两种饲养方式下仔猪生产性能、行为和唾液皮质醇水平的对比分析

【目的】在两种不同饲养方式下,对断奶仔猪生产性能、行为特征和唾液皮质醇激素水平作对比分析,以期说明发酵床饲养可提高仔猪动物福利。【方法】按照密度一致原则(0.67 m~2/头),将88头体重相近(10.42±0.36 kg)的35日龄断奶苏钟仔猪(公母各半)随机分为两组,即漏缝地板饲养组(slatted-floor house,SFH)和发酵床饲养组(deep-litter house,DLH)。每组设4个重复,SFH和DLH组中每个重复分别为6和16头。适应14 d后,进入试验期,试验期为21 d。自由采食和饮水。试验期间记录仔猪日采食量,分别于仔猪49日龄和70日龄时进行个体称重,按重复计算仔猪的日增重和料肉比;于仔猪68日龄时,进行24 h录像采集,每个重复随机挑选3头仔猪用于行为学观察,观察时间为07:00-17:00;于69日龄上午9:00-10:00,每个重复选择3头仔猪用于唾液采集,测定其皮质醇激素含量。【结果】1SFH和DLH组仔猪末重、日均采食量、日增重和料肉比均无显著差异(P0.05)。2与SFH组相比,DLH组仔猪站立和犬坐行为时间比例显著增加(P0.05),躺卧行为显著降低(P0.05);仔猪主要活动时间为08:00-10:00和12:00-15:00;DLH组中仔猪运动和探究行为(特别是翻拱垫料行为)时间比例显著高于SFH组(P0.05),操纵圈舍行为和攻击行为显著低于SFH组(P0.05);与SFH组相比,DLH显著提高了仔猪饮水时间比例(P0.05),但对排泄(排尿和排便)行为无显著影响(P0.05);DLH组仔猪总采食时间显著低于SFH组(P0.05),但因采食次数的显著增加(P0.05),使DLH组仔猪每次采食持续时间显著高于SFH组(P0.05)。3DLH组仔猪唾液中皮质醇激素含量显著高于SFH组(P0.05)。【结论】发酵床饲养能够增加断奶仔猪的探究行为、运动行为以及每次采食持续时间,降低其攻击和操纵圈舍行为,提高了仔猪动物福利。

Comparative Analysis of Growth Performance,Behavior, and Salivary Cortisol Hormone of Piglets Housed in Two Rearing Environments

【Objective】The aim of this study is to make a comparative analysis of growth performance, behavior, and cortisol hormone of weaned piglets housed in two rearing environments.【Method】A total of 88 Suzhong piglets (half of castrated male and female) weaned at 35 d of age were randomly assigned into either the slatted-floor house (SFH) treatment or the deep-litter house (DLH) treatment. Each treatment had 4 pens (4 replicates), and according to the similar rearing density (0.67 m²/animal), each replicate for SFH and DLH had 6 and 16 piglets respectively. The experiment included 14 days of an adaption period and 21 days of an experimental period. Piglets had always access to feed and water. Feed intake was recorded during the experiment period, and piglets were weighed individually at the age of 49 and 70 days to get the growth performance according to replicate. At the age of 68 days, video was recorded for 24 h, and the three piglets from each replicate were selected for observation of piglets’ behavior during daylight from 07:00 to 17:00. Salivary samples of the three piglets from each replicate were collected from 09:00 to 10:00 for the cortisol analysis at the age of 69 days.【Result】Final weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed/gain ratio of piglets from DLH did not differ from those of piglets from SFH (P＞0.05). Piglets from DLH spent significantly more time in standing and sitting (P＜0.05), and less time lying (P＜0.05) compared to piglets from SFH. The activities of piglets mainly occurred during 08:00-10:00 and 12:00-16:00. DLH piglets spent more time at locomotion and explorative behavior (particularly rooting deep bedding) (P＜0.05), and less time manipulating pen and aggressive behavior (P＜0.05), compared to SFH piglets. DLH increased the time spent drinking (P＜0.05), but had no effect on the time spent eliminating (P＞0.05). DLH decreased the total time spent feeding (P＜0.05), but DLH piglets exhibited higher average duration of feeding events due to their low number of feeding events. DLH increased the concentration of cortisol in saliva of weaned piglets (P＜0.05).【Conclusion】DLH could increase time spent in locomotion, explorative behavior, and average duration of feeding events and decrease time spent in aggressive behavior in weaned piglets. These data showed DLH could improve animal welfare in the piglet production.