A study on some welfare-related parameters of hDAF transgenic pigs when compared with their conventional close relatives

Martelli, Giovanna; Sardi, Luca; Stancampiano, Laura; Govoni, Nadia; Zannoni, Augusta; Nannoni, Eleonora; Forni, Monica; Bacci, Maria Laura

doi:10.1017/s1751731114000433

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…A direct and positive relationship between faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, blood cortisol, and adrenal activity was demonstrated by Morrow et al (2002). A minimally invasive method to assess stress levels over time through cortisol determination in bristles of growing pigs and sows has been recently proposed by Martelli et al (2014) and by Bacci et al (2014). It would be interesting to test the feasibility and reliability of this technique in ruminant species as well.…”

Section: Importance and Assessment Of Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable ruminant production to help feed the planet

Pulina

Francesconi

Stefanon

et al. 2016

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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Ruminant production has been an essential part of human activities worldwide since ancient times. The expected increase in world population and per capita income, with an increase in the amount and prevalence of animal products in human diet, urbanisation, with a concentration of population in urban areas and an increase in losses in the supply chain, and the growing concern over the environmental impact of animal farming require a long-term global strategy for a more intensive and sustainable ruminant production. Therefore, solutions to increase the supply of high-quality products of ruminant origin, without harming human health, animal welfare, and environment, should consider the following interconnected issues discussed in this review: (a) effects of meat, milk and dairy products consumption on human health, focussing on the imbalance caused by their insufficient consumption, and the alleged increased incidence of certain diseases due to their consumption; (b) importance of the sustainable intensification of ruminant production systems (e.g. better feed conversion and higher production output per unit of input introduced into the farming system); (c) environmental impact of ruminant production; (d) improvement of animal performance by improving animal welfare; (e) adaptation of ruminants to climate change; (f) sustainable ruminant feeding (e.g. precision feeding techniques, optimisation of grazing systems, and use of unconventional feeds); (g) challenges posed by production intensification to animal breeding and conservation of animal biodiversity; and (h) strategies to increase ruminant production in developing countries, thus achieving food security in vast areas of the planet affected by fast growth of human population

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Section: Importance and Assessment Of Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable ruminant production to help feed the planet

Pulina

Francesconi

Stefanon

et al. 2016

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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“…Piglets were videotaped over the 24 hours once or twice a week, for a total of 6 videotaping sessions in trial 1, and 12 videotaping session in trial 2. Videos were examined by a single trained observer and the behavioural patterns were assessed by scan sampling technique at 10-min intervals according to predetermined ethogram for heavy pigs (Martelli et al 2014) reporting the following behaviours: standing inactive, sitting inactive (dog-sitting), sternal recumbency, lateral recumbency, walking, eating, drinking, exploring the floor, social interactions. The ethogram was adapted to the specificities in piglets' behaviour and to the trial by adding the following behaviours: tail biting, interaction with the environmental enrichment, interaction with other cage structures, belly nosing.…”

Section: Behavioural Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of different enrichment devices on some welfare indicators of post-weaned undocked piglets

Nannoni

Sardi

Vitali

et al. 2016

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Two experimental trials were carried out in order to test the effectiveness of different environmental enrichments in improving the welfare of weaned pigs. A total of 120 undocked piglets was used. In trial one, group C1 received a metal chain and group WL a wooden log mounted on a frame. In trial two, the enrichments proposed were a hanging chain (group C2), an edible block (group ED) and a wooden briquette (group WB) mounted on a frame. The effectiveness of the enrichments was assessed in terms of animal behaviour, cortisol from bristles, hematologic and hematic profiles, cutaneous (skin and tail) lesions. Growth parameters were also recorded. Although some differences were detected in growth parameters in trial 1 (with C1 group having better productive outcomes than WL group) and some minor differences were observed in animal behaviour in both trials, the overall welfare status did not differ among the experimental groups. On the other hand, no welfare issues emerged in groups C1 and C2, receiving the enrichment device which is generally believed to be scarcely attractive, i.e. the hanging chain. We can therefore conclude that, if no managerial errors are made (floor space availability, feed inadequacy, group stability, microclimate, illumination), under the tested experimental conditions, hanging chains can provide a sufficient environmental enrichment for undocked piglets, even when compared to more attractive enrichments (e.g. an edible block).

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“…Pigs were videotaped once every month, corresponding to 4 videotaping sessions for each replication. Videos were examined by a single trained operator and the behavioral pattern was assessed by scan sampling technique at 10-min intervals according to predetermined ethogram for heavy pigs (Martelli et al, 2014) reporting the following behaviors: standing inactive, sitting inactive (dog sitting), sternal recumbency, lateral recumbency, walking, eating, drinking, chain/bar biting, exploring the floor, and social interactions. The choice of videotaping pigs only during the second phase was based on the assumption that behavioral alterations are more likely to occur during this period, when less space per animal is available and feed restriction becomes more severe (Scipioni et al, 2009).…”

Section: Behavioral Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth parameters, behavior, and meat and ham quality of heavy pigs subjected to photoperiods of different duration

Martelli¹,

Nannoni²,

Grandi³

et al. 2015

Journal of Animal Science

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To attain a good level of animal welfare, pigs require a sufficient environmental illumination. Therefore, minimum levels for light duration and light intensity have been set up by the European legislation (Directive 2008/120). An experimental trial was designed to determine whether an increased duration of the photophase (up to 16 h of light per day) could modify the behavior, productive parameters, and meat and ham quality of Italian heavy pigs. Forty crossbred (Large White × Landrace) castrated males pigs (26 kg initial average BW) intended for Protected Designation of Origin (according to European Union Regulation 1151/2012, ) dry-cured ham production were raised according to Parma ham production rules up to the weight of 160 kg. Pigs were homogeneously allotted to 2 experimental groups, each comprising 20 pigs. The short photoperiod (SP) group received the minimum mandatory number of hours of light per day (corresponding to 8 h/d), whereas the long photoperiod (LP) group was subjected 16 h of light per day during the whole production cycle. Light intensity was maintained at 40 lux (i.e., the minimum mandatory level) for both the experimental groups. Growth and slaughtering parameters, carcass traits, fatty acid composition, meat and dry-cured ham quality, and animal behavior were assessed. Pigs in the LP group showed a greater live weight and carcass weight compared to the SP group ( = 0.005 and = 0.007, respectively). Similarly, hams obtained from the LP group were significantly heavier and their weight losses during the dry-curing period were reduced ( < 0.01) when compared to the SP group. No significant differences were detected between the experimental groups as concerns meat and ham quality or fatty acid composition of the subcutaneous fat. Pigs in the LP group spent more time resting and less time pseudo-rooting ( < 0.01). Our results indicate that, given an appropriate dark period for animal rest, an increased duration of the photoperiod, even at the lower mandatory light intensity level, can favorably affect growth parameters of heavy pigs without any negative effect on animal behavior, carcass traits, or meat or long-cured ham quality. Therefore, rearing pigs in semidarkness should be considered as a baseless practice, contrary to animal welfare.

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A study on some welfare-related parameters of hDAF transgenic pigs when compared with their conventional close relatives

Cited by 15 publications

References 31 publications

Sustainable ruminant production to help feed the planet

Sustainable ruminant production to help feed the planet

Effects of different enrichment devices on some welfare indicators of post-weaned undocked piglets

Growth parameters, behavior, and meat and ham quality of heavy pigs subjected to photoperiods of different duration

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