Perremans S, Randall J M, Rombouts G, Decuypere E, Geers R
Laboratory for Quality Care in Animal Production, Zootechnical Centre, Catholic University Leuven, Lovenjoel, Belgium.
J Anim Sci. 2001 Apr;79(4):975-81. doi: 10.2527/2001.794975x.
Vibration, being a consequence of motion during transport, may impair the welfare of pigs. Therefore, the primary objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate during transport simulation the use of ACTH and cortisol plasma levels, which are part of a basic adaptation mechanism of pigs and 2) to define comfort conditions for pigs related to the frequency and acceleration of vibration. Pigs with a body weight between 20 and 25 kg were vibrated in the vertical direction for 2 h at 2, 4, 8, and 18 Hz, in combination with root mean square acceleration magnitudes of 1 or 3 m/s2. Blood was sampled at regular intervals before, during, and after vibration as the pig's behaviors were recorded. Data on ACTH, cortisol, and behavior could be collected from 104 vibrated pigs and 21 controls. In addition, eight animals (3 controls, 5 vibrated) were treated with 0.1 mg of dexamethasone/kg BW, eight animals (3 controls, 8 vibrated) with 0.1 mg naloxone/kg BW, and six (2 controls, 4 vibrated) with a physiological salt solution. Blood samples were taken and products were administrated via an intravenous catheter. The pigs spent less time lying during both hours of vibration treatment than during control conditions. Compared with 2 and 4 Hz, time spent lying was 10 times shorter at 8 Hz and 18 times shorter at 18 Hz. At 1030, ACTH levels were significantly higher than basal levels in animals vibrated at 2 (P < 0.0001), 4 (P < 0.002), and 18 Hz (P < 0.0006). After 1 h, levels returned to basal values. Cortisol levels increased very rapidly after the beginning of vibration (P < 0.0001) and remained higher until 1 h after cessation of vibration (P < 0.003). An inferrence of the lines of equal responses for ACTH and cortisol indicated that, in the beginning of vibration exposure, pigs were extremely susceptible to vibrations at lower frequencies (2 and 4 Hz), whereas at the end of vibration exposure the responses were higher at 18 Hz. The application of dexamethasone and naloxone underpinned the emotional component of the response strategy of pigs to vibration. Hence, vibration during transport should be minimized in order to enhance the adaptive capacities of pigs.
振动作为运输过程中运动的一种结果，可能会损害猪的健康。因此，本研究的主要目的是：1）在运输模拟过程中评估促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）和皮质醇血浆水平的变化，这是猪基本适应机制的一部分；2）确定与振动频率和加速度相关的猪的舒适条件。体重在20至25千克之间的猪在垂直方向上分别以2、4、8和18赫兹的频率振动2小时，均方根加速度大小为1或3米每二次方秒。在振动前、振动期间和振动后定期采集血液样本，并记录猪的行为。从104头接受振动的猪和21头对照猪身上收集了有关ACTH、皮质醇和行为的数据。此外，对8只动物（3只对照，5只振动）注射0.1毫克地塞米松/千克体重，对8只动物（3只对照，8只振动）注射0.1毫克纳洛酮/千克体重，对6只动物（2只对照，4只振动）注射生理盐溶液。通过静脉导管采集血样并给药。与对照条件相比，猪在振动处理的两个小时内躺卧的时间减少。与2赫兹和4赫兹相比，在8赫兹时躺卧时间缩短了10倍，在18赫兹时缩短了18倍。在1030时，在2赫兹（P < 0.0001）、4赫兹（P < 0.002）和18赫兹（P < 0.0006）振动的动物中，ACTH水平显著高于基础水平。1小时后，水平恢复到基础值。振动开始后，皮质醇水平迅速升高（P < 0.0001），并在振动停止后1小时内一直保持较高水平（P < 0.003）。对ACTH和皮质醇的等反应线的推断表明，在振动暴露开始时，猪对较低频率（2赫兹和4赫兹）的振动极为敏感，而在振动暴露结束时，18赫兹时的反应更高。地塞米松和纳洛酮的应用证实了猪对振动反应策略中的情感成分。因此，为了增强猪的适应能力，应尽量减少运输过程中的振动。
