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ABSTRACT: With the current shift in the industry toward housing pigs in groups of 100 to 1,000 per pen have come questions as to whether pigs can perform as well in large groups as they do in small and whether large groups of pigs can use the space provided more efficiently. This study examined effects of small (18 pigs) vs. large (108 pigs) group sizes provided 0.52 m(2)/ pig (crowded) or 0.78 m(2)/pig (uncrowded) of space on production, health, behavior, and physiological variables. Eight 7-to 8-wk-long blocks, each involving 288 pigs, were completed. The average BW at the beginning of the study was 37.4 +/- 0.26 kg. Overall, ADG was 1.032 kg/d and 1.077 (+/-0.015) kg/d for crowded and uncrowded pigs, respectively (P = 0.018). Differences between the space allowance treatments were most evident during the final week of study. Overall G:F was also reduced (P = 0.002) in the crowded treatment. Pigs in the crowded groups spent less (P = 0.003) time eating over the 8-wk study than did pigs in noncrowded groups, but ADFI did not differ (P = 0.34) between treatments. Overall, ADG of large-group pigs was 1.035 kg/d, whereas small group pigs gained 1.073 kg/d (+/-0.015; P = 0.039). Average daily gain differences between the group sizes were most evident during the first 2 wk of the study. Over the entire study, G:F also differed, with large groups being less efficient (P = 0.005) than small groups. Although large-group pigs had poorer scores for lameness (P = 0.012) and leg scores (P = 0.02) throughout the 8-wk period, morbidity levels did not differ (P = 0.32) between the group sizes. Minimal changes in postural behavior and feeding patterns were noted in large groups. An interaction (P = 0.04) of group size and space allowance for lameness indicated that pigs housed in large groups at restricted space allowances were more susceptible to lameness. Although some behavioral variables, such as lying postures, suggest that pigs in large groups were able to use space more efficiently, overall productivity and health variables indicate that pigs in large and small groups were similarly affected by the crowding imposed in this study. Broken-line analysis of ADG indicated no difference in the response to crowding by pigs in large and small groups. Little support was found for reducing space allowances for pigs in large groups.
Journal of Animal Science 05/2008; 86(4):982-91. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The incidence of belly nosing-related behaviors was studied in 480 piglets weaned at 14 d and provided with environmental enrichment during preweaning, postweaning, or both. Pen enrichment was achieved by providing a foam rubber mat on the pen wall (nose), rubber nipples (suck), a Bite-Rite Tail Chew (bite), a soil-filled tray (root), or no enrichment (control). Instantaneous scan sampling observations, at 5-min intervals, were conducted for 8 h (i.e., 96 scans/observation day) at 3, 10, 19, 26, and 33 d. Observations during the preweaning phase were made to determine the number of piglets lying, standing, nursing, and interacting with environmental enrichment. During the postweaning phase, observations were made to determine the number of piglets belly nosing, belly sucking, other nosing and sucking (other), biting, eating, drinking, and interacting with enrichment. The time-course for belly nosing was confirmed, with the behavior rising by 19 d, peaking by 26 d, and decreasing by 33 d (P < 0.001). Only nosing enrichment was found to reduce the incidence of belly-nosing behavior (3.8%) compared with controls (6.6%; P < 0.001). Pigs provided root enrichment spent more time manipulating their enrichment devices (30.2%) compared with all other enrichment groups (P < 0.001). Providing enrichment relevant to a particular behavioral vice as it commences, or shortly afterward, may have the greatest effect on reducing the incidence of that vice during the nursery period.
