The effect of space restriction and provision of toys during rearing on the behaviour, productivity and physiology of male pigs

Pearce, G.P.; Paterson, Andrew M.

doi:10.1016/0168-1591(93)90095-7

Cited by 124 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…An increased amount of exploration of novel objects by P pigs than E pigs was shown before (24,30), possibly because P pigs have an unsatisfied motivation for exploration (30). During the isolation test in this experiment, E and P pigs did not differ in the time spent in exploration; however, the stress caused by isolation may have reduced the motivation of the pigs to explore the new environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Studies have shown that space restriction (1,20,24) or regular handling (14) not only affect behavioral but also physiological responses in growing pigs. Although it is known that environmental enrichment improves pig welfare by limiting manipulative social behavior and improving social skills (2,3,6,29), it is unknown if physiological responses of pigs to stressors are affected by environmental enrichment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of strawbedding on physiological responses to stressors and behavior in growing pigs

Jong

Ekkel²,

Burgwal³

et al. 1998

Physiology & Behavior

127

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of strawbedding on physiological responses to stressors and behavior in growing pigs

Jong

Ekkel²,

Burgwal³

et al. 1998

Physiology & Behavior

127

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“…However, relative to cubs housed alone in cages, cubs housed in enclosures had higher serum cortisol level after ACTH administration and heavier adrenals (Selye 1950). Although there is some divergency in interpretation of the results based on the ACTH challenge test (Rushen 1991), many research reports support the view that the increased response to ACTH can be used as a measure of long-term stress (Fraser and Broom 1990;Broom and Johnson 1993;Terlouw et al 1997) in several animal species (e.g., pigs -Meunier- Salaun et al 1987;Pearce and Paterson 1993;Hemsworth et al 1996: catsCarlstead et al 1993: red deer -Goddard et al 1994: calves -Veissier et al 1997) including farmed silver foxes (Rekilä et al 1999) and that it is more a valid measure and less subject to errors than baseline cortisol measure. Therefore, our result with higher serum cortisol level after ACTH administration and heavier adrenals in E cubs than in C cubs may indicate a higher stress level in cubs housed in enclosures, apparently as a result of social stress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of family housing of farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in outdoor enclosures on some behavioural and physiological parameters

Ahola¹,

Harri²,

Kasanen³

et al. 2000

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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Ahola, L., Harri, M., Kasanen, S., Mononen, J. and Pyykönen, T. 2000. Effect of family housing of farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in outdoor enclosures on some behavioural and physiological parameters. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 80: 427-434. Group housing of silver foxes in large housing systems has been claimed to promote the welfare of the species since it provides foxes with the possibility to express species-specific social and locomotor behaviour. In our study, silver foxes were housed in outdoor enclosures in family units consisting of a vixen and her four cubs. Foxes housed alone in traditional fox cages were used as control animals. Light hour activity, rectal temperature during human handling and restraint, activity of the HPA axis, heart and gastrocnemius muscle mass, succinate-dehydrogenase activity in gastrocnemius muscle and mechanical properties of tibia were determined from the foxes. The effect of different housing systems was more pronounced in the cubs than in the vixens, indicating the importance of earlier experiences on animals' performance. Both the increased rectal temperature and the increased activity of the HPA axis especially in the cubs housed in enclosures show that the foxes housed in enclosures had a greater fear level towards man than the foxes housed in cages. Furthermore, the foxes, especially the male cubs, raised in groups may have experienced stress due to social tension. Although the exercise-related parameters may indicate that a larger available space could be beneficial for the foxes' physical endurance, these parameters had no clear correlation with physiological welfare parameters. Les animaux témoins étaient logés dans des cages individuelles classiques. Durant l'expérience, nous avons observé l'activité diurne, la température rectale durant les épisodes de contention et de manipulation par l'homme, l'activité de l'axe HHS (hypothalame-hypophyse-surrénales), la masse musculaire du coeur et du gastrocnemius, l'activité de la succinate-déshydrogénase dans le gastrocnemius et les propriétés mécaniques du tibia. L'effet du système de logement était plus prononcé chez les renardeaux que chez les mères, mettant en relief l'importance d'une expérience antérieure pour les performances des animaux. L'élévation de la température rectale et la plus grande activité de l'axe HHS, surtout chez les renardeaux dans les enclos, montrent que les renards ainsi logés démontraient un niveau de crainte de l'homme plus aigu que ceux logés en cage. En outre, les renardeaux, surtout les mâles élevés en groupe auraient subi du stress lié aux tensions sociales. Bien que les paramètres associés à l'exercice suggèrent qu'une plus vaste surface de logement améliorerait l'endurance physique des renards, ils n'ont pas de corrélation nette avec les paramètres de bien-être physiologique.

