Terry Robyn, Nowland Tanya L, van Wettere William H E J, Plush Kate J
Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
Davies Livestock Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
Animals (Basel). 2021 Sep 6;11(9):2613. doi: 10.3390/ani11092613.
The aim of the study was to investigate if the application of a synthetic olfactory agonist (SOA) would reduce indicators of stress in sows, in response to a stressor prior to parturition, and if it would improve farrowing house performance of sows and their piglets. Two studies were conducted: an intensive study with 47 sows, either having their first or second litter (Control = 24; SOA = 23); and a commercial validation study with 418 sows, either having their first litter or have had multiple litters (Control = 210; SOA = 208). Within the intensive study, sows were housed with or without a synthetic olfactory agonist suspended in the creep area of the farrowing crate, whereas within the commercial validation study, sows were housed with or without a synthetic olfactory agonist suspended over the adjoining creep area of two farrowing crates. Within the intensive study, despite a discernible increase in cortisol concentration in response to a stressor (snout rope test), cortisol response was not different between treatments ( > 0.05). Farrowing duration in first-litter sows exposed to the SOA was decreased ( < 0.001) whilst there was no impact on farrowing duration in second litter sows. Piglets were not attracted by the SOA to increase their utilisation of the creep area and spent more time in proximity to the sow ( < 0.05). Within the commercial validation study, no impacts were seen on piglet production measures ( > 0.05). Largely the use of an SOA within the farrowing house did not impact the sow or her piglets in either the intensive study or commercial validation study. Based on these current results, the use of SOA within the farrowing house is not supported.
本研究的目的是调查在分娩前对母猪施加应激源时，应用合成嗅觉激动剂（SOA）是否会降低母猪的应激指标，以及是否会改善母猪及其仔猪在产仔舍的生产性能。进行了两项研究：一项是对47头头胎或二胎母猪的深入研究（对照组 = 24头；SOA组 = 23头）；另一项是对418头头胎或多胎母猪的商业验证研究（对照组 = 210头；SOA组 = 208头）。在深入研究中，母猪被安置在产仔箱的保育区，产仔箱内有或没有悬挂合成嗅觉激动剂；而在商业验证研究中，母猪被安置在两个相邻产仔箱的相邻保育区上方，上方有或没有悬挂合成嗅觉激动剂。在深入研究中，尽管在应激源（口鼻绳测试）作用下皮质醇浓度有明显升高，但各处理组之间的皮质醇反应没有差异（P>0.05）。暴露于SOA的头胎母猪的产仔持续时间缩短（P<0.001），而对二胎母猪的产仔持续时间没有影响。仔猪没有被SOA吸引来增加它们对保育区的利用率，而是更多地待在母猪附近（P<0.05）。在商业验证研究中，未观察到对仔猪生产指标的影响（P>0.05）。总体而言，在产仔舍使用SOA在深入研究或商业验证研究中均未对母猪或其仔猪产生影响。基于目前的这些结果，不支持在产仔舍使用SOA。
