Minor, transient differences were found in plasma biomarkers. Overall, WL had limited effect on behaviour, whereas EB might have reduced floor over-exploration when compared to the chains. It is concluded that, although from an animal behaviour standpoint EB might be promising, regardless of the device used (C, WL or EB), all experimental groups showed similar welfare parameters levels, stimulating the necessity for wider research on enrichment design and function.

Enrichment tools for undocked heavy pigs: effects on body and gastric lesions and carcase and meat quality parameters

Abstract Two independent trials were carried out to assess the effect of two enrichment tools on the prevalence of skin and tail lesions recorded prior of slaughtering, lesions of the pars oesophagea (OGL) of the stomach, and on carcase and meat quality traits in Italian heavy pigs (body weight range: 25–160u2009kg). Eighty undocked barrows (Landraceu2009×u2009Large White) were used in two trials (20 pigs/experimental group, 5 pigs/pen). In Trial 1, the control group received a hanging metal chain (C1), while the other group received wood logs (WL) placed inside a metal rack. In Trial 2, the control group was provided with hanging chain (C2), while the pen of the other group was enriched with a vegetal edible block (EB) placed inside the metal rack. In both trials, no differences were observed in the prevalence and severity of skin, tail and gastric lesions (pu2009>u2009.05). In Trial 1, WL pigs presented lower backfat (pu2009=u2009.01), higher lean meat percentage (pu2009=u2009.03) and higher drip loss in the loin muscle (pu2009=u2009.02) than C1 pigs. Tail score and gastric lesions showed a moderate correlation (ru2009=u20090.42; pu2009=u2009.01) in Trial 1. Treatments had no effect on carcase or meat quality traits in Trial 2 (pu2009>u2009.05). In conclusion, the two enrichments provided did not affect body and gastric lesions, carcase and meat quality of Italian heavy pigs, if compared to the metal chains.

FarmJam 2017: Designing Enrichment for Farm Animals

This workshop will allow participants to work together to devise novel forms of technically enhanced enrichment for farm animals. It will take the format of a gamejam, whereby teams will be given clear briefs, they will brainstorm concepts and present their ideas to the group for feedback and analysis.