June 4, 2002
CONTACT: Michael Abraham,
TTU News and Publications, aqma@techmail.admin.ttu.edu,
806-742-6399, ext. 227.
LUBBOCK – The Pork Industry Institute at Texas Tech University is leading a research collaboration with USDA-ARS and Automated Production Systems, Inc to examine an alternative to the widely used sow gestation crate.
John McGlone, Ph. D., professor in the Animal and Food Science Department and the Pork Industry Institute, says the grant, given in May by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, will be used to evaluate: the physiology, behavior and reproduction trends of gilts and sows; labor ergonomics and pre-harvest food safety. Conventional gestation crates will be compared with alternative systems, most notably a newly-engineered trickle feeding system for penned sows.
The trickle feeding system was first developed in Europe, and this project is the first complete evaluation of the trickle feeding system in North America.
“I am sure this system will raise interest among pork producers because the industry is under pressure to consider alternatives to the crate by animal welfare and animal rights groups, consumers and food retailers,” McGlone said.
“It’s important that we explore alternatives in the pork industry. Our mission is to discover housing and penning systems that not only are acceptable to the consumer, but that actually improve sow welfare, while being economically competitive,” McGlone said.
The USDA-ARS and Automated production Systems (AP), a leading manufacturer of swine equipment based in Assumption, Illinois, will join the Texas Tech Pork Industry Institute in the evaluation of the alternative system for indoor gilts and sows.
For more information on the new research project and sow housing trends look at www.pii.ttu.edu. Or contact Dr. John McGlone at (806) 742-2826 or via e-mail at john.mcglone@ttu.edu