Has Chiropractic Gone to the Pigs?

There have been many case studies on chiropractic for animals. Most of these cases are on dogs or horses. A new study published on June 28, 2022, in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research looks at chiropractic care for a group of pigs. This study looked from the farmer’s perspective on how chiropractic affected the expenses for the feed harvesting of the pigs who received chiropractic, compared to those that did not.

The title of the study is, "Chiropractic Directed at Subluxation Reduction Improves Speed of Harvest Rate, Reduces Feed Costs and Increases Feed Efficiency in Piglets: A Controlled Field Study of Rate of Gain in 109 Piglets." This study could have a profound impact on pig farmers and their bottom-line profitability, as well as the price of the food for consumers.

In this study, 109 piglets weaned on the same day were included in the study. From the total number of pigs, some were assigned to a group that received chiropractic adjustments, while the remainder did not receive chiropractic. The pigs assigned to the chiropractic group were adjusted and tagged for identification. When the pigs grew and were moved to the "fattening pen", those in the chiropractic group received a second adjustment. The non-chiropractic pigs were handled in the exact same manner but were not given chiropractic adjustments. The pigs are eventually sent to be harvests when they have reached a large enough weight.

The results of the study showed that on average the pigs that received chiropractic adjustments were able to be harvested six days earlier than the non-chiropractic group. Livestock that can be harvested sooner will reduce expenditures for the farmer in feed, medical care, and housing. This reduction of expense can then be passed on to market in the way of lower costs to consumers.

The researchers explained how chiropractic can have this effect on animals. "Chiropractic addresses vertebral subluxations in the spinal column by delivering a high velocity, short lever thrust by hand or with an instrument. A subluxation is defined as a shift in the normal structure of one vertebrae in reference to the vertebrae on either side of it. This shift can cause a biomechanical change that can interfere with the nervous system." If the nervous system is functioning properly, the pigs can grow faster and healthier thus reducing costs.

The implications for chiropractic being introduced into the farming of livestock could have a profound effect on farmers and consumers. In their conclusion the study authors wrote, "Animal chiropractic in a livestock production setting has strong potential to address many challenges the American agriculture producer faces while raising a high-quality end product." They projected that if chiropractic were implemented in a larger scale the impact would be considerable. They stated "... animal chiropractic implemented on a large scale could result in a huge reduction in feed utilization, therefore making a more sustainable and more affordable end product."