Hameister Theresa, Puppe Birger, Tuchscherer Margret, Kanitz Ellen
Forschungsinstitut für die Biologie landwirtschaftlicher Nutztiere, Forschungsbereich Verhaltensphysiologie, Dummerstorf.
Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2010 Jan-Feb;123(1-2):11-9.
Weaning of farm animals is of biological and economical relevance. Due to economical considerations, the weaning age of piglets (Sus scrofa) has drastically been reduced during the last few years, whereas biological consequences remain ambiguous. This review gives a survey of current international research on weaning and its psychobiological consequences in conventional pig farming. The influence of weaning age on behaviour, neuroendocrine and immune systems of piglets is the main focus of this paper. The abrupt weaning in pig farming comprises multiple stressful events such as change in diet, new physical environment, as well as the often underestimated psychosocial consequences of maternal deprivation and regrouping with unfamiliar conspecifics. Results presented in this review suggest that early weaned piglets (< or = 21 days of age) show enhanced behavioural problems and neuroendocrine stress reactions as well as reduced immune responses. These adaptation problems may have short- and long-term effects on animals' welfare and health, consequently resulting in increased financial requirements and higher management demands. Weaning before the third week of age is not recommended. Additionally, alternative housing systems (e.g. group housing) with adequate weaning methods (e.g. weaning without regrouping, social contacts prior to weaning) to diminish psychosocial stress are discussed.
家畜断奶具有生物学和经济意义。出于经济考虑，仔猪（猪）的断奶年龄在过去几年中大幅降低，但其生物学后果仍不明确。本综述概述了当前国际上关于传统养猪业中断奶及其心理生物学后果的研究。断奶年龄对仔猪行为、神经内分泌和免疫系统的影响是本文的主要重点。养猪业中的突然断奶包括多个应激事件，如饮食变化、新的物理环境，以及常被低估的母婴分离和与陌生同种动物重新组合的心理社会后果。本综述中的结果表明，早期断奶仔猪（≤21日龄）表现出更多的行为问题、神经内分泌应激反应以及免疫反应降低。这些适应问题可能对动物的福利和健康产生短期和长期影响，从而导致更高的经济需求和更高的管理要求。不建议在三周龄前断奶。此外，还讨论了采用替代饲养系统（如群体饲养）和适当的断奶方法（如不重新组合断奶、断奶前进行社交接触）来减轻心理社会应激。