Journal of Animal Science 01/2007; 84(12):3397-403. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Three experiments were conducted to investigate the short-term use of supplementary Trp on the behavior of grow/finish pigs. Three levels of dietary Trp were used, representing the standard requirement for growth (control), twice (2x), and 4 times (4x) the control amount. In Exp. 1, pigs were fed the diets for 7 d, during which observations were made of their general behavior (time budget), aggression within the group of familiar pigs, and response to a startling auditory stimulus. Behavior effects were evident during the period of supplementation for both the 2x and 4x diets. During the treatment period, pigs fed supplemental Trp spent more time lying (P = 0.04) and less time eating (P = 0.05) than pigs fed the control diet. Although the response of the animals to the startling stimulus was to become alert and stand, similar behavioral effects caused by supplemental Trp also were evident after the startling stimulus (P < 0.01). Based on these observations, the subsequent studies retained the same dietary levels of Trp and incorporated a 3-d feeding of diets before behavior testing. In Exp. 2, pigs were fed the experimental diets for 3 d before being regrouped with unfamiliar pigs on the same diet. Subsequent aggression was affected by Trp supplementation, in that high levels of dietary Trp decreased the total duration of fighting by approximately 50% (P = 0.03). Supplemental Trp had no effect on the number of fights, and there were no differences between the 2 levels of supplemental Trp on any behavior. In Exp. 3, pigs were exposed to specific handling tests on the farm and meat quality assessments after being fed the experimental diets for 3 d. There were no differences among dietary treatments for any of the meat quality characteristic variables measured. The only behavioral or physiological difference observed among the treatments was a slower movement of pigs fed the 4x Trp treatment than control or 2x Trp-fed pigs in a minimal-forced situation (P = 0.04). Response to confinement on a scale, an electric prod, and movement in general did not differ among treatments. High levels of Trp may result in animals avoiding stressful situations if possible, but they seem to have no effect on responses to stressors that animals may experience in a forced situation.
Journal of Animal Science 02/2006; 84(1):212-20. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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H W Gonyou,
M C Brumm,
E Bush,
J Deen,
S A Edwards,
T Fangman,
J J McGlone,
M Meunier-Salaun,
R B Morrison,
H Spoolder,
P L Sundberg,
A K Johnson
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ABSTRACT: Few issues in swine production are as complex as floor space allowances. One method for pork producers to calculate floor space allowance (A) is to convert BW into a 2-dimensional concept yielding an expression of A = k * BW(0.667). Data on ADG, ADFI, and G:F were obtained from published peer-reviewed studies. Five data sets were created: A = grower-finisher pigs, fully slatted floors, and consistent group size; B = grower-finisher pigs and fully slatted floors (group size did not need to be consistent); C = grower-finisher pigs, partially slatted floors, and consistent group size; D = grower-finisher pigs, partially slatted floors (group size did not need to be consistent); and E = nursery pigs, fully slatted or woven wire floors (group size did not need to be consistent). Each data set was analyzed using a broken-line analysis and a linear regression. For the broken-line analyses, the critical k value, below which a decrease in ADG occurred, varied from 0.0317 to 0.0348. In all cases the effect of space allowance on ADG was significant (P < 0.05). Using the linear analyses based on data with k values of < 0.030, the critical k values for the 4 grower-finisher data sets did not differ from those obtained using the broken-line analysis (0.0358 vs. 0.0336, respectively; P > 0.10); however, none of the linear regressions explained a significant proportion of the variation in ADG. The slopes for the nonplateau portion of the broken-line analyses based on percent values varied among data sets. For every 0.001 decrease in k (approximately 3% of the critical k value), ADG decreased by 0.56 to 1.41%, with an average value of 0.98% for the 5%-based analyses. The use of an allometric approach to express space allowance and broken-line analysis to establish space requirements seem to be useful tools for pig production. The critical k value at which crowding becomes detrimental to the growth of the pig is similar in full- and partial-slat systems and in nursery and grower-finisher stages. The critical point for crowding determined in these analyses approximated current recommendations to ensure the welfare of pigs.
