Sorrells A D, Eicher S D, Harris M J, Pajor E A, Richert B T
Livestock Behavior Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2007 Jul;85(7):1750-7. doi: 10.2527/jas.2007-0025. Epub 2007 Apr 27.
Use of gestation stalls in pork production remains a controversial topic in animal welfare. Immune status and measures are frequently used to assess stress levels and thus well-being of confined animals. The important welfare issue of close confinement among gestating gilts was tested by quantifying cortisol, acute phase cytokine, and acute phase protein pro-files before and after farrowing of gilts housed in 2 systems. Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred gilts housed in groups of 4 (group, n = 8) in pens (3.9 x 2.4 m with 4 individual feeding spaces, 9.36 m(2) total or 2.34 m(2)/gilt) were compared with gilts housed in standard industry stalls (stall, n = 16; 2.2 x 0.6 m, 1.32 m(2)/gilt). Floors were fully slatted, and a substrate was not provided for either system. Cortisol was determined from saliva on d 105 of gestation, 1 h after moving the gilts into farrowing stalls (d 111), and 24 h and 7 d after farrowing. Cortisol was greater (P = 0.04) for group gilts compared with stall gilts 1 h after moving them into farrowing stalls and 24 h after farrowing. Cortisol concentrations decreased (P = 0.001) over time. Leukocyte mRNA expression of IL-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was determined by quantitative, reverse transcription PCR on d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h after farrowing. Cytokine mRNA expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not differ between housing systems for IL-1, its receptor antagonist, or for tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Acute phase proteins, including fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein were determined for plasma samples taken at d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h and 14 d after farrowing. In contrast to cortisol, plasma fibrinogen concentrations increased (P < 0.005) over time. Haptoglobin did not differ between treatments (P > 0.10). Stall gilts tended to have greater (P = 0.07) plasma alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein concentrations than group animals at d 35 of gestation and d 14 after farrowing. These data showed a trend (P < 0.07) for alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein concentrations to return to baseline more quickly in group-housed gilts, which did not appear to be directly related to increased cortisol just before farrowing. In conclusion, few differences in the acute phase response were detected between housing systems, suggesting that the resting immunological responses are only mildly affected by gestation stalls.
在猪肉生产中使用妊娠限位栏在动物福利方面仍是一个有争议的话题。免疫状态和相关指标常被用于评估应激水平，进而评估圈养动物的健康状况。通过对两种饲养系统中妊娠后备母猪分娩前后的皮质醇、急性期细胞因子和急性期蛋白谱进行量化，对妊娠后备母猪紧密圈养这一重要的福利问题进行了测试。将长白猪与约克夏猪的杂交后备母猪以4头一组（每组，n = 8）饲养在围栏中（3.9×2.4米，有4个独立采食空间，总面积9.36平方米或每头后备母猪2.34平方米），并与饲养在标准工业限位栏中的后备母猪（限位栏，n = 16；2.2×0.6米，每头后备母猪1.32平方米）进行比较。两个系统的地板均为全漏缝地板，均未提供垫料。在妊娠第105天、将后备母猪转入分娩栏1小时后（第111天）、分娩后24小时和7天采集唾液测定皮质醇。与限位栏后备母猪相比，转入分娩栏1小时后和分娩后24小时，组养后备母猪的皮质醇水平更高（P = 0.04）。皮质醇浓度随时间下降（P = 0.001）。在妊娠第35天、63天、91天和分娩后72小时，通过定量逆转录PCR测定白细胞中IL-1、IL-1受体拮抗剂和肿瘤坏死因子-α的mRNA表达。外周血单核细胞的细胞因子mRNA表达在两种饲养系统中，对于IL-1、其受体拮抗剂或肿瘤坏死因子-α均无差异。在妊娠第35天、63天、91天以及分娩后72小时和14天采集血浆样本，测定包括纤维蛋白原、触珠蛋白和α1-酸性糖蛋白在内的急性期蛋白。与皮质醇相反，血浆纤维蛋白原浓度随时间升高（P < 0.005）。不同处理间触珠蛋白无差异（P > 0.10）。在妊娠第35天和分娩后第14天，限位栏后备母猪的血浆α1-酸性糖蛋白浓度往往高于组养动物（P = 0.07）。这些数据显示，组养后备母猪的α1-酸性糖蛋白浓度有更快恢复到基线的趋势（P < 0.07），这似乎与分娩前皮质醇升高无直接关系。总之，在两种饲养系统中急性期反应几乎没有差异，这表明妊娠限位栏对静息免疫反应的影响较小。
