Move over Elle
Macpherson – the search is now on for the pig with the best legs as part of a
new research project to improve the health and welfare of pigs on farms across
the UK .
The study, being led by
Newcastle University and jointly-funded by BPEX, was set up to see if we can
predict from an early age whether a pig is at risk of becoming lame, simply by
analysing the way it walks.
Using video motion
capture – a technique similar to that used in animation for Hollywood
blockbusters such as Avatar and Lord of the Rings – the team measured changes
in the pigs’ gait, focussing on the angle of the joints and length of stride.
By assessing what
constitutes ‘normal’ gait in pigs, the team reveals how the system could be
used to reduce lameness, improving health and welfare on farms, reducing costs
and improving sustainability.
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 .
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