Journal of Animal Science 02/2006; 84(1):229-35. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Three experiments were conducted to assess water intake, water wastage, and a means to decrease water wastage by growing-finishing pigs from nipple drinkers. In Exp. 1, 48 pigs were studied during two periods (average BW = 53 and 72 kg for Period 1 and 2, respectively). Water disappearance and wastage were determined for 4 d, while nipple drinkers were set at 50 mm above the shoulder height of the smallest pig in the pen (recommended heights), with flow rates at 700 mL/min during Period 1, and 1,000 mL/min during Period 2. Water intake rate was assessed at two nipple flow rates, approximately 650 and 1,300 mL/min during the Period 1, and 1,000 and 2,000 mL/min during the Period 2. The average water intake was 4.01 and 5.38 +/- 0.19 L.pig(-1).d(-1) during Periods 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.01). Water wastage as a percentage of water disappearance was similar between the two periods (25.8 and 27.0 +/- 1.9% for Periods 1 and 2, respectively). Water intake rate was 467 and 795 mL/min (+/-34.2; P < 0.01) during Period 1, and 722 and 1,422 mL/min (+/-80.0; P < 0.01) during Period 2, at the lower and higher flow rates, respectively. In Exp. 2, 32 pigs were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design to determine effects of nipple heights (recommended vs. unadjusted = 330 mm) and flow rates (500 vs. 1,000 mL/min) on water intake and wastage. Water wastage was increased (P < 0.01) on the unadjusted vs. recommended nipple height, and the higher flow rate also resulted in greater wastage (P = 0.03) compared with the lower rate. In Exp. 3, water disappearance and manure output in 16 pens of 18 pigs per pen were monitored for 12 wk (average initial BW = 32 kg) using four drinker treatments (bowl drinker, nipple drinker at recommended heights, an unadjusted nipple set at 480 mm, and high nipple drinker height of 730 mm with a step underneath). For pigs on the high nipple drinker, the average water disappearance and manure output did not differ from those of the pigs on the recommended nipple heights and bowl drinker, but these measurements were 15 and 12% lower, respectively, than for the pigs on the low nipple drinker. The results indicate that growing-finishing pigs can maintain adequate water intake from a variety of drinker types and management. Water wastage can be controlled through drinker management.
Journal of Animal Science 07/2005; 83(6):1413-22. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Six hundred forty growing-finishing pigs (initial BW = 23.2 +/- 4.8 kg) were used in a 12-wk study (final BW = 95.5 +/- 10.2 kg) to quantify the effects of group size (10, 20, 40, and 80 pigs/pen) on performance, tail biting, and use of widely distributed feed resources. One single-space wet/dry feeder was provided for every 10 pigs, and floor allowance was 0.76 m2/pig in all treatment groups. Weight gain and feed intake were measured every 2 wk. At weighing, a tail-biting injury score was given to each pig. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio before regrouping at the beginning of the experiment, 24 to 48 h after regrouping, and on the last day of each trial. The use of feeders by individual pigs was assessed by behavioral observations. Average daily gain for the entire 12-wk trial did not differ among group sizes (861, 873, 854, and 845 g/d for groups of 10, 20, 40, and 80, respectively; P > 0.10). During the first 2 wk, ADG was lower for pigs in groups of 40 (554 g/d) than pigs in groups of 10 (632 g/d; P < 0.05), but not pigs in groups of 20 or 80 (602 and 605 g/d, respectively). Average daily feed intake, feed efficiency, and variability in final BW within a pen also did not differ among group sizes. Tail-biting injury scores increased throughout the study, but did not differ among group sizes. Similar proportions of pigs were removed from the trial for health reasons, primarily due to tail biting, in all treatments. Individual pigs in each group size ate from most, if not all, of the feeders in the pen. There was no evidence of spatial subgrouping within the larger groups. The results suggest that housing growing-finishing pigs in groups of up to 80 pigs is not detrimental to productivity and health if space allowance is adequate and feed resources are evenly distributed.
Journal of Animal Science 05/2003; 81(4):874-8. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Site-segregated early weaning (SSEW) refers to the practice of weaning pigs from the sow at an early age and placing them in a nursery that is physically isolated from the breeding herd. An experiment involving 369 pigs was conducted at the Prairie Swine Center to investigate the impact of SSEW on pig performance when the herd of origin has a high health status and when housing and management conditions are kept as similar as possible across weaning regime. Three treatments were compared: weaning at 21+/-3 d and keeping the pigs on-site in an all-in-all-out nursery room (Control), weaning at 12+/-2 d of age and keeping the pigs on-site in a separate but identical all-in-all-out nursery room (OSEW), or weaning at 12+/-2 d of age and moving the pigs off-site to an all-in-all-out nursery room located 16 km from the Center (SSEW). Ventilation, feed, penning, feeders, and drinkers were kept as similar as possible for all treatments. Off-site weaning improved 56-d body weight (P < .05) by 12.5 and 8.3% compared with OSEW and Control, respectively. The improvement appeared to be the result of improvements primarily in feed intake but also due to enhanced efficiency of nutrient utilization. This experiment confirms that SSEW results in significant improvements in 56-d weights, even when the herd of origin has a relatively high health status.
