'They're very intelligent animals': Researchers examine signs of stress in pigs' hair
A team of researchers at the University of Saskatchewan has been examining pigs' hair for signs of stress.
Yolande Seddon, assistant professor at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), said the research will be valuable for husbandry.
“We have been running trials where we're looking at pigs in different housing systems, and under different treatments that we are exploring, if there are different stress measures — how their behaviour response is, or other indicators of animal welfare; showing up and measuring the hair over specific periods of time to see if there are relationships between the hormones in the hair, and what we see as indicators of animal welfare and performance,” Seddon told CTV News.
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) website says that stress produces two key chemicals, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormones. These collect in the hair, which is what researchers can use as they study stress in swine.
“Lots of times when we look at welfare or assessable fare, we kind of look at what we think is positive or negative. So this environment we think is better or worse. But we don't really have like a good objective measure to evaluate. If we can get something like an objective indicator of their welfare, I think it'd be really valuable,” Ph.D. student Darian Pollock said.
Seddon said they were now analyzing the data that has been collected and they hope to have the results later this year or early in 2024.
“We've done a lot of longitudinal trials where we've tracked animals all the way from birth to slaughter and in different conditions,” Seddon said.
“They're very intelligent animals. I think there's much to be discovered about them and how we can care for them to ensure we have good farming practices and respect their needs as an animal.”
The study is part of a collaboration with WCVM and Iowa State University, the U of S website said.
Funding for the study was provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the WCVM’s interprovincial undergraduate summer research program.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Travellers from 13 more countries now eligible to visit Canada without a visa
Canada is expanding the list of countries whose residents are eligible to visit this country without a travel visa.

Johnston to launch foreign interference hearings in July, calls allegations of bias 'quite simply false'
Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference David Johnston calls the allegations swirling around his objectivity 'quite simply false,' and said Tuesday he plans to push ahead with his work, launching public hearings next month
'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure': Experts say a national fire service could help battle wildfires
During a record-setting wildfire season, experts say prevention of more disasters is important, citing a Canada-wide fire service could help mitigate blazes.
Environment minister says he could accelerate action on climate change if he didn’t have to 'fight' the Conservative Party
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault told Power Play host Vassy Kapelos it would 'greatly help' Canada's capacity to accelerate the fight against climate change if he didn't have to 'fight the Conservative Party of Canada.'
Sex harassment case involving Trudeau Foundation should be heard in N.L., lawyer says
The lawyer representing a woman who alleges she was sexually harassed by a former Northwest Territories premier says her client would likely have to end her lawsuit if a judge determines the trial should be moved to Quebec.
Ford calls for ouster, Poilievre decries Liberal response to Bernardo prison transfer
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberals to keep "multiple murderers" in maximum-security prison, as fallout continues over the transfer of convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security institution in Quebec.
Canadian military joined recent U.S. forum on UFOs; Pentagon trying to identify 'metallic' orbs
The Canadian military has confirmed it participated in a May 2023 forum for Five Eyes intelligence partners that was held by the director of the Pentagon's UFO research program.
Global News defends reporting in face of Han Dong lawsuit
Global News and its parent company Corus Entertainment say in response to a lawsuit filed by Han Dong that their reporting about the Toronto MP was based on a detailed investigation involving multiple sources.
A killer rabbit, jousting bear and Robin Hood walk into a bar: Ancient manuscript reveals new details on medieval comedy
A rare manuscript detailing comedy shows and drinking songs from the 15th century revealed what medieval audiences found funny more than 500 years ago.