Handling Swine Safely

By: Margaret A. Bell, Livestock Agent

Craven & Jones Counties

Adapted from “Safe Animal Handling, Pork Checkoff and Pork Information Gateway Fact Sheet.”

There are many opportunities for workers to get hurt while handling swine. This could happen at any age and stage of the pig, when the worker is moving pigs, unloading / loading pigs, and processing pigs. In this article, we will discuss different responsibilities of workers and how to avoid being injured while performing their duties.

General

When pigs are being transported, they become very stressed. They should be moved as quickly, quietly, and efficiently as possible. However, you don’t want to move the pigs too fast, as to cause injury to either the pigs or the handler. Pigs have a range of vision that spans almost 360 degrees, so it is a good idea to have chutes and ramps with solid sidewalls so they will not get distracted. In addition, pigs have a tendency to move to well-lit areas from dimmer areas. Many producers will put spotlights onto a ramp so pigs will move more easily. Always move pigs in a manageable size group. For example, when you are moving pigs into the nursery, do not move more than 20 pigs at the time. When entering the finishing barn, do not move more than 10 pigs at the time. When you are leaving the finishing barn, do not move more than five pigs at the time (think about how big they are now!). When you are moving breeding stock, do not move more than five pigs at the time.  Most of the injuries on hog farms happen when handlers are interacting with pigs. There are several items to keep in mind to avoid injuries. You should know the characteristics of the pigs hearing and vision, maintain clean and organized houses, and when you are around the pigs, stay calm and touch them gently. Don’t move quickly or expose the pigs to loud noises, clutter alleyways, or overcrowd chutes / pens.

Farrowing

In the farrowing barn, workers must be careful with various hazards as well. These include power washing, electrocution, fires, and stressed animals. Always pay close attention to plugs, cords, and electrical outlets. Employees should receive proper training on how to safely work with electrical fixtures. Make sure to always replace temporary cords with permanent cords. It is also important if you wash sows to be very careful. Be aware of where you place yourself in relation to the animal.

Processing

During processing, there are many potential hazards that could affect the well-being of the workers. These include needle sticks, cuts, punctures, etc. while giving shots, clipping teeth, cutting tails, ear notching, castrating, and tattooing. Ensure workers are taking ample breaks to reduce fatigue as well as properly handling and holding the animals.

Injecting Pigs

Many times workers will injure themselves when they are injecting sows in crates by getting their hands caught between the crate and the sow. Immediately report any accidental injection or antibiotic injections to the supervisor. When injecting pigs, try to keep your hands in a neutral position, always read labels, and only use products the way they are meant to be used. Don’t carry needles in your pockets or put your hands between a sow and the crate.

Breeding

Many injuries occur because of boars. Injuries to the boar could occur do to slippery floors. The boar could also become aggressive if other boars are around or if he has trouble mounting the sow. When workers are breeding animals, they should always use sorting panels, be able to get out of a specific area quickly, not be in between the boar and the sow, and make sure the boar’s tusks are removed. When removing dead animals, try to get them out as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it is to move them. Do not pull or strain your muscles pulling a dead pig out. It is helpful to use a hog cart or a hand truck before using only human assistance. Keep pens clean and dry when breeding pigs and always watch out for the boar. Don’t sit down to collect semen or stand too close to the boar.

Weaning and Nursery

Always keep animals in a small, manageable group and get assistance when possible to move or lift animals. Try not to lift pigs alone and if you have to then position yourself parallel to the pig you’re lifting. Always use good lifting techniques as to not injure your back.

Finisher

Make sure you properly load and unload animals in the finishing house, as they could be nearing 300 pounds at this stage of life. Always use sorting panels and don’t try to stop pigs from getting past you with your knees. Try to remain calm and only load small groups at one time. Pigs are harder to handle, the more stressed they are.