Affiliation:
1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science South China Agricultural University Guangzhou People's Republic of China
2. Chuxiong Anyou Livestock Co. Chuxiong People's Republic of China
3. Guangdong Ruisheng Technology Group Co., Ltd. Guangzhou People's Republic of China
Abstract
AbstractIn intensive pig production, the fighting behavior of weaning piglets after merging pens is relatively common. Fighting behavior not only easily causes injury in pigs but also affects the production performance of pigs. To reduce fighting behavior in farms, this study aimed to explore the possible effect of odorous substances on piglet fighting behavior after merging into a large pen. Six different sprays were tested: original creamy, cheese flavor, orange flavor, truffle, vanilla and pigpen flavor. In each experiment, two groups were set (one odor‐sprayed and no sprayed control), and 12 pigs were used per group. After mixing, the frequency of occurrence of various piglet behaviors in different pens was recorded. During this period, salivary cortisol levels and skin lesion scores were evaluated. As a result, the piglets sprayed with the original creamy, cheese flavor and vanilla substances obtained significantly higher average daily gain and feed intake and showed a significantly lower incidence of fighting behavior, and the skin lesion score and salivary cortisol of piglets were also reduced significantly. All the other odorous substances had no significant effects on the fighting behavior and production performance of piglets.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Medicine