Influence of width and bends on the ease of movement of pigs along races

Department of Meat Animal Science, University of Bristol, Langford.

Pigs could be moved along a race 120 cm wide more quickly than along a race 45 cm wide. The presence of a bend with an angle of 45 degrees slowed their progress by about 10 per cent, a bend of 90 degrees or 120 degrees slowed them by 19 per cent and a 180 degrees bend slowed them by 44 per cent. There was little evidence of any interaction between the effects of width and angle of bend; the effect of a sharp bend could not be compensated for by increased width. The pigs became accustomed to the races and moved more quickly in later runs.