Journal of Animal Science 08/2000; 78(7):1726-31. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of eating space and availability of water within feeders on the productivity and behavior of growing/finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, 12 commercial feeders were classified as being either single-space (SS) or multiple-space (MS), and either as dry (D) or wet/dry (WD), resulting in two SS-D, four MS-D, three SS-WD and three MS-WD models. Each model was evaluated using four pens of 12 pigs, which were fed a mash diet throughout the growing/finishing period (25 to 106 kg). Pigs were videotaped when they were approximately 40 and 80 kg in weight to determine eating behavior. The number of feeding spaces did not affect the productivity of the pigs, but the presence of water within the feeder resulted in increases in ADFI (P < .05) and ADG (P < .05) and a reduction in carcass lean (P < .05). Pigs eating from SS feeders spent 15% less time eating than those fed from two-space feeders (P < .05), and occupancy rate for feeding spaces was increased by 75% (P < .05). The WD feeders also resulted in a reduction (17%) in eatingtime compared to D models (P < .01), and occupancy rate for WD feeders was similarly reduced (P < .05). Pigs spent 16% less time eating when they weighed approximately 80 kg than when they weighed 40 kg (P < .01). In Exp. 2, rate of eating was determined during a short test on the same 12 feeder models for both small (48 kg) and large (90 kg) pigs. Large pigs ate faster than small pigs, but eating rate was not affected by feeding space or presence of water in the feeder. In Exp. 3, eating rate was determined for small amounts of dry or wet feed. Premixing water with the feed (1:1 ratio by weight) increased eating speed (P < .01). We concluded that 12 pigs can be fed from a single-space feeder without affecting productivity. The inclusion of water within a feeder decreases time spent eating, but it increases ADFI and ADG. When pigs are small, they spend more time eating, and feeder occupancy rates are higher than when they are large.
Journal of Animal Science 04/2000; 78(4):865-70. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Computer simulations have been used by us since the early 1970s to gain an understanding of the spacing and movement patterns of confined animals. The work has progressed from the early stages, in which we used randomly positioned points, to current investigations of animats (computer-simulated animals), which show low levels of learning via artificial neural networks. We have determined that 1) pens of equal floor area but of different shape result in different spatial and movement patterns for randomly positioned and moving animats; 2) when group size increases under constant density, freedom of movement approaches an asymptote at approximately six animats; 3) matching the number of animats with the number of corners results in optimal freedom of movement for small groups of animats; and 4) perimeter positioning occurs in groups of animats that maximize their distance to first- and second-nearest neighbors. Recently, we developed animats that move, compete for social dominance, and are motivated to obtain resources (food, resting sites, etc.). We are currently developing an animat that learns its behavior from the spatial and movement data collected on live pigs. The animat model is then used to pretest pen designs, followed by new pig spatial data fed into the animat model, resulting in a new pen design to be tested, and the steps are repeated. We believe that methodologies from artificial-life and artificial intelligence can contribute to the understanding of basic animal behavior principles, as well as to the solving of problems in production agriculture in areas such as animal housing design.
Journal of Animal Science 11/1998; 76(10):2609-13. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Six group sizes and three levels of floor area allowance were studied in a 6 x 3 factorial arrangement. Group sizes were 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 15 pigs per pen. Floor area allowances were .030, .039, and .048 m2 x BW(.667). All pens were square and equipped with a single space feeder and nipple drinker near one corner. Pigs were fed a pelleted diet. Initial weights averaged 25.0 kg, and pigs remained on test for 12 wk. Pigs were weighed, feed intake was determined, and size of pens was increased at 2-wk intervals. Pen size was adjusted to provide the space required for the midpoint of each weigh period. Two replicates of the study were conducted. The ADG was reduced with increasing group size (899, 851, 868, 872, 857, and 821 g, SEM = 16.4, for 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 15 pigs, respectively; P < .05), but the CV for gain (mean = .185) did not differ among group sizes. The ADFI also decreased with increasing group size (2.49, 2.34, 2.32, 2.28, 2.28, and 2.21 kg, SEM = .036, for 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 15 pigs, respectively; P < .05). Feed efficiency (gain/intake) was highest for group sizes of 7 and 10 pigs (.381) and lowest for pens of three and five pigs (.363; P < .05). The ADG and ADFI (832 g and 2.25 kg, respectively) for the most crowded space allowance were reduced compared to more spacious allowances (ADG and ADFI of 875 and 877 g, and 2.35 and 2.36 kg, for .039 and .048 m2 x BW(.667), respectively; P < .05). Efficiency did not differ among space allowances. These results confirm previous studies reporting a negative effect of increasing group size on productivity, but our study suggests that gain and intake reach a plateau at less space allowance than previously reported.
