Energy Expenditure In Vocalizations Of Pigs Under Stresses

Modern swine production faces many challenges nowadays, among which are productivity growth, meat quality improvement, decrease of environmental damage and reduction of cost production. Pigs spend energy to vocalizing, especially when they undergo stress. The waste of energy can increase the cost of production and lead to greater environmental damage. The goal of this study was to estimate the energy spent by pigs under the stress of castration and its effect on the animals' weight gain. Two groups of ten animals each were castrated, being one group with local anesthetic and the other without anesthetic. The piglets' vocalizations were recorded during different stages of the neutering process and then estimated of the amount of energy emitted during each vocalization. Afterwards, this energy was associated with the animals' weight gain. There was no difference in the total energy spent in both groups, since the energy used during the application of anesthetic was similar to the energy spent during the castration of the animals without anesthetic. There was also no correlation between energy spent and the animals' weight gain. It was possible to estimate the amount of energy emitted through vocalization. This energy spent by piglets in pain was greater than in other handling situations (contention, weighting and realease).335896901Cordeiro, A.F.S., Pereira, E.M., Nääs, I.A., Silva, W.T., Moura, D.J., Medida de Vocalização de Suínos (Sus scrofa) como um Indicador de Gasto Energético (2009), p. 2. , Brazilian Journal of Biosystems Engineering, CampinasCosta, A.N., Produção e bem-estar animal aspectos técnicos e éticos da produção intensiva de suínos (2008) Ciência Veterinária nos Trópicos, Recife 11, 1, pp. 43-48Costa, O.A.D., Ludke, J.V., Costa, M.J.R.P., Faucitano, L., Peloso, J.V., Roza, D.D., Modelo de carroceria e seu impacto sobre o bem-estar e a qualidade da carne dos suínos (2007) Ciência Rural, Santa Maria, 37 (5), pp. 1418-1422Dallanora, D., Machado, G.S., Biondo, N., Impacto da qualidade dos leitões desmamados sobre o desempenho posterior nas creches terminações (2010) Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, Porto Alegre, 37, pp. 171-180Hötzel, M.J., Machado Filho, L.C.P., (2013), pp. 34-38. , http://www.freewebs.com/hotzel/PorWorld2004.pdf, Comportamento e bem-estar dos leitões em relação ao desmame. Porkworld, Paulina, São Paulo 01 jul. 2004. Disponível em: Acesso em: 28 fevKummer, R., Gonçalves, M.A.D., Lippke, R.T., Marques, B.M.F., Mores, T.J., Fatores que influenciam o desempenho dos leitões na fase de creche (2009) Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, Porto Alegre, 37 (1), pp. 195-209Marx, G., Horn, T., Thielebein, J., Knubel, B., Borell, E., Analysis