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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #87467
Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW MODEL FOR IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING OF FULL-SIZE PREGNANT SOWS AT A METROPOLITAN RESEARCH FACILITY

Author
item CUNNINGHAM, J - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED.
item MCSWEENEY, KEVIN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item CONGLETON, JEROME - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This paper describes the development of a new model for a state- of-the-art, in-house farrowing program for full-size, pregnant sows at a research institution in a major U.S. city. Researchers at the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, needed ready access to neonatal pigs, triggering the need for an in-house program. The method involved in transporting pigs from the farm to the center was improved, with greater safety, easier loading, less manpower and lower expenses. The program, which increased technical support and built more accommodating farrowing stalls, has enhanced the well- being of the animals and facilitated investigators' study procedures for piglets born to more than 80 sows since 1990 at the research center. Other research facilities can reap many benefits by studying and adopting the improvements described.

Technical Abstract: This paper describes the development of a new model for a state-of-the-art transportation housing program for full- size pregnant sows at a research institution in a major U.S. city. Researchers at the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine needed ready access to neonatal pigs, triggering the need for transporting and housing pregnant sows. The method involved in transporting pigs from the farm to the Center was improved, with greater safety, easier loading, less manpower and lower expenses. The housing selected for the sows has enhanced the well- being of the animals and facilitated investigators' study procedures for piglets born to more than 80 sows since 1990 at the research center. Other research facilities can reap many benefits by studying and adopting the improvements described.