Journal of Animal Science 06/1998; 76(5):1326-30. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A preference experiment was conducted to compare and evaluate the use of three cooling systems by mature gilts. Systems evaluated were snout coolers (S), drip coolers (D), and conductive cool pads (P). Preference for cooling system and pen position were continuously monitored and evaluated during daily heat stress conditions (34.2 +/- 2.8 degrees C), nightly warm conditions (26.6 +/- 2.3 degrees C), and for total time. The physiological variables of respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (Tr) were measured at three separate times daily. Gilts naive to the cooling systems were individually housed in pens with three free stalls, each stall containing a different cooling system. After 1 d of warm temperature (27.6 +/- 2.5 degrees C) acclimation, gilts were exposed to 10 h of the heat stress conditions and 14 h of the warm night conditions each day for six consecutive days. Cooling system use was higher during the hot period (80.2%) than during the warm period (66.2%). The conductive cool pad was preferred over the drip cooler (P < .02) and the snout cooler (P < .0002). The preference for the conductive cool pad persisted in the warm period. Cooling system use had a significant effect on Tr and RR (P < .001). The Tr (P < .005) and RR were lower (P < .005) with the use of the conductive cool pad, whereas the drip cooler and snout cooler showed no effect on these variables.
Journal of Animal Science 08/1997; 75(8):2078-83. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Three trials involving 396 pigs were conducted to determine the effects of regrouping finishing swine (83.8 +/- .69 kg) on weight gain and behavior during the subsequent 2-wk period. The methodology between Trials 1, 2, and 3 differed primarily in the total number of pigs tested (72, 144, and 180, respectively) and the number of pigs per pen (3, 3 or 5, and 5, respectively). In all trials, like-sexed pigs were moved into a new pen location and allotted to one of three treatments: 1) a group of familiar pen mates (Control), 2) a group composed of unfamiliar pigs (Mixed), and 3) pigs mixed with strangers for 24 h and then reunited with original pen mates for the duration of the trial (Mixed 24 h). In the pooled analysis, control pigs gained faster (P < .01) than Mixed pigs (.87 and .77 kg/d, respectively) over the 2-wk period. Mixed 24-h pigs were intermediate in gain (.80 kg/d), indicating that the most severe aggression normally observed during the first 24 h accounts for only a portion of the setback. Apparently the negative social stress associated with being in the presence of unfamiliar pigs persisted beyond the first 24 h and was sufficient to limit weight gain over the 2-wk period. Time spent fighting was reduced from 1.72 min/h during a 6-h period on d 1 to .39 min/h during a 3-h period by d 2 in the Mixed group. Fighting was still observed in the Mixed pens 8 d after regrouping (.23 min/h), indicative of ongoing social conflicts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Journal of Animal Science 12/1994; 72(11):2804-11. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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H W Gonyou
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ABSTRACT: Of the various disciplines within the animal sciences, the issue of animal welfare has been most closely associated with ethology, the study of animal behavior. Prior to the modern welfare movement, applied ethology was primarily involved in studies on feeding and reproductive behavior. The emphasis on freedom of movement and mental experiences in animal welfare resulted in the field of applied ethology developing its current welfare interests. During the past 30 yr, applied ethology has been used to gather appropriate information to develop alternate management systems that accommodate normal behavior. The issue of behavioral needs has been addressed and research interest in motivation has developed. Preference tests have been used for their traditional role of improving comfort and have been modified to assess motivation as well. We have used abnormal behaviors as indicators of poor welfare and are shifting our emphasis to causative factors of these behaviors. The emotional states and cognitive abilities of animals have been studied but will become an increasingly important component of behavior research into animal welfare in the future.
