Behavior and performance of sows fed different levels of fiber and reared in individual cages or collective pens

Budiño, Fábio Enrique Lemos; Vieira, Renata F. N.; Mello, Silvio Paula; Duarte, Keila Maria Roncato

doi:10.1590/0001-3765201420140301

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…First, stereotypies and abnormal repetitive behaviours are probably the most common indicators shared by many species under sub-optimal captive conditions (sows: [11]; calves: [12]; lambs: [13]). These are repetitive and invariant behaviours with no obvious goal or function [14] that should always be considered as warning signs of potential suffering, even at a low frequency.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Housing Horses in Individual Boxes Is a Challenge with Regard to Welfare

Ruet

Lemarchand

Parias

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple SummaryHorses are mainly housed in individual boxes. This housing system is reported to be highly detrimental with regard to welfare and could trigger the expression of four behavioural indicators of a compromised welfare state: stereotypies, aggressiveness toward humans, unresponsiveness to the environment, and stress-related behaviours. The aim of this study was to investigate whether several factors commonly observed in boxes (e.g., the presence of a window toward the external environment) and management practices (e.g., time spent being ridden) could alleviate the negative effects of individual boxes on welfare. The results show that the majority of the factors studied did not influence the expression of the indicators. In addition, the longer the horses spent in individual boxes, the more likely they were to express unresponsiveness to the environment. Overall, the main conclusion of this study is that the detrimental effects caused by the spatial, social, and dietary deprivations of this housing system could not be alleviated by small facilities in the box or changes in management practices. To preserve the welfare of horses, it seems necessary to allow free exercise, interactions with conspecifics, and fibre consumption as often as possible, to ensure the satisfaction of the species’ behavioural and physiological needs.AbstractHorses are mainly housed in individual boxes. This housing system is reported to be highly detrimental with regard to welfare and could trigger the expression of four behavioural indicators of a compromised welfare state: stereotypies, aggressiveness toward humans, unresponsiveness to the environment, and stress-related behaviours. The aim of this study was to identify housing and management factors that could alleviate the detrimental effects of individual boxes on welfare. A total of 187 horses were observed over 50 days by scan sampling. The impact of 12 factors was investigated on the expression of the four behavioural indicators in three different analyses. The results show that the majority of factors tested did not influence the expression of the behavioural indicators. Only three (straw bedding, a window opening onto the external environment, and a reduced quantity of concentrated feed) would have beneficial, although limited, effects. Furthermore, the longer the horses spent in individual boxes, the more likely they were to express unresponsiveness to the environment. To preserve the welfare of horses, it seems necessary to allow free exercise, interactions with conspecifics, and fibre consumption as often as possible, to ensure the satisfaction of the species’ behavioural and physiological needs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Housing Horses in Individual Boxes Is a Challenge with Regard to Welfare

Ruet

Lemarchand

Parias

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…In all tested heating systems, mean values of BGHI can be considered comfortable for sows in the morning on the first evaluated day. On the other hand, the mean values of BGHI were distanced from the ideal (72) in the other periods and days evaluated, as suggested by Budiño et al (2014). Table 2 shows the values of mean, median, standard deviation (σ), coefficient of variation (CV), kurtosis (Curt), asymmetry (Ass.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 59%

Welfare and spatial distribution of noise levels in swine nursery

Damasceno

Oliveira

Ferraz

et al. 2019

Rev. bras. eng. agríc. ambient.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the welfare and spatial distribution of noise levels in a swine nursery during the first three weeks of animal’s life. The climatic conditions were evaluated through the dry-bulb temperature (Tdb), relative humidity (RH) and black globe temperature and humidity index (BGHI) and allowed us to observe that the heating system influenced the conditions in the environment, and the use of the air conditioning system did not guarantee animal’s comfort conditions. The analysis on the spatial distribution of noise levels was performed using geostatistics and demonstrated the occurrence of spatial variability inside the facilities. The highest frequencies of noise levels were concentrated between 60 and 70 dB, and the highest noise values were observed near the fans. The mean BGHI values were below the thermal comfort range for piglets in all systems tested.

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“…A higher frequency of resting behavior and a reduction in the sudden act of chewing are findings of high-fiber diets to gestating sows (Sapkota et al, 2016). Even with no difference in the frequency of lying lateral (145 vs 252), lying ventral (284 vs 404), and standing (33 vs 28) positions of gestating sows with low or high fiber up to 3 h after feeding, Budiño et al (2014) believe that high fiber diets lead to better animal welfare and comfort. In another study, Loisel et al (2013) reported that the duration of the farrowing process was not affected by high-fiber diets; however, the birth process began faster in sows fed the high-fiber diet than in the group fed the low-fiber diet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Dried distillers grains with solubles in diets during late gestation affects behavior and maintains the performance of sows

Corassa¹,

Silva²,

Souza³

et al. 2022

Revista Brasileira De Zootecnia

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Non-ruminantsFull-length research article Dried distillers grains with solubles in diets during late gestation affects behavior and maintains the performance of sows ABSTRACT -We examined the effect of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets for late gestating sows on sow and litter performance, colostrum chemical composition, and sow behavior. Sixty gestating sows of 3.77±1.65 parity were divided into three groups of 20 animals, in a randomized block design with 0 (corn-soybean meal diet), 150, or 300 g kg −1 DDGS from 84 days of gestation until farrowing. Sows fed 300 g kg −1 DDGS presented a lower frequency of standing position and eating activity. The lying lateral position was more frequent in the first 40 min post-feeding for sows fed the highest DDGS level. There was no effect of diets on sow and litter performance; however, DDGS inclusion tended to increase lactation feed intake. Inclusion of DDGS was inclined to produce more lactose and less protein in colostrum, but did not affect colostrum fat, total solids, and ash contents. Inclusion of up to 300 g kg −1 DDGS in the diet of late gestation sows does not change sow and litter performance and colostrum composition compared with corn-soybean meal diets, but it favored animal welfare.

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Behavior and performance of sows fed different levels of fiber and reared in individual cages or collective pens

Cited by 13 publications

References 8 publications

Housing Horses in Individual Boxes Is a Challenge with Regard to Welfare

Housing Horses in Individual Boxes Is a Challenge with Regard to Welfare

Welfare and spatial distribution of noise levels in swine nursery

Dried distillers grains with solubles in diets during late gestation affects behavior and maintains the performance of sows

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