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5 results on '"farrowing behavior"'

1. Backfat Thickness at Pre-Farrowing: Indicators of Sow Reproductive Performance, Milk Yield, and Piglet Birth Weight in Smart Farm-Based Systems.

Author

Mun, Hong-Seok, Ampode, Keiven Mark B., Lagua, Eddiemar B., Chem, Veasna, Park, Hae-Rang, Kim, Young-Hwa, Sharifuzzaman, Md, Hasan, Md Kamrul, and Yang, Chul-Ju

Subjects
SOWS, ANIMAL litters, BIRTH weight, MILK yield, SWINE breeding, PIGLETS, ONE-way analysis of variance, BODY weight
Abstract

The importance of backfat thickness in sows lies in its correlation with nutritional status, reproductive performance, and overall health. Identifying the optimum backfat thickness is crucial for determining the ideal energy reserves needed to support successful reproduction and lactation. This research aimed to determine optimal backfat thickness (BFT) of sows in relation to reproductive and lactation performance. In this study, 32 lactating sows were housed in a controlled environment and assigned to four groups based on their BFT before farrowing: <17.00 mm, 17.00–17.99 mm, 18.00–18.99 mm, and ≥19.00 mm. The data were analyzed with One-way analysis of variance, and the association between backfat thickness and sow reproductive performance was examined through Spearman's correlation analysis using SAS software. The results revealed no significant difference between the groups in total born, total born alive, and litter size weaned, but the piglets' survival rate during the lactation period is lower from sows with BFT < 17.00. Moreover, piglet birth weight and body weight at Day 3 were significantly lower in sows with BFT < 17.00 mm. The BFT of sows at weaning showed significant differences among the groups associated with the backfat thickness before farrowing. No significant difference was found in the duration of farrowing. The return-to-estrus interval was longer in sows with <17.00 mm BFT than in those with 17.00–17.99 mm, 18.00–18.99 mm, and ≥19.00 mm backfat thickness, with estrus intervals of 7.17, 6.25, 5.31, and 5 days after weaning, respectively. Numerically, calculated milk yield (MY) is lowest in sows with BFT < 17.00, and the highest MY was obtained from sows with BFT 18.00–18.99 mm. In conclusion, sows with at least 17.00 mm BFT before farrowing are ideal for increasing the lifetime productivity of sows. This study provides valuable insights into the importance of sow management during gestation for subsequent reproductive success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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2. Backfat Thickness at Pre-Farrowing: Indicators of Sow Reproductive Performance, Milk Yield, and Piglet Birth Weight in Smart Farm-Based Systems

Author

Hong-Seok Mun, Keiven Mark B. Ampode, Eddiemar B. Lagua, Veasna Chem, Hae-Rang Park, Young-Hwa Kim, Md Sharifuzzaman, Md Kamrul Hasan, and Chul-Ju Yang

Subjects
farrowing duration, farrowing behavior, weaning-to-estrus interval, body condition score, litter size, stillbirth, Agriculture (General), S1-972
Abstract

The importance of backfat thickness in sows lies in its correlation with nutritional status, reproductive performance, and overall health. Identifying the optimum backfat thickness is crucial for determining the ideal energy reserves needed to support successful reproduction and lactation. This research aimed to determine optimal backfat thickness (BFT) of sows in relation to reproductive and lactation performance. In this study, 32 lactating sows were housed in a controlled environment and assigned to four groups based on their BFT before farrowing:

Published
2023
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3. Pituitary-adrenal activation in pre-parturient pigs (Sus scrofa) is associated with behavioural restriction due to lack of space rather than nesting substrate

Subjects
animal structures, farrowing behavior, plasma-cortisol, straw, food and beverages, sow behavior, cortisol secretion, piglets, prepartum behavior, progesterone, Chair Ethology, Leerstoelgroep Ethologie, WIAS, environmental stimuli, ranging domestic pigs
Abstract

