The objective of this trial was to evaluate the behavioral patterns and performance of lactating sows and their litters under the effect of artificial vocalization. Twenty-eight sows and their litters were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial scheme (artificial vocalization x lactation week). The behavior of the animals was monitored during 24 hours on the 7 th and 15 th days of lactation, analyzing the number, interval, and frequency of nursings. The body condition and performance of the sows were also evaluated. Artificial vocalization promoted higher frequencies of eating for sow and nursing for piglets (P <0.05), increased inactive sow behavior (P <0.05), and reduced sow alert in activity (P <0.05). The number and duration of suckling sessions at the 15 th day of lactation were reduced (P <0.05). The use of artificial vocalization did not affect the body condition or milk production of the lactating sows, or the performance of the litter during lactation (P> 0.05). The use of maternal artificial vocalization during lactation of sows promoted greater lactation efficiency and longer rest time, favoring the sows' welfare.
This study assessed the ways the thermal environment is influenced by pre-cooling the water employed in wetting the porous plates present in the evaporative cooling systems (ECS). The experiment was performed using two physical models constructed on a distorted and reduced scale, which simulated closed agricultural facilities equipped with ECS made up of porous cellulose panels. In one physical model, the plates were made wet using chilled water (ECScw), while in the other they were moistened using natural water, at environment temperature (ECSnw). Both inside the physical models and outside, in the external environment, the air dry-bulb temperature (tdb), black globe temperature (tbg) and air relative humidity (RH) were measured, at 10 sec intervals. Later, the environmental indices, ECSnw cooling effectiveness and ECScw performance factor were assessed. When the porous ECS plates were thoroughly wet using pre-cooled water, lowering of the thermal variables and comfort indices was seen to be greater than when wetting the plates was done using water at room temperature. An empirical equation was proposed to determine the cooling performance factor applied to the ECScw related to water temperature, tdb and air wet-bulb temperature.
Pig vocalization in group under different thermal conditions To quantify and to qualify animal well-being in livestock farms is still a challenge. To assess animal well-being, it must be analyzed, mainly, the absence of strong negative feelings, like pain, and the presence of positive feelings, like pleasure. The main objective was to quantify vocalization in a group of pigs under different thermal conditions. The specific objectives were to assess the existence of vocal pattern of communication between housing groups of pigs, and get the acoustic characteristics of the sound spectrum from the vocalizations related to the different microclimate conditions. The trial was carried out in a controlled environment experimental unit for pigs, at the University of Illinois (USA). Four groups of six pigs were used in the data collection. Dataloggers were installed to record environmental variables (T, °C and RH, %). These environmental variable were used to calculate two thermal comfort index: Enthalpy and THI. Cardioid microphones were installed to record continuous vocalizations in the geometric center of each pen where the pigs were housing. Microphones were connected to an amplifier, and this was connected to a dvr card installed in a computer to record audio and video information. For doing the sound edition in a pig vocalization database, the Goldwave® software was used to separate, and filter the files excluding background noise. In the sequence, the sounds were analyzed using the software Sounds Analysis Pro 2011, and the acoustic characteristics were extracted. Amplitude (dB), pitch (Hz), mean frequency (Hz), peak frequency (Hz) and entropy were used to characterize the sound spectrum of vocalizations of the groups of piglets in the different thermal conditions. A randomized block design was used, composed by two treatments and three repetitions in a week and executed in two weeks. Data were sampled to analyze the behavior of the databank of vocalization as a relation to the applied treatments. Data were submitted to an analysis of variance using the proc GLM of SAS. Among the studied acoustic parameters, the amplitude (dB), pitch and entropy. The treatments (comfort and heat stress conditions) presented significative differences, through Tukey's test (p<0,05). The analysis of variance showed differences to the wave format to each thermal condition in the different periods of the day. The quantification of vocalization of swine in groups under different thermal conditions is possible, using the extraction of acoustic characteristics from the sound samples. The sound spectrum was extracted, which indicated possible alterations in the piglets behavior in the different thermal conditions during the periods of the day. However, the stage of pattern's recognition still needs a larger and more consistent database to the recognition of the spectrum in each thermal condition, through image analysis or by the extraction of the acoustic characteristics. Among he analyzed acoustic characteristics, the amplitude (dB), pitch...
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