7:20AM, Thu Jun 28, 2012

Pigs Strut Down The Runway As Part Of Newcastle University Study.

By India Adams Location: Morpeth

Video: Posing for the camera, one of the pigs involved in the study

Researchers at Newcastle University are using the latest technology to study the way pigs walk to help improve their welfare on farms across the UK.

Using video motion capture, a technique similar to that used in Hollywood blockbuster Avatar, the team analyses the pigs’ gait to see if they can help prevent lameness in the animals.

As part of the study, the pigs were trained to walk along a runway by Mark Brett, Animal Technician at the University and former zookeeper now based at the University’s Cockle Park Farm.

Once the pigs had learned to walk at the right speed, the team attached reflective markers at key points on their legs and used motion capture cameras to track their movements and identify parameters that can indicate a good pig.

The data is being used to analyse changes in the pigs’ gait, focussing on the angle of the joints and length of stride.

Presenting the findings at the 22nd International Pig Veterinary Society Congress in Korea, Sophia Stavrakakis, who carried out the research as part of her PhD, said that for a pig, a great set of legs isn’t just about looking good.

“Lameness among livestock is a major problem for farmers,” says Sophia, whose project brings together experts in pig science and bioengineering at Newcastle University.

“Female breeding pigs are particularly prone to leg problems and this makes it costly for farmers when an animal becomes lame because of the time and money invested in the breeding stock.

“Using biomechanical motion capture we are able to measure the animals’ gait – tracking a number of animals to find the right angulation and locomotion.

“Through this we hope to be able to develop a farmer-friendly system that will allow them to identify those pigs with better legs, a trait that can be passed on to subsequent generations.”

Lameness is a key welfare indicator in all livestock and the second most common reason for sows having to leave the breeding herd.

Unfortunately, if the animal fails to respond to treatment, the problem results in the animal having to be euthanised.

Although the current work uses sophisticated equipment and capture techniques, Sophia, 27, said the aim is to adapt the system for use on farms to improve pig welfare.

“The work is still in its early stages but the aim is to use our research to make a real difference to both pig farmers and their animals,” explains Sophia, who carried out her first degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Thessaly in Greece.

“Using CCTV style cameras placed strategically on the farm so that every pig walks past and is captured on camera would be a simple, non-invasive way of collating key data about each pig and identifying those animals which are least likely to suffer problems in the future.”