Journal of Animal Science 09/1994; 72(8):2171-7. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A sequential elimination trial was conducted to test the effects of primary tastes on the preference ranking of TMR diets by six multiparous Holstein cows from 8 to 21 DIM. Four additives and a control were examined; the most preferred (highest total intake) was eliminated after segments of 5, 4, 3, and then 2 d. Diets tasting sweet (sucrose, 1.5% of dietary DM), sour (HCl, 1.25%), bitter (urea, 1%), and salty (NaCl, 4%) were tested. Four of the cows most preferred the sweet diet, and DMI of that diet averaged 12.8% more than for the control, which was next preferred. The probability of a diet being chosen first when all diets were presented together was sucrose, .59; control, .36; urea, .04; NaCl, .01; and HCl, .003. Another experiment used the same procedure; however, the additives tested were anise, monosodium glutamate, dehydrated alfalfa meal flavor, and molasses flavor (1.48 g of flavor/kg of DM). Control and monosodium glutamate ranked first equally. The probability of choosing each flavor first in this set was .5 for the control and monosodium glutamate diets and < .01 for molasses, alfalfa, and anise. Rankings were not significantly affected by variation among cows in either experiment. Of the additives tested, only sucrose seemed to have the potential to increase intake.
Journal of Dairy Science 08/1994; 77(8):2393-9. · 2.56 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Male Sprague Dawley rats were housed in groups of four in polycarbonate cages at recommended density and thermal environmental conditions for 14 days prior to testing to ensure uniform acclimation to those conditions. Body weights averaged 286 +/- 7 g at the end of acclimation. Rat cages were assigned randomly to three treatments: (1) 4 rats/polycarbonate cage (877 sq cm, 20.3 cm high, 220 sq cm/rat), (2) 4 rats/mock AEM (MAEM) (620 sq cm, 155 sq cm/rat), and (3) 8 rats/MAEM (620 sq cm, 77.5 sq cm/rat). A comparison between the MAEM-DD and MAEM-SD treatments was done to determine if doubling rat density in AEM's stressed the rats. A comparison among MAEM treatments and the PC treatment was done to determine if any stress indications were due to the AEM. During this density challenge phase, all treatments were maintained at the same thermal environmental conditions (22.5 C and 50 percent RH) for 10 days. After the density challenge phase, half the rats from each group were sacrificed for body tissue and fluid analyses. The remaining half of the rats were housed at a density of 4 rats/cage in polycarbonate cages at normal thermal environmental conditions for an additional 10 days to determine if there were any differences in responses between treatments after a recovery period. The remaining rats were examined and sacrificed for body tissue and fluid analyses at the end of the recovery phase.
07/1993;
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H W Gonyou
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ABSTRACT: Animal behavior has been defined as the interaction of an animal with its environment. During this interaction the animal must make decisions, based on its evaluation of the environment and its needs, of whether or not the environment is adequate or appropriate for specific behaviors. The environment includes both physical and biotic components, so sheep adjust their behavior in response to such diverse characteristics as the thermal conditions of their environment, the flora present, or the characteristics of other sheep. Although an animal's subjective experiences may not lend themselves to direct evaluation, we may be able to address these questions indirectly by using behavior as an indicator of the animal's decisions. This paper reviews research on the use of space, maternal and neonatal recognition, sexual behavior, and aversiveness. The majority of methods involve preference or acceptance tests. Assumptions, which often affect how tests are conducted and results interpreted, should be made only after the alternatives are carefully considered.
Journal of Animal Science 11/1991; 69(10):4155-60. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Nine yearling horses, stabled in individual stalls, were used in a trial to determine the diurnal pattern of wood chewing and the effects of exercise on this behavior. The trial was a Latin square design conducted over three 2-wk periods during which each horse was exposed to each of the three following treatments: 1) no exercise (NE), 2) exercise after the morning feeding (AM), and 3) exercise in the afternoon (PM). Horses were fed a complete pelleted feed in the morning and both pelleted feed and long-stemmed hay in the afternoon. Exercise consisted of 45 min on a mechanical walker followed by 45 min in a paddock with bare soil. Each stall was equipped with two untreated spruce boards during each period for wood chewing. Wood chewing was evaluated by videotaping each horse for 22 h during each period, determining the weight and volume of the boards before and after each period, and by visual appraisal of the boards. Intake of trace mineralized salt was also measured. Wood chewing occurred primarily between 2200 and 1200. All measures of wood chewing were correlated when totals for the entire 6 wk were analyzed. When analysis was performed on 2-wk values, videotape results were not correlated with volume or weight loss of boards. Horses chewed more when on the NE treatment (511 s/d) than when on AM or PM (57 and 136 s/d, respectively; P less than .05). Salt intake tended to be greater for NE than for the other treatments (P less than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Journal of Animal Science 04/1991; 69(3):1053-8. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Newborn piglets were removed from their dam and their responses to a variety of sensory stimuli were tested in four experiments. Test stimuli were presented simultaneously in multiple-choice arenas. Piglets allowed to choose among recordings of sow vocalizations, piglet vocalizations or white noise in a 5-min test spent more time in proximity to vocalizations of sows and piglets than near white noise. This was significant for males (P less than .01) but not for females. Piglets choosing among illumination levels (bright, dim or dark) in a 5-min test showed a strong preference for either dim or dark areas over bright light (P less than .01), with no difference between attractivity of dim and dark areas. Piglets choosing among birth fluids, sow's milk or tap water during a 5-min test spent more time with maternal odors than with water (P less than .05). No difference in attractivity between birth fluids and sow's milk was apparent. Preferences of piglets to move either with or against the direction of hair growth were tested using the mid-back area of the sow as a test surface. Piglets moved with the direction of hair growth twice as often as against the growth of hair (P less than .01). Results of these experiments indicate that piglets can discriminate among auditory, olfactory, visual and tactile stimuli immediately after birth.