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“…Around 119 days of age 39 animals (19 wt, 20 GFP) were individually tested regarding general activity in and their reaction to an unfamiliar environment (Open Field tests -OF1, OF2), an unfamiliar object (Novel Object Test -NOT) and an unfamiliar human (Human Approach Test -HAT) following adapted protocols from Pearce and Paterson (Pearce and Paterson 1993). At the end of the tests, the number of faecal boli was counted and the arena dry cleaned before testing the next animal.…”

Section: Open Field Novel Object and Human Approach Test -Exploratormentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare assessment in transgenic pigs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)

et al. 2011

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Since large animal transgenesis has been successfully attempted for the first time about 25 years ago, the technology has been applied in various lines of transgenic pigs. Nevertheless one of the concerns with the technology -animal welfare -has not been approached through systematic assessment and statements regarding the welfare of transgenic pigs have been based on anecdotal observations during early stages of transgenic programs. The main aim of the present study was therefore to perform an extensive welfare assessment comparing heterozygous transgenic animals expressing GFP with wildtype animals along various stages of post natal development. The protocol used covered reproductory performance and behaviour in GFP and wildtype sows and general health and development, social behaviour, exploratory behaviour and emotionality in GFP and wildtype littermates from birth until an age of roughly four months. The absence of significant differences between GFP and wildtype animals in the parameters observed suggests that the transgenic animals in question are unlikely to suffer from deleterious effects of transgene expression on their welfare and thus support existing anecdotal observations of pigs expressing GFP as healthy. Although the results are not surprising in the light of previous experience, they give a more solid fundament to the evaluation of GFP expression as being relatively non-invasive in pigs. The present study may furthermore serve as starting point for researchers aiming at a systematic characterization of welfare relevant effects in the line of transgenic pigs they are working with. AbstractSince large animal transgenesis has been successfully attempted for the first time about 25 years ago, the technology has been applied in various lines of transgenic pigs. Nevertheless one of the concerns with the technology -animal welfare -has not been approached through systematic assessment and statements regarding the welfare of transgenic pigs have been based on anecdotal observations during early stages of transgenic programs.The main aim of the present study was therefore to perform an extensive welfare assessment comparing heterozygous transgenic animals expressing GFP with wildtype animals along various stages of post natal development. The protocol used covered reproductory performance and behaviour in GFP and wildtype sows and general health and development, social behaviour, exploratory behaviour and emotionality in GFP and wildtype littermates from birth until an age of roughly four months.The absence of significant differences between GFP and wildtype animals in the parameters observed suggests that the transgenic animals in question are unlikely to suffer from deleterious effects of transgene expression on their welfare and thus support existing anecdotal observations of pigs expressing GFP as healthy. Although the results are not surprising in the light of previous experience, they give a more solid fundament to the evaluation of GFP expression as being relatively non-invasive in pigs...

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The effect of space restriction and provision of toys during rearing on the behaviour, productivity and physiology of male pigs

Cited by 124 publications

References 27 publications

Effects of strawbedding on physiological responses to stressors and behavior in growing pigs

Effects of strawbedding on physiological responses to stressors and behavior in growing pigs

Effect of family housing of farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in outdoor enclosures on some behavioural and physiological parameters

Welfare assessment in transgenic pigs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)

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