The effect of weaning age on physiological, behavioral, and performance indicators of welfare in weaned piglets

IF 1.9 3区农林科学 Q2 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Livestock Science Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI:10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105816

Bianca F. Metallo, Lucas C. Spetic Da Selva, Arieli D. Da Fonseca, Richard T. Niblett, Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa

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Abstract

For the past 25 years, the United States and European Union swine industries have differed in their welfare standards related to weaning age. Thus, the optimal weaning age for piglets continues to be a subject of debate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of weaning piglets at 3 and 4 weeks of age on a set of physiological, behavioral, and performance indicators of welfare. Sixteen litters (N = 160 piglets) were assigned to be weaned at approximately 3 (n = 80) or 4 (n = 80) weeks of age based on the sow’s farrowing date and balancing for sow parity. At weaning, piglets were blocked by weight and randomly housed in pens of 5 piglets. Blood samples were collected prior to weaning and at 24 hours and 7 days post-weaning. A subset of pens was video recorded for the first 48 hours post-weaning, and weight gain and feed intake were monitored for 28 days post-weaning. Piglets weaned at 3 weeks showed a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (P < 0.001) at 24 hours post-weaning, and displayed less feeding behavior (P < 0.05) during the first 24 hours post-weaning, compared to piglets weaned at 4 weeks. Overall, piglets weaned at 3 weeks had lower average daily feed intake (P < 0.001) and lower average daily gain (P < 0.001) during the 28-day nursery phase. Our results indicate that weaning piglets at 4 weeks of age, as opposed to 3 weeks, has a positive impact not only on their performance, but also on behavioral and physiological indicators of welfare.

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断奶日龄对断奶仔猪生理、行为和生产性能指标的影响

在过去的25年里，美国和欧盟的养猪业在与断奶年龄相关的福利标准上存在差异。因此，仔猪的最佳断奶年龄仍然是一个有争议的话题。本研究的目的是评估3和4周龄断奶仔猪对一系列生理、行为和性能指标的影响。根据母猪的分娩期和胎次平衡，16窝（N = 160头仔猪）分别在约3 （N = 80）或4 （N = 80）周龄断奶。断奶时，按体重分组，随机安置在5头仔猪的圈内。分别于断奶前、断奶后24小时和7天采集血样。在断奶后的48小时内，对一组猪栏进行录像，并在断奶后的28天内监测其增重和采食量。与4周断奶仔猪相比，3周断奶仔猪在断奶后24小时中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值较高（P < 0.001），断奶前24小时的摄食行为较低（P < 0.05）。总体而言，3周断奶仔猪在28天的保育期平均日采食量较低（P < 0.001），平均日增重较低（P < 0.001）。我们的研究结果表明，与3周龄相比，4周龄断奶仔猪不仅对其生产性能有积极影响，而且对行为和生理指标的福利也有积极影响。

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

Livestock Science 农林科学-奶制品与动物科学

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

237

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Livestock Science promotes the sound development of the livestock sector by publishing original, peer-reviewed research and review articles covering all aspects of this broad field. The journal welcomes submissions on the avant-garde areas of animal genetics, breeding, growth, reproduction, nutrition, physiology, and behaviour in addition to genetic resources, welfare, ethics, health, management and production systems. The high-quality content of this journal reflects the truly international nature of this broad area of research.