Journal of Animal Science 02/1991; 69(1):125-33. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effects of sow-crate design on certain health and performance traits of 211 sows and their piglets were evaluated with a 2 X 2 X 4 factorial arrangement of crate width (narrow [N = 55 cm] or wide [W = 64] between lowest horizontal pipes), length (short [S = 183 cm] or long [L = 198] from rump stop to front gate) and side type (lower side of sow crate "fingered" [F], "bowed" bottom bar--marking the sow zone 19.3 cm wider at the bottom--20 cm above the floor [B], or straight bottom bar 20 cm [S20] or 25 cm above the floor [S25]). Between d 107 to 110 postcoitum and d 21 postpartum, no crate design variable affected the sow's body-weight change, but side type tended to affect the most prominent head-neck and leg integumentary lesions. Number of stillborn piglets/litter was greater with W crates than with N, except with crates having S20 sides, and was greater with L crates than with S. More piglets were crushed to death in W crates than N crates, and stillbirth frequency was greater in L crates than in S, but overall preweaning piglet mortality was affected by no crate-design feature. At both 7 and 21 d of age, piglets' knee lesions were most severe with S20 crates and least with S25, whereas face-lesion score was unaffected by crate design. Piglet body weight at age 21 d was least with S20 crates and greatest with F and S25. No crate-design variable affected within-litter variation in piglet growth rate. Sow-crate design affected important health and performance traits of piglets through postnatal d 21.
Journal of Animal Science 02/1989; 67(1):80-93. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effects of sow-crate design on certain behaviors of sows and piglets at farrowing and again approximately 3 wk later were evaluated with a 2 x 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of crate width (narrow [N = 55 cm] or wide [W = 64] between lowest horizontal pipes), length (short [S = 183 cm] or long [L = 198] from rump stop to front gate) and side type (lower side of sow crate "fingered" [F], "bowed" bottom bar 20 cm above the floor [B], or straight bottom bar 20 cm [S20] or 25 cm above the floor [S25]). Farrowing-crate design influenced both sow and piglet behaviors both during and immediately after parturition and during nursing-suckling bouts approximately 3 wk later. Activities of 51 sows and their piglets were videorecorded during and immediately following parturition. Sow-crate design affected neither the interval between births of successive piglets in a litter nor the frequency of standing by the sow during parturition. Latency from birth to first mammary contact (LMC) was greater with S25-sided and S sow crates, and especially with S, W crates. A significant interaction occurred between sow-crate side type and dimensions; LMC was longer when S25 sides were combined with S or W crates. Data on suckling behavior were collected from 113 litters over three successive sucklings approximately 3 wk after farrowing. Sow-crate design had no effect either on the consistency with which a piglet suckled a particular teat or teat pair or on the frequency of multiple-teat use. Piglets maintained fewer functional teats with S, S20 crates. The distribution of functional teats between rows was less symmetric with S crates. Piglets nursed with their bodies over a side bar more frequently with B- and S20-sided crates. The sow permitted her piglets to suckle while she was in a vertical stance more frequently with S and N crates, and especially with S, N crates. Sow-crate design affected important behaviors of sows and piglets both during and immediately after parturition as well as during nursing-suckling bouts about 3 wk later.
Journal of Animal Science 02/1989; 67(1):94-104. · 2.10 Impact Factor
