The welfare of confined sows: physiological, behavioural and production responses to contrasting housing systems and handler attitudes.
Experiments on individual and group housing, and the effects of man-animal interactions on the physiological, behavioural, productive and reproductive responses of pigs demonstrate first, that chronic stress can be measured in the pig, and second, the interactive nature of these responses. The effects of housing pigs in tethers, pairs, a group indoors, a yard and a paddock outdoors on their behaviour and physiology determined at intervals over 12 months showed that pigs housed in pairs exhibited a chronic stress response, evidenced by altered adrenal function. Behaviourally these pigs spent more time lying alone than pigs in other treatments, and there was a significant regression between lying alone behaviour and free corticosteroid levels. There was a similarity between treatments in the occurrences of active, inactive and resting behaviours and of various active behaviours. While the occurrence of inappropriate behaviours such as champing, biting and excessive manipulation of drinkers was generally low, it was higher in pigs housed indoors, particularly the tether and pair treatments. A comparison of the two most contrasting environments (tethers and paddock) showed no clear welfare advantage to housing dry, adult pigs in a more extensive (natural) environment.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006799:Housing, Animal; D012098:Reproduction; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000662:veterinary; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones