Impact of two commercial weaning and transport strategies on piglet behaviour, body weight change, lesions and lameness following transport

The impact of transport on weaned piglet welfare has been evaluated under experimental conditions, but data generated from studies conducted under commercial conditions and incorporating variation in time between weaning and transport are lacking. The purpose of this research was to describe the behaviour patterns, changes in weight and signs of injury observed in a subset of piglets from two Canadian commercial swine systems employing different weaning and transport practices. The Western system (W) weaned piglets up to six days prior to long (>30 h) transport, while the Eastern system (E) weaned piglets immediately prior to short (