Social networks of pregnant gilts during outdoor feeding and the effects on their offspring

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Applied Animal Behaviour Science Pub Date : 2024-10-09 DOI:10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106410

Leandro Sabei , Marisol Parada Sarmiento , Cihan Çakmakçı , Sharacely de Souza Farias , Thiago Bernardino , Rosangela Poletto , Erika Alejandra Becerra Mendez , Beatriz Kaori , Adroaldo José Zanella

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Abstract

Social relationships are important aspects of the behavioural biology of pigs and can be affected by the type of housing pigs are kept in. Exploring agonistic interactions and affiliative behaviours can reveal effects on adult pigs and their descendants. This research investigated the social dynamics among gilts throughout pregnancy during collective feeding in an outdoor housing system and the effects of these dynamics on the stability of the group and the offspring of the group members. For this study, 15 gilts were oestrus synchronised and artificially inseminated with three different semen pools. The paddocks where the gilts were housed contained a mud pool, natural tree shade, and two nipple drinkers. Two daily meals (∼2.5 kg/day/gilt) were provided to the group on the floor. Feeding behaviour was recorded for three continuous days (20 min in the morning and again in the afternoon) every gestational (a total of 42 h of video recording). Saliva samples were collected at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on these same days. A trained observer evaluated all the videos using Boris software to determine agonistic and affiliative behaviours. After farrowing, the piglet data collected included sex, mortality, and body weight (BW) at 10, 25, 29, and 36 d of age. Elo scores were calculated to quantify the relative hierarchy among the gilts based on the behaviour assessment. Generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used for data analyses, and the significance of fixed effects was determined at p < 0.05. The tendency of the gilts to feed together decreased as gestation progressed. Heavier gilts had lower salivary cortisol concentrations, and higher gilt rank was correlated with higher morning salivary cortisol concentrations and heavier piglets. Maternal modulation of offspring performance in pigs warrant further investigation. Assessment of gilts' social feeding behaviours is relevant for considering pigs' behaviour in genetic selection and improving commercial facilities and management practices to improve animal welfare.

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怀孕母猪在户外觅食期间的社交网络及其对后代的影响

社会关系是猪行为生物学的重要方面，会受到猪饲养类型的影响。探索激动的互动和隶属行为可以揭示对成年猪及其后代的影响。本研究调查了在室外饲养系统中，后备母猪在整个怀孕期间集体采食时的社会动态，以及这些动态对群体稳定性和群体成员后代的影响。在这项研究中，15头后备母猪同步发情，并使用三种不同的精液池进行人工授精。饲养后备母猪的围场有一个泥浆池、天然树荫和两个乳头饮水器。每天在地面上为后备母猪提供两餐（2.5 千克/天/后备母猪）。每胎连续三天（上午和下午各 20 分钟）记录采食行为（共 42 小时视频记录）。在同一天的上午 6:00 和下午 6:00 收集唾液样本。一名训练有素的观察员使用 Boris 软件对所有视频进行评估，以确定激动行为和隶属行为。产仔后，收集的仔猪数据包括性别、死亡率以及10、25、29和36日龄的体重（BW）。根据行为评估结果计算 Elo 分数，以量化后备母猪之间的相对等级。数据分析采用广义线性混合模型（GLMM），固定效应的显著性以 p < 0.05 为标准。随着妊娠期的延长，后备母猪一起采食的趋势减弱。体重较大的后备母猪唾液皮质醇浓度较低，后备母猪等级越高，早晨唾液皮质醇浓度越高，仔猪体重越大。母体对猪后代表现的调节作用值得进一步研究。评估后备母猪的社会性采食行为与在遗传选育中考虑猪的行为以及改善商业设施和管理实践以提高动物福利有关。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 农林科学-行为科学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

21.70%

发文量

191

审稿时长

18.1 weeks

期刊介绍： This journal publishes relevant information on the behaviour of domesticated and utilized animals. Topics covered include: -Behaviour of farm, zoo and laboratory animals in relation to animal management and welfare -Behaviour of companion animals in relation to behavioural problems, for example, in relation to the training of dogs for different purposes, in relation to behavioural problems -Studies of the behaviour of wild animals when these studies are relevant from an applied perspective, for example in relation to wildlife management, pest management or nature conservation -Methodological studies within relevant fields The principal subjects are farm, companion and laboratory animals, including, of course, poultry. The journal also deals with the following animal subjects: -Those involved in any farming system, e.g. deer, rabbits and fur-bearing animals -Those in ANY form of confinement, e.g. zoos, safari parks and other forms of display -Feral animals, and any animal species which impinge on farming operations, e.g. as causes of loss or damage -Species used for hunting, recreation etc. may also be considered as acceptable subjects in some instances -Laboratory animals, if the material relates to their behavioural requirements