title: Physiometabolic responses to road transport in weaned piglets for a short period and the effects of straw bedding.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the physiometabolic responses to stress in hybrid suckling piglets that were weaned and transported at different ages on a paved road under two vehicle conditions: with and without a layer of straw bedding. The piglets were weaned and transported at the following ages: 8, 15 and 22 days. The duration of each trip was 1 h. The piglets in each group were further divided into two sub-groups for two distinct experimental transport conditions: (1) over the road with straw bedding; and (2) over the same road but without straw bedding. A total of three repetitions were performed for each experimental condition. In order to assess their responses to weaning- and transport-induced stress, the study evaluated a thorough physiometabolic blood profile. The 8- and 15-day-old piglets transported without straw bedding showed increases in their pCO2, blood glucose, blood lactate levels and the percentage of hematocrit, but a decrease of pO2 upon arrival (P < 0.05). In contrast, the 22-day-old piglets transported on the same road with straw bedding were able to re-establish their blood concentrations of lactate, pCO2, pO2, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and pH during the trip (P < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Division of Animal Production Sciences and Health, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, FMVZ, Ciudad Universitaria, DF, México; Stress Physiology and Farm Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Campus Xochimilco (UAM-X), DF, México.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roldan-Santiago
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trujillo-Ortega
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borderas-Tordesillas
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mora-Medina
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flores-Peinado
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Hernández
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Herrera
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Lozano
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mota-Rojas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007773:Lactates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: animal welfare; glucose; lactate; straw bedding; stress