Objectives
Identify animal-based measures that can be used to evaluate the welfare of animals during weaning management, handling, and transport of weaned piglets, as well as their relationship with animal welfare, health, antimicrobial use, and growth performance.
Specifically:
- Study the impact of weaning management practices, handling, transport, and post-transport conditions on the welfare of piglets and their physiological state upon arrival at the nursery barns;
- Investigate the relationship between the physiological state of weaned piglets upon arrival at the nursery barns and antimicrobial use during the nursery barn phase;
- Examine the impact of weaning management practices, handling, transport, and post-transport conditions on the health status and performance of weaned piglets;
- Assess the economic impact of antimicrobial use during the nursery barn phase;
- Study the relationship between animal-based measures and health, antimicrobial use, and growth performance;
- Identify the most promising strategies for weaning management, piglet handling, and transport to ensure the welfare of weaned piglets in commercial swine operations.