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Impact of sexual maturity on the welfare of immunocastrated v. entire heavy female pigs
- Source :
- Animal, Vol 12, Iss 8, Pp 1631-1637 (2018)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- During oestrus, fattening female pigs are more prone to lameness, fractures and wounds due to mounting and agonistic behaviours of penmates. This study assessed the effect of sexual maturity on the behaviour and welfare of heavy female pigs slaughtered at 36 weeks of age (180±10 kg) for dry-cured ham production. An immunocastrated control group was used for comparison. In all, 56 15-week-old female pigs, individually identifiable by back tattoos were equally distributed among four pens. All animals from two pens were subject to a three-dose immunocastration schedule at 16, 20 and 32 weeks of age. Skin lesions and behaviours were assessed at 18, 23, 28, 33 and 36 weeks of age. A blood sample was collected at 20, 24, 28 and 32 weeks of age for assessing health/stress parameters and GnRH antibodies. At slaughter, ovaries were weighed, measured and histologically examined; stomachs, carcasses and lungs were scored for lesions and a further blood sample was taken. Immunocastrated pigs did not significantly differ from controls in growth rate, feed efficiency and slaughter performances (lung score, gastric score, backfat thickness). However, they showed a lower frequency of aggressive interactions at 33 and 36 weeks, lower front lesions at 28 weeks, but higher at 30 weeks; a lower haptoglobin level at 28 weeks, a lower level of cortisol and back lesions at slaughter (36 weeks). These findings suggest a low, yet not negligible, impact of sexual maturity on the welfare of heavy female pigs.
- Subjects :
- pig
Hydrocortisone
040301 veterinary sciences
Swine
Animal Welfare
Feed conversion ratio
SF1-1100
Antibodies
0403 veterinary science
Andrology
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Animal science
immunocastration
Animal welfare
medicine
Agonistic behaviour
Sexual maturity
Animals
oestrus
Castration
Sexual Maturation
Estrous cycle
business.industry
Stomach
Ovary
0402 animal and dairy science
sexual behaviour
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
040201 dairy & animal science
Animal culture
Aggression
welfare
medicine.anatomical_structure
Female
Lameness
Animal Science and Zoology
business
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 1751732X
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....43ed9bc5fe12272ebc880da8e1c5642c