Previous research has shown that pre-parturient primiparous pigs (gilts) housed in behaviourally restrictive farrowing crates without straw redirect their nest-building behaviour to non-manipulable substrates such as the bars of the crate. These gilts also show elevated plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, particularly around the peak of nest-building activity, when compared to gilts in larger pens that have been provided with a manipulable substrate (straw). It remains unclear whether these behavioural and physiological responses to crating result from the lack of a suitable nesting substrate or from the restricted space. This study investigated the effects of space (crate [C] versus pen [P]) and straw (straw [S] versus no straw [NS]) using a 2 × 2 factorial design. Thirty-four gilts were implanted with an indwelling jugular catheter at around 12 days before parturition. They were moved to one of the four environments five days before parturition, and blood sampling and recording of behaviour were carried out during the pre-parturient period. Penned gilts (P), irrespective of straw availability, spent more time standing and walking and performed more total substrate-directed behaviour than crated (C) gilts. When straw was not available to penned gilts, a large proportion of their substrate-directed behaviour was redirected to the floor. Space also had an effect on ACTH and cortisol levels across the entire pre-parturient phase, with C gilts having higher levels than (P) gilts irrespective of straw availability, but particularly so at the peak of nest-building activity. There was no effect of straw on ACTH or cortisol levels. Overall, it appears that increased space, perhaps through allowing locomotion, increases substrate-directed behaviour of pre-parturient gilts. When space is available but straw is absent, pre-parturient gilts redirect their nest-building behaviour to the floor. The ability to express substrate-directed behaviour as a result of increased space is reflected in lower levels of indicators of physiological stress

Published
2002

4. The effect of parity and environmental restriction on behavioural and physiological responses of pre-parturient pigs

Author

Susan Jarvis, B. van der Vegt, KA McLean, Alistair Lawrence, LA Deans, SK Calvert, and J Chirnside

Subjects
RANGING DOMESTIC PIGS, medicine.medical_treatment, nest-building, Animal-assisted therapy, PROLACTIN, periparturient behaviour, Biology, Hpa activity, Animal science, Pet therapy, Food Animals, SOW BEHAVIOR, medicine, PIGLETS, environmental restriction, CORTISOL, pig-reproduction, PROGESTERONE, FARROWING BEHAVIOR, Physiological responses, OXYTOCIN, Plasma cortisol, STIMULI, parity, Animal Science and Zoology, STRAW, Pig reproduction, Parity (mathematics), Blood sampling
Abstract

There is increasing evidence that restriction of pre-parturient behaviour in pigs is stress-inducing, characterised by an elevation in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity in gilts. To determine whether pigs adapt to behavioural restriction, through modification of nest-building behaviour, we studied pre-parturient pigs in either farrowing crates (no bedding, n = 7) or straw-bedded pens (n = 7) in their first (gilts) and second (sows) parity. with physiological measurements being taken in the second parity. Observations and blood sampling were carried out during the preparturient phase. Crated pigs changed posture more often than penned pigs (F-1,F-12 = 7.06, P

Published
2001
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5. Pituitary-adrenal activation in pre-parturient pigs (Sus scrofa) is associated with behavioural restriction due to lack of space rather than nesting substrate

Author

Jarvis, S., Sheena Robson, Stevenson, J., Vanleeuwen, N., and Alistair Lawrence

Subjects
animal structures, farrowing behavior, plasma-cortisol, straw, food and beverages, sow behavior, cortisol secretion, piglets, prepartum behavior, progesterone, Chair Ethology, Leerstoelgroep Ethologie, WIAS, environmental stimuli, ranging domestic pigs
Abstract

Previous research has shown that pre-parturient primiparous pigs (gilts) housed in behaviourally restrictive farrowing crates without straw redirect their nest-building behaviour to non-manipulable substrates such as the bars of the crate. These gilts also show elevated plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, particularly around the peak of nest-building activity, when compared to gilts in larger pens that have been provided with a manipulable substrate (straw). It remains unclear whether these behavioural and physiological responses to crating result from the lack of a suitable nesting substrate or from the restricted space. This study investigated the effects of space (crate [C] versus pen [P]) and straw (straw [S] versus no straw [NS]) using a 2 × 2 factorial design. Thirty-four gilts were implanted with an indwelling jugular catheter at around 12 days before parturition. They were moved to one of the four environments five days before parturition, and blood sampling and recording of behaviour were carried out during the pre-parturient period. Penned gilts (P), irrespective of straw availability, spent more time standing and walking and performed more total substrate-directed behaviour than crated (C) gilts. When straw was not available to penned gilts, a large proportion of their substrate-directed behaviour was redirected to the floor. Space also had an effect on ACTH and cortisol levels across the entire pre-parturient phase, with C gilts having higher levels than (P) gilts irrespective of straw availability, but particularly so at the peak of nest-building activity. There was no effect of straw on ACTH or cortisol levels. Overall, it appears that increased space, perhaps through allowing locomotion, increases substrate-directed behaviour of pre-parturient gilts. When space is available but straw is absent, pre-parturient gilts redirect their nest-building behaviour to the floor. The ability to express substrate-directed behaviour as a result of increased space is reflected in lower levels of indicators of physiological stress

Published
2002

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