A study by Texas Tech researchers could save the pork industry millions of dollars annually.

The pork industry can use less swine bedding year-round than it currently does, according to researchers from Texas Tech and Iowa State University.

The study, funded by the Pork Checkoff, shows that the change could improve animal well-being and may even save the industry more than $10 million per year.

Pigs being transported can experience unneeded stress, overheating, or even death due to improper levels of bedding. Stress increases the animal’s lactic acid, and can have an adverse effect on the meat.

“More than 400,000 pigs have a negative experience,” said John McGlone, a professor in Texas Tech’s Department of Animal and Food Science. “It’s one reason why we focused on defining transport bedding requirements for pigs in commercial settings during three separate conditions: cold, mild, and warm weather.”

The current standard in the industry is to use four bales of bedding per semi-trailer. McGlone and his research team found that the number of bales can be increased or decreased depending on the weather.

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