Associations between skin lesion counts, hair cortisol concentrations and reproductive performance in group housed sows

Lagoda, Martyna Ewa; O’Driscoll, Keelin; Marchewka, Joanna; Foister, Simone; Turner, Simon P.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104463

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Hence, a drawback of rooting towers and racks is the risk of competition (and thus sustained aggression), due to the potential for such structures to be monopolised by dominant individuals (Stewart et al 2008 ). Nevertheless, this could be mitigated by strategic placement and provision of a number of straw delivery structures (Lagoda et al 2021 [Au: 2021a ], 2022 ). Natural fibre rope could also help satisfy sows’ behavioural motivation to chew, as it is destructible, chewable, manipulable, and investigable (Horback et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indicators of improved gestation housing of sows. Part I: Effects on behaviour, skin lesions, locomotion, and tear staining

et al. 2023

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Commercial gestation housing systems for sows generally fail to cater fully for their needs in terms of comfort or the ability to perform highly motivated behaviours, which can lead to chronic stress and an impairment to welfare. We compared a typical gestation system (CONTROL) with an IMPROVED one as regards oral stereotypies, aggressive behaviour, skin lesions, locomotion, and tear staining. Sows were mixed into 12 stable groups (six groups per treatment, 20 sows per group), 29 days post-service in pens with free-access, full-length individual feeding/lying stalls. CONTROL pens had fully slatted concrete floors, with two blocks of wood and two chains suspended in the group area. IMPROVED pens were the same but with rubber mats and a length of manila rope in each feeding stall, and straw provided in three racks in the group area. Direct observations of oral stereotypical (30 instantaneous scans per sow per day) and aggressive (all-occurrence sampling, 3 h per sow per day) behaviours were conducted 72 h post-mixing, in mid and late gestation. Skin lesions were counted 24 h and three weeks post-mixing, and in late gestation. Sows’ locomotion (locomotory ability) was scored using a visual analogue scale in mid and late gestation. Right and left eye tear staining was scored in late gestation. Indications of better welfare in IMPROVED sows included performance of fewer oral stereotypies in mid and late gestation, and lower tear stain scores. These sows performed more aggression in late gestation, which was associated with access to enrichment, but skin lesion counts were not affected. Thus, the changes made in the IMPROVED treatment benefitted aspects of sow welfare.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indicators of improved gestation housing of sows. Part I: Effects on behaviour, skin lesions, locomotion, and tear staining

et al. 2023

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“…In fact, the results from existing research on HPA axis activity are conflicting ( 59 ). Some authors argue that HPA axis activation does not always reflect stressful conditions, as it is known that it can be either upregulated or downregulated in response to chronic stress, depending on the situation and the individual involved ( 34 , 59 , 60 ). Others suggest that a generalised endocrine profile of a chronically stressed animal does not exist, as there is so much variation in the stress response of individual animals ( 61 ).…”

Section: Chronic and Prenatal Stress–mechanisms Of Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following on from this, Herman et al ( 31 ) state that chronic stress-induced, protracted activation of the HPA axis takes many forms, including prolonged basal hypersecretion of glucocorticoids, sensitised stress responses, and even adrenal exhaustion, and that this can depend on the duration of the stressor, as well as its intensity, frequency and modality ( 31 ). Thus, caution must be exercised when interpreting chronic stress levels based on HPA axis activity patterns alone ( 59 , 60 ).…”

Section: Chronic and Prenatal Stress–mechanisms Of Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors for Chronic Stress in Sows Housed in Groups, and Associated Risks of Prenatal Stress in Their Offspring

2022

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Chronic stress has a detrimental effect on sow welfare and productivity, as well as on the welfare and resilience of their piglets, mediated prenatally. Despite this, the specific risk factors for chronic stress in pregnant sows are understudied. Group-housed pregnant sows continuously face numerous challenges associated with aspects of the physical (group type and size, flooring, feeding system) and social (stocking density, mixing strategy) environment. There are many well-known potent stressors for pigs that likely contribute to chronic, physiological stress, including overcrowding, hot temperatures, feed restriction, inability to forage, uncomfortable floors, and poor handling. Some of these stressors also contribute to the development of production diseases such as lameness, which in turn are also likely causes of chronic stress because of the associated pain and difficulty accessing resources. The aim of this review is to discuss potential risk factors for chronic stress in pregnant sows such as space allowance, group size and type (stable/dynamic), feeding level, lameness, pen design, feed system, enrichment and rooting material, floor type, the quality of stockmanship, environmental conditions, and individual sow factors. The mechanisms of action of both chronic and prenatal stress, as well as the effects of the latter on offspring are also discussed. Gaps in existing research and recommendations for future work are outlined.

