Aggressive and sexual behaviour of growing and finishing pigs reared in groups, without castration

Rydhmer, Lotta; Zamaratskaia, Galia; Andersson, H.K.; Algers, Bo; Guillemet, Rozenn; Lundström, Kerstin

doi:10.1080/09064700601079527

Cited by 68 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…We did not observe a significant effect of the environment on the number of performed mounting behaviours probably because of the very high variability of this parameter. Such variability between pigs was already shown by Rydhmer et al (2006) who observed that almost half of the pigs did not perform mounting behaviours, whereas the average number calculated in the others was higher than two.…”

Section: Indicators Of the Pubertal Developmentsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…This may be detrimental to the welfare as pointed out by Rydhmer et al (2006) who found more bites at the skin inspection in pigs being mounted and who suggested a higher risk of leg problems. The reason for the higher number of mounting behaviour in the enriched environment is not known but may be related to an overall higher level of activity that was observed by Tallet et al (2013).…”

Section: Indicators Of the Pubertal Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of housing and season on pubertal development, boar taint compounds and skin lesions of male pigs

Prunier

Brilloüet²,

Merlot³

et al. 2013

Animal

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Rearing entire pigs may lead to meat quality and welfare problems in relation to pubertal development. A better knowledge of the sources of variation of pubertal development, behaviour and boar taint is needed before generalizing entire male pigs. From 84 days of age, entire male pigs were reared in groups of 10 either in a conventional (C, 1 m²/animal, slatted floor) or an enriched (E, 2.5 m²/animal, straw bedding, outdoor run) housing during spring or autumn and fed ad libitum (n = 10/housing/season). Mounting behaviour was observed for 3 h during the third (M3), fourth (M4) and fifth (M5) months of age. The total number of skin lesions was counted on both sides of the pigs 1 day before the behavioural recordings. The time spent in the outdoor run was also recorded during 3 days per month. The animals were slaughtered at 161 ± 1 days of age (122 ± 9 kg live weight). Blood samples were collected at 89 (M3), 119 (M4) and 152 (M5) days of age and at slaughter for the testosterone and oestradiol measurements. The testes were collected at slaughter, freed from the surrounding tissues and weighed. The fat samples were collected for the androstenone and skatole concentration measurement. Plasma testosterone and oestradiol-17β (oestradiol), fat androstenone and skatole and weight of the testes did not differ between the housing systems. Plasma testosterone (8.3 v. 3.9 nmol/l, P < 0.05) and oestradiol (12.0 v. 9.2 pmol/l, P < 0.1) at M3, fat skatole (0.124 v. 0.043, P < 0.03) and weight of the testes (587 v. 512 g, P < 0.05) were higher in the autumn than in the spring trial, suggesting that the pubertal development was accelerated. The number of received mounting behaviours was slightly higher in the autumn ( P = 0.08) trial and was markedly higher in the E than in the C environment ( P < 0.003). Skin lesions were more numerous in the C than in the E housing at M4 and M5 and in the spring than in the autumn trial at M3 and M4 ( P < 0.05). Fat androstenone and the number of performed mounting behaviours were significantly correlated between each other and with numerous indicators of the pubertal development ( P < 0.05). The number of skin lesions was correlated with plasma testosterone and live weight ( P < 0.05). Overall, this study suggests the effect of season on sexual development, the effect of the housing system on behaviour, and demonstrates the links between sexual hormones, behaviour and boar taint.Keywords: pig, season, housing, testosterone, androstenone ImplicationsFinding solutions to rear entire male pigs without drawbacks on the meat quality and welfare during fattening are essential for the EU pig industry that is engaged in a process of stopping surgical castration. The present study evaluates the housing system and the season as two possible sources of variation of pubertal development, behaviour and boar taint. We found a positive effect of enriching the environment on the number of skin lesions but not on the other parameters. Decreasing day length seems to accelerate the pubertal development. The m...

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Section: Indicators Of the Pubertal Developmentsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Indicators Of the Pubertal Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of housing and season on pubertal development, boar taint compounds and skin lesions of male pigs

Prunier

Brilloüet²,

Merlot³

et al. 2013

Animal

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“…The discrepancy between the skin lesions and behavioural observations could be due to the rather basic observation method which was limited to a relatively short period of scan-sampling recording once every 2 weeks. On the other hand, our basic observation appeared adequate to detect differences in sexual and aggressive behaviour between boars and gilts, which are in line with common knowledge (Rydhmer et al, 2006). Effect of MC4R on boar taint, puberty and behaviour in pigs Therefore, we tentatively conclude that possible differences in sexual and aggressive behaviour between AA and GG boars -if any -will be less compared with the differences between gilts and boars.…”

supporting

confidence: 84%

“…In commercial growing-finishing pigs, however, sexually mature gilts could become pregnant when reared in mixed pens. Slaughtering pregnant gilts should be avoided for ethical reasons; therefore single-sex rearing of GG pigs is recommended (Rydhmer et al, 2006). Behaviour, skin lesions and lameness A higher percentage of AA animals showed passive and feeding behaviour compared with GG animals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Still, pigs of the GG genotype had more skin lesions on their back and caudal area and a tendency towards more skin lesions on their head and anterior area was observed. Skin lesions on the anterior area are mostly caused by reciprocal fights with pen mates (Turner et al, 2006), but scratches on the body can also be caused by mounting (Rydhmer et al, 2006). The discrepancy between the skin lesions and behavioural observations could be due to the rather basic observation method which was limited to a relatively short period of scan-sampling recording once every 2 weeks.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effect of the MC4R gene on boar taint compounds, sexual maturity and behaviour in growing-finishing boars and gilts

Broeke¹,

Aluwé²,

Janssens

et al. 2015

Animal

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Societal pressure to ban surgical castration of male piglets is rising due to animal welfare concerns, thus other methods to prevent boar taint need to be explored. Genetic selection against boar taint appears to be a long-term sustainable alternative. However, as boar taint is linked to reproductive hormones, it is important to consider possible negative side effects such as delayed sexual maturity or changes in behaviour. We reported earlier that the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) marker can be used to reduce boar taint levels in fat of boars. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether MC4R marker-assisted selection for lower boar taint prevalence affects plasma levels of boar taint compounds and testosterone; sexual maturity; behaviour; skin lesions; and lameness in boars and gilts. Using an intervention study with a 2 × 2 design, 264 boars and gilts differing on position 893 of the MC4R gene (AA v. GG) were compared. The MC4R polymorphism did not affect the plasma concentration of either androstenone or testosterone at different time points, whereas the concentration of skatole was significantly lower ( P = 0.003) and the concentration of indole tended to be lower ( P = 0.074) in GG compared with AA boars. A higher percentage of gilts of the GG genotype were in puberty at slaughter age compared with AA gilts ( P < 0.001). The age of the boars at sexual maturity (as indicated by the first positive preputial smear test) did not differ between AA and GG boars. In contrast, weight of GG boars at sexual maturity tended to be lower ( P = 0.065). During the period from 6 weeks of age to slaughter, boars and gilts of the GG genotype showed more playing behaviour ( P = 0.015) and less passive and feeding behaviour ( P = 0.003). They showed more skin lesions on their back and caudal area ( P = 0.022), and tended to show more skin lesions on their head and anterior area ( P = 0.093) compared with AA animals. In conclusion, the polymorphism in the MC4R gene can be used as a marker without negative effects on reproduction characteristics in boars and gilts. Genetic selection towards a lower prevalence of boar taint will lead to more active pigs with more skin lesions. Management strategies may therefore be necessary to reduce skin lesions in the selected animals.

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Effect of dietary energy level in finishing phase on performance, carcass and meat quality in immunocastrates and barrows in comparison with gilts and entire male pigs

Broeke

Aluwé

Kress

et al. 2022

Animal

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Aggressive and sexual behaviour of growing and finishing pigs reared in groups, without castration

Cited by 68 publications

References 31 publications

Influence of housing and season on pubertal development, boar taint compounds and skin lesions of male pigs

Influence of housing and season on pubertal development, boar taint compounds and skin lesions of male pigs

The effect of the MC4R gene on boar taint compounds, sexual maturity and behaviour in growing-finishing boars and gilts

Effect of dietary energy level in finishing phase on performance, carcass and meat quality in immunocastrates and barrows in comparison with gilts and entire male pigs

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