Stray currents in pig housing increase socio-negative behaviours and may affect their welfare

Stray currents in pig housing increase socio-negative behaviours and may affect their welfare

Scientific publication

animal health

Stray currents in pig housing increase socio-negative behaviours and may affect their welfare

We recorded an increase in socio-negative behaviours and a decrease in socio-positive behaviours in the presence of stray currents in drinkers and feeders in piglets exposed to stray voltages < 0.5V.

This publication is a proof-of-concept and the first step for other trials with the purpose of gaining knowledge about the complex and controversial topic of stray currents in pig housing. Stray currents could be remediated by checking the proper grounding of the on-farm electrical systems, or by disconnecting or replacing the offending equipment, or by filtering the high-frequency transients generated by the equipment. In our study, we observed a decrease in resting time, an increase of time spent inactive in alert, an increase in socio-negative behaviours and a decrease in socio-positive behaviours in the presence of stray currents in drinkers and feeders. Moreover, the blood oxidative status of piglets was also increased, particularly in pigs exposed via drinkers. This observational field study showed that stray currents of less than 0.5V in the pig’s environment generate moderate behavioural and physiological stress responses, and suggest that they might affect the health and welfare of pigs. So, their prevention and remediation is a key point to ensure the welfare and the health of pigs.

Impact of porcine ear necrosis on weaned pigs

Impact of porcine ear necrosis on weaned pigs

Scientific publication

animal health

Impact of porcine ear necrosis on weaned pigs

Porcine ear necrosis may have social causes among others risk factors already described.
A high incidence of social nosing, which can be an indicator of good social cohesion in a group, was significantly associated with less frequent lesions of ear necrosis;
A high incidence of oral manipulation of pen mates was significantly associated with more frequent lesions of ear necrosis;
Finally, the higher the increase in hydroperoxides and haptoglobin during the early post-weaning period, the higher the severity of ear necrosis.
Our study suggests that improving the welfare of piglets should be a first step in a farm dealing with porcine ear necrosis.

Florent joins the team!

Florent joins the team!

Florent joins the team!

Rezoolution saw one of its wishes granted at the start of the year: Florent Peyre joined us on January 15.

Graduated from the Liège veterinary school in 2023 after a License 2 Life Sciences (Biochemistry & Biopharmaceutical Chemistry Option), he followed the ruminants/pigs course in his final year and developed a particular attraction for breeding audits and project management. He therefore has the ideal profile to complete our team in its breeding monitoring and clinical trial activities. It comes to us straight from the South East and the Alps. Welcome to Brittany Florent!

→ LinkedIn profil

AFMVP 2023 Congress

AFMVP 2023 Congress

AFMVP 2023 Congress

Today, Arnaud Lebret presented the results of a study carried out on one of our farms at the annual meeting of French pig practitioners, the AFMVP congress. The aim was to assess the safety and efficacy, both clinically and in terms of antibiotics usage reduction, of a vaccine recently marketed in France. An original insight of this clinical study was to assess the vaccine’s efficacy through the presence of rotavirus in the environment (farrowing crate’s slatted floors, drinking bowls, door handles, etc.) before and after the vaccine was applied. Many thanks to Virbac for the confidence in our services.