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“…Thus, hair cortisol concentration measured in late pregnancy was used in the analysis as an indicator of chronic stress corresponding to approximately the last two-thirds of the pregnancy. The collection site can have an impact on cortisol concentrations found in hair [30,32], and thus, based on previous research, the dorso-lumbar region was selected as the most appropriate site for collection to best guarantee adequate measurement of cortisol concentration [32][33][34]. The dorso-lumbar site was identified by measuring 6.5 cm left and right from the mid-point at the spine marked by the position of the last rib; hair was shaved using an electric shaver, placed into plastic zip-lock bags, and frozen at −20 • C until hair cortisol analysis.…”

Section: Hair Collection and Subsequent Hair Cortisol Concentration Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hair sample preparation and cortisol extraction were based on the procedure described by Davenport et al [29], with certain modifications described by Lagoda et al [32]. In brief, hair samples were defrosted for one hour prior to preparation procedures, then washed by placing 300 mg of hair into a 10 mL polypropylene tube along with 5 mL of isopropanol, and mixing gently on a shaker for 3 min.…”

Section: Hair Collection and Subsequent Hair Cortisol Concentration Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Detection of Locomotion Disorders in Gilts Using a Novel Visual Analogue Scale; Associations with Chronic Stress and Reproduction

Lagoda

Marchewka

O’Driscoll

2021

Animals

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Locomotion scoring is crucial for the early detection of lameness, which reduces sow welfare and performance. Our objective was to test the effectiveness of a visual analogue scale (VAS) to measure locomotory ability (OVERALL) compared to a categorical scoring system (CAT) and to investigate associations with hair cortisol and reproductive performance. Locomotion was scored in gilts (n = 51) at service, on day 57 and day 108 of pregnancy, and at weaning, using a VAS (150mm line: 0 mm (perfect)–150 mm (severely lame)), and a CAT (1 (perfect)–5 (severely lame)). Hair cortisol concentration was measured on day 108 of pregnancy. Reproductive performance data (parity 1–4) were acquired from farm records. VAS detected deviations from optimal locomotion more effectively than the CAT (F3,145 = 2.70; p ≤ 0.05 versus F3,195 = 2.45; p = 0.065). Higher OVERALL scores at service (REG = 0.003 ± 0.0012; F1,48 = 4.25; p ≤ 0.05) and on day 57 (REG = 0.003 ± 0.0013; F1,48 = 6.95; p ≤ 0.05) were associated with higher hair cortisol concentrations on day 108. Positive associations were detected between OVERALL at service and the number of piglets born dead (REG = 0.01 ± 0.006; F1,36 = 4.24; p ≤ 0.05), and total born (REG = 0.1 ± 0.03; F1,120 = 4.88; p ≤ 0.05). The VAS better facilitates early detection of lameness, which could help to prevent detrimental effects, possibly mediated by chronic stress, on reproductive performance.

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Associations between skin lesion counts, hair cortisol concentrations and reproductive performance in group housed sows

Cited by 8 publications

References 42 publications

Indicators of improved gestation housing of sows. Part I: Effects on behaviour, skin lesions, locomotion, and tear staining

Indicators of improved gestation housing of sows. Part I: Effects on behaviour, skin lesions, locomotion, and tear staining

Risk Factors for Chronic Stress in Sows Housed in Groups, and Associated Risks of Prenatal Stress in Their Offspring

Early Detection of Locomotion Disorders in Gilts Using a Novel Visual Analogue Scale; Associations with Chronic Stress and Reproduction

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