Hog Handling Safety
Pigs are intelligent, strong animals that require specific handling techniques. Understanding swine behavior is essential for safe management.
Understanding Swine Behavior
Pigs have unique characteristics:
- Excellent memory - they remember rough handling
- Highly curious and motivated by food
- Poor eyesight but excellent hearing and smell
- Easily stressed by unfamiliar situations
- Will pile up when stressed, causing suffocation
- Can bite and cause serious injury
Movement and Herding
Moving pigs safely:
- Pigs prefer to move toward light
- Use solid panels rather than open gates
- Move small groups (4-6 animals maximum)
- Allow pigs to investigate new areas
- Never rush - pig panic is dangerous
- Use sorting boards for direction changes
Handling Equipment
Appropriate tools for swine:
- Sorting boards provide protection and guidance
- Paddles and flags for directing movement
- Avoid electric prods except in emergencies
- Handling boards should be solid construction
- Proper footwear for slippery conditions
- Hearing protection during loud vocalizing
Sow and Litter Safety
Working with farrowing operations:
- Sows are highly protective of piglets
- Enter farrowing areas carefully
- Never step over sows - walk around
- Be aware of sow location at all times
- Piglet handling should be quick and efficient
- Crushing by sows is a risk in open farrowing
Boar Safety
Breeding males require extreme caution:
- Boars have sharp tusks causing severe lacerations
- Boars are powerful and aggressive, especially during breeding
- Never enter a pen with a boar
- Use purpose-built boar handling facilities
- Move boars with solid barriers between you and the animal
- Tusks should be trimmed regularly for safety
Heat Stress Prevention
Pigs are susceptible to heat:
- Pigs cannot sweat and overheat quickly
- Provide cooling during handling in warm weather
- Work pigs in early morning or evening
- Watch for open-mouth breathing and distress
- Have water available for cooling
- Never move pigs during extreme heat
