Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana 61801, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2012 Sep;90(9):3232-42. doi: 10.2527/jas.2011-4531. Epub 2012 Aug 7.
Different floor space allowances for dry, pregnant sows in pens were evaluated to determine the impacts of space on sow behavior, immune, and cortisol measures. The experiment consisted of 6 replications (blocks 1 to 6; n = 20 sows/group), and within each replicate, physiological measurements were recorded for 2 consecutive pregnancies. A total of 152 sows were measured at 1 gestation, and 65 of those sows were measured at the successive gestation (n = 217). Groups of 5 sows/pen were assigned to 1.4, 2.3, or 3.3 m(2) of floor space/sow or of 5 sows in individual stalls (1.34 m(2)). Behavior measures were stand, sit, lie, walk, drink, oral-nasal-facial (ONF), sham chew, and aggression. Immune traits included both descriptive and functional aspects and cortisol. At d 90 ± 5 of gestation, the occurrence of ONF behaviors increased from 0300 to 1500 h, and lying behavior decreased from 0700 to 1100 h for sows kept at 2.3 m(2). Sows in stalls displayed more (P < 0.05) ONF from 1500 to 2300 h. Stand, sit, drink, ONF, and sham-chew behaviors were affected by floor space; sows in pens at 2.3 m(2) performed more ONF, and sows at 1.4 m(2) performed more sham chewing (P < 0.05). Standing (P = 0.05) and drinking (P = 0.06) were increased, but lying (P = 0.06) was reduced for sows in pens at 2.3 or 3.3 m(2). Sitting and drinking were greater but lying was less for sows in stalls compared with sows in pens (P < 0.01). Immune traits were affected by treatment (P < 0.05); neutrophils were less and lymphocytes were greater, resulting in a reduced neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio (P < 0.05) for sows in pens at 3.3 m(2). Natural killer cell was greater but lymphocyte proliferation was less for sows in pens at 1.4 m(2) (P < 0.05). Sows in stalls had greater N:L ratio than sows in pens (P < 0.05). For sows in pens, linear and quadratic responses were detected for behavior and immune traits. As floor space increased, walking and aggression increased. As floor space decreased, neutrophils, N:L, and natural killer cell increased, but as floor space increased lymphocyte proliferation increased. On the basis of behavioral and physiological responses shown by sows in all 4 environments it is apparent that neither floor space nor stall environment provided adequate or quality of space to improve sow well-being. However, the differential behavioral and physiological mechanisms initiated by sows in response to their specific environment the sows were able to evoke the appropriate response(s) needed to adequately adapt to their environment.
不同的限位栏空间面积分配给妊娠母猪，以确定空间对母猪行为、免疫和皮质醇指标的影响。该实验包括 6 个重复（1 到 6 个块；每组 20 头母猪），每个重复中，连续两个妊娠期都记录生理测量值。共有 152 头母猪在 1 个妊娠期进行了测量，其中 65 头母猪在连续妊娠期进行了测量（n = 217）。每组 5 头母猪/限位栏被分配到 1.4、2.3 或 3.3 m(2)/母猪或 5 头母猪/单独限位栏（1.34 m(2)）。行为测量包括站立、坐下、躺下、行走、饮水、口腔-鼻-面部（ONF）、假咀嚼和攻击。免疫特征包括描述性和功能性方面以及皮质醇。在妊娠 90 ± 5 天时，在 2.3 m(2)的限位栏中，母猪在 0300 到 1500 时发生 ONF 行为的次数增加，而在 0700 到 1100 时的躺卧行为减少。在限位栏中，母猪在 1500 到 2300 时表现出更多的 ONF 行为。站立、坐下、饮水、ONF 和假咀嚼行为受空间面积的影响；在 2.3 m(2)的限位栏中，母猪进行更多的 ONF，而在 1.4 m(2)的限位栏中，母猪进行更多的假咀嚼（P < 0.05）。站立（P = 0.05）和饮水（P = 0.06）增加，但躺着（P = 0.06）减少，在 2.3 或 3.3 m(2)的限位栏中。与限位栏中的母猪相比，限位栏中的母猪坐立和饮水更多，但躺卧更少（P < 0.01）。免疫特征受处理影响（P < 0.05）；在 3.3 m(2)的限位栏中，中性粒细胞较少，淋巴细胞较多，导致中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞的比值（N:L）降低（P < 0.05）。在 1.4 m(2)的限位栏中，自然杀伤细胞较大，但淋巴细胞增殖较少（P < 0.05）。在限位栏中，母猪的 N:L 比值大于限位栏中的母猪（P < 0.05）。对于限位栏中的母猪，行为和免疫特征检测到线性和二次响应。随着空间面积的增加，行走和攻击增加。随着空间面积的减少，中性粒细胞、N:L 和自然杀伤细胞增加，但随着空间面积的增加，淋巴细胞增殖增加。根据所有 4 种环境中母猪的行为和生理反应，无论是空间面积还是限位栏环境都没有提供足够或高质量的空间来改善母猪的福利。然而，母猪对其特定环境的不同行为和生理机制的启动，使母猪能够引发适当的反应，以适应其环境。
