Morrow-Tesch J, McGlone J J
Dept. of Anim. Sci., Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409.
J Anim Sci. 1990 Nov;68(11):3563-71. doi: 10.2527/1990.68113563x.
Seven experiments utilizing 77 litters of piglets were conducted to determine the relative preferences or aversion of piglets for maternal olfactory cues. A Y-maze was used to test piglet preferences for two substances at any one time. A preference index was calculated from Y-maze data to identify whether piglets expressed a preference or aversion to the two substances tested in each session. The first two experiments examined piglet preferences for maternal fecal odors, colostrum, milk, urine and skin washings at 12 h and 7 d of age. Piglets preferred the odor of nipple washings and sow feces at 12 h of age. Piglets preferred sow fecal odors at 7 d of age in one study. The third study showed that piglets could discriminate between their mother's fecal odor and fecal odors from other sows. The fourth study examined piglet preferences for maternal fecal odors at birth, 12 h and 1, 3 and 7 d of age. At all ages tested except birth, piglets preferred sow fecal odors over water. The final three studies showed that piglets did not prefer to be near novel odors (orange and banana odors), nor did they prefer to be near the putative rat maternal pheromone, deoxycholic acid. In conclusion, piglets learn their mother's odor within the first 12 h of life. Piglets are most attracted to the odors associated with maternal feces and skin secretions. Piglet odor discriminatory ability is specific for maternal odors (not just odorous substances) and very acute (they can discriminate between mother and non-mother odors). When modifying piglet behavior to improve survival, the piglet's well-developed olfactory ability should be considered.
进行了七项实验，使用了77窝仔猪，以确定仔猪对母体嗅觉线索的相对偏好或厌恶。使用Y型迷宫在任何时候测试仔猪对两种物质的偏好。根据Y型迷宫数据计算偏好指数，以确定仔猪在每个实验环节中对所测试的两种物质是表现出偏好还是厌恶。前两项实验研究了12小时龄和7日龄仔猪对母体粪便气味、初乳、牛奶、尿液和皮肤清洗液的偏好。12小时龄的仔猪更喜欢乳头清洗液和母猪粪便的气味。在一项研究中，7日龄的仔猪更喜欢母猪粪便的气味。第三项研究表明，仔猪能够区分其母亲的粪便气味和其他母猪的粪便气味。第四项研究考察了出生时、12小时龄以及1、3和7日龄仔猪对母体粪便气味的偏好。在除出生外的所有测试年龄，仔猪都更喜欢母猪粪便的气味而不是水。最后三项研究表明，仔猪不喜欢靠近新的气味（橙子和香蕉气味），也不喜欢靠近假定的大鼠母体信息素脱氧胆酸。总之，仔猪在出生后的前12小时内学会了其母亲的气味。仔猪对与母体粪便和皮肤分泌物相关的气味最感兴趣。仔猪的气味辨别能力对母体气味（不仅仅是有气味的物质）具有特异性且非常敏锐（它们能够区分母亲和非母亲的气味）。在改变仔猪行为以提高存活率时，应考虑仔猪发达的嗅觉能力。
