Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Jun 1;100(6):skac164.
doi: 10.1093/jas/skac164.

Improving young pig welfare on-farm: The Five Domains Model

Anna K Johnson  1   2 , Jean-Loup Rault  3 , Jeremy N Marchant  4 , Emma M Baxter  5 , Keelin O'Driscoll  6
Affiliations
Review

Improving young pig welfare on-farm: The Five Domains Model

Anna K Johnson et al. J Anim Sci. .

Abstract

Considering welfare through the "neonatal and nursery pig perspective" is an exciting approach and one that resonates with consumers. Overlaying this with the Five Domains Model, as we suggest in this review, points to practical on-farm improvements that provide each pig the opportunity to experience positive mental states. The Five Domains Model is broken into physical and functional states, which include Domain 1: Nutrition, Domain 2: Physical Environment, Domain 3: Health, and Domain 4: Behavioral Interaction, and Domain 5: Mental State. The Five Domains Model can build on the breadth and depth of swine welfare science to highlight opportunities to improve welfare on-farm. In Domain 1, management of increasingly large litters is considered, with examples of sow vs. artificial rearing, colostrum quality and quantity, and creep feed management strategies. Efforts can result in positive mental states such as feeling full and content and the ability to experience the pleasure of drinking and food tastes and smells. Domain 2 considers space complexity and access to key resources, along with thermal and physical amenities, to promote feelings of physical comfort. Domain 3 considers pig health in three broads, yet inter-linking categories 1) congenital and hereditary health, 2) environmental pathogen load, and 3) colostrum quality and quantity, and its effect on the microbiome. Improvements can result in a pig that displays vitality and feels healthy. Domain 4 provides the pig opportunities to express its rich behavioral repertoire, specifically positive social interactions, play, and exploration. These efforts can result in pigs feeling calm, safe, comfortable, having companionship, engaged, interested, and rewarded. In conclusion, using the Five Domains Model can highlight numerous opportunities to improve current and future housing and management through the "neonatal and nursery pig perspective" with a focus on inducing positive mental states that can result in improved quality of life and welfare state.

Keywords: affective; farm; health; mental; piglet; weaner.

Plain language summary

Considering welfare through the “neonatal and nursery pig perspective” is an exciting approach. Overlaying this with the Five Domains Model, as we suggest in this review, points to practical on-farm improvements that provide each pig the opportunity to experience positive mental states. The first four domains consider physical and functional states; with Domains 1 through 4 being Nutrition, Physical Environment, Health, and Behavioral Interaction, respectively. All interweave with Domain 5: Mental state. A plethora of examples are discussed; Domain 1 critiques optimal colostrum intake, and milk and feed quality that result in feelings of fullness and contentment. Domain 2 considers space complexity, key resource access, and thermal and physical amenities with these efforts resulting in feelings of comfort and agency. Domain 3 discusses congenital and hereditary health, environmental pathogen load, colostrum quality and quantity effects on the microbiome, and how these improve pig vitality and feelings of good health and fitness. Domain 4 discusses opportunities for the pig to express its behavioral repertoire, particularly positive social interactions, play, and exploration with feelings of control and agency. Improvements will result in pigs feeling calm, safe, comfortable, enjoying companionship, engaged, interested, and leading a rewarding life.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

  • Rethinking the utility of the Five Domains model.
    Hampton JO, Hemsworth LM, Hemsworth PH, Hyndman TH, Sandøe P. Hampton JO, et al. Anim Welf. 2023 Sep 27;32:e62. doi: 10.1017/awf.2023.84. eCollection 2023. Anim Welf. 2023. PMID: 38487458 Free PMC article. Review.

References

    1. Algers, B., and Uvnäs-Moberg K.. . 2007. Maternal behavior in pigs. Horm. Behav. 52:78–85. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.022 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Alonso, M. E., González-Montaña J. R., and Lomillos J. M.. . 2020. Consumers’ concerns and perceptions of farm animal welfare. Animals 10:385;1–13. doi:10.3390/ani10030385 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Arnaud, E. A., Gardiner G. E., Halpin K. M., Ribas C., O’Doherty J. V., Sweeney T., and Lawlor P. G.. . 2022. Post-partum analgesia administration to sows but not split-suckling increased piglet growth and reduced anti-inflammatory treatment of piglets. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science Annual Conference; April 12 to 14, 2022; Nottingham, UK.
    1. AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). 2020. AVMA guidelines for the euthanasia of animals, 2020 edition. Schaumburg (IL): AMVA; 121 p. Available from https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasi...
    1. Baxter, E. M., Adeleye O. O., Jack M. C., Farish M., Ison S. H., and Edwards A. A.. . 2015. Achieving optimum performance in a loose-housed farrowing system for sows: the effects of space and temperature. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 169:9–16. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2015.05.004 - DOI