Pig Behavior

Introduction/Background
OSHA Standard(s)
Hazard
Prevention & Control
FAQs
Links

Introduction
In pork production, more injuries occur during direct contact with the animal than in any other activity. Learning pig behavior will help workers to handle pigs without the need for excessive force, thus reducing the risk of injury to workers and to the pigs. Always be aware of your surroundings and body position in relation to the pigs. This will allow you to safely handle both individual pigs and groups of pigs.[unless noted, all this information comes from the NPB materials already and I put it in here. I did some minor editing, eg. changed "accidents" to "injuries" and changed some words, and changed the focus to the producer/person responsible for the worker instead of directed at the worker.]

OSHA Standard(s)
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards. In addition, pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, employers must provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. [the above section was added, not from NPB materials--ms].

Hazard
The majority of injuries on a hog farm occur during human/animal interaction. In fact, one three-year study showed that more than 99,000 non-fatal livestock-related injuries occurred in the United States during that period [cite article and expand a bit. This may be a bit misleading to low comprehension readers. Are there studies about pig-based injuries? Is this data from the Iowa study? The California study is a little different. I didn't find a reference list in the NPB materials but maybe it's in the big print manual of which I don't have a copy. I'll look for pig industry related statistics which would be more relevant. Update, couldn't find with quick lit/database searches. Perhaps NPB has data?-- ms]. It’s important to pay close attention to the potential dangers of working with pigs, and always use correct animal handling techniques. Attention to these dangers is a key to personal safety.

General characteristics of all pigs:

• Pigs have a low center of gravity, which makes them quick and agile in small spaces and capable of knocking a person down.

• Pigs would rather run than fight. Pigs have a defensive perimeter called a “flight zone.” The pig uses this defense mechanism to distance itself from people and objects that it’s not familiar with or feels threatened by. A pig’s range of vision is nearly 360 degrees. The only blind area is directly behind the pig. When a person or object comes into the pig’s flight zone, the pig will move in an opposite direction. If the person or object is removed from the flight zone, the pig will usually stop.

• A pig’s decision to move forward or backward is determined by the “point of balance.” This location is from the middle of the pig to the front shoulder [Kerry -- is there an illustration in your veterinary materials that could be added here?]. To move a pig forward, enter the animal’s flight zone just inside its range of vision and behind the point of balance [this will make more sense if you have the illustration]. If something unfamiliar or threatening gets in front of the pig, it will stop or turn back. For example, a worker is moving a pig down an aisle and a bucket was left in the alley. When the pig approaches the bucket, it makes a decision to go forward, stop, or turn around and run. That decision is based on what appears to be more threatening -- the worker or the bucket. If the pig is familiar with human contact, but not the bucket, it will either stop or reverse its forward direction. If the pig is familiar with the bucket, it will ignore the bucket and continue down the aisle.

• Pigs like to follow each other in group formation. It is easier to move a group of pigs forward when the leaders are prompted by doing what? Poking at them, swatting at them, tapping their hindquarters?. It is difficult to move a group forward by prodding the pigs in the back of the group.

Prevention and Control
Characteristics and control strategies will vary by the [stage of development? gender and age?] of the pig.

Boar characteristics

• The mating behavior of boars includes grunting, nuzzling, chomping, and a large amount of salivation when in contact with the sow.
• Boars will contact the sow or gilt nose to nose or nose to genital area. They will also lift or push the sow in the area of the rear flank.
• This is usually not a threat to the pig handler unless this behavior is disrupted.
• Tusks are a major safety concern. A boar can simply raise his head and drive his tusk into the pig handler. [can tusks be removed? Like cow horns? If yes, and if tusks ARE a MAJOR concern, then NPB may wish to promote tusk removal for worker safety -- ms]
• Boars are unpredictable.
• Always use a sorting board to move or separate a boar from another pig.
• Boars can also be deceiving. They may appear to be tame and unthreatening in some situations, but then suddenly become very aggressive.
• Boars become very large and powerful and can be as big as xxxx and weigh up to xxxx lbs/kg.

Sow characteristics

• Sows are typically docile animals. Sows may try to defend their litters and become aggressive if they are stressed from farrowing or feel their piglets are threatened.
• Gilts are easily stressed and may become aggressive during farrowing.
• Sows and gilts will “lock up” and not move when they are in heat and exposed to boar smells.
• If they do move, they will walk stiff-legged and you probably will not be able to move them very far.

Nursery pigs

• Newborn pigs up to weaning have sharp needle [needle or needle-like?] teeth.
• Newborn pigs use their teeth very effectively against the other pigs in the litter.
• Their teeth are their only defense mechanism.
• Although workers generally aren’t seriously injured, they can receive cuts and abrasions from these sharp teeth.

This doesn't really make sense. First newborn pigs have teeth like needles or teeth that are needles. Then at the end workers aren't seriously injured from those teeth. I don't know what a newborn pig's teeth are like but I suggest changing the imagery from needles to something else. Or just call them small sharp teeth.

Grower/finisher pigs

• Pigs are social animals and want to be with other pigs.
• Be sure to move pigs in small groups.
• Separating pigs from a group makes them excited and stressed [what are the behavioral signs of pigs in stress? List them here.].
• As the pigs grow, they pose more physical threat to workers because of their size.
• Pigs that become excited and stressed become unpredictable.
• In a finishing facility, pigs become curious when a worker enters the pen. They like to chew on worker's pants and boots.

It’s important that your employees use proper animal handling techniques at every stage of the pork production process. Follow the PQA program’s best practices for animal handling. What is this??

Make sure your employees are aware of the potential hazards – and the correct procedures to help them avoid the hazards – present in each stage of the pork production process.

Important Facts About Pigs’ Vision

• A pig’s range of vision is nearly 360 degrees.
• It’s best if loading ramps and handling chutes have solid side walls to prevent the animals from seeing distractions outside the chute.
• Seeing moving objects and people through the sides of a chute can cause balking or frighten the animal.
• Blocking pig's vision will stop escape attempts and will lower the pig’s stress level. A solid portable panel is so effective for blocking pigs' vision and handling of the pigs.
• Pigs will often balk and refuse to walk over a drain grate, hose, puddle, shadow, or change in flooring surface or texture.
• Pigs also have a tendency to move from a dimly lit area to a more brightly lit area, provided the light is not glaring into their eyes.
o A spotlight directed onto a ramp will often ease entry.

FAQs

What are the commonly asked questions by producers r/t behavior?

Links

I found links but some were from other animal orgs and then there is Temple Grandin's page. Not sure of NPB policy of having i.e. American Meat Institute links.