Fermented Herbal Extract Effects on Pig Behavior, Health, and Productivity

A 2026 study by Natalia Nöllenburg investigated the effects of a fermented herbal extract supplement on pigs from weaning to slaughter. The dataset includes behavioral observations, lesion assessments, and productivity data collected from two commercial Austrian farms over three batches covering all seasons. Results suggest a potential benefit for reducing tail-biting behavior and respiratory symptoms in pigs.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the correlation between dietary supplements and tail lesion prevalence based on the reported 'tail shorter' indicator.
• Modeling the effect of fermented herbal extracts on respiratory symptoms based on recorded coughing and sneezing frequencies.
• Comparing productivity and health outcomes between control and treatment groups based on farm and slaughter data.

Strengths

• Data was collected from two commercial farms over three batches, covering all seasons.
• Includes multiple data types: behavioral observations, lesion assessments, on-farm productivity, and slaughter records.
• Specific statistical results are reported, such as a significant difference in tail lesion prevalence (7.2% vs 38.8%).

Limitations

• The dataset is small (682.2 KB), indicating limited scope and sample size.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale modeling.

Provenance

Source

Natalia Nöllenburg via figshare.

Collection Method

On-farm study with control and treatment pens; data collected via behavioral observations, lesion assessments, and farm/abattoir records.

Time Range

Study covered three batches across all seasons; specific years not stated.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-04 04:30:20; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Two commercial Austrian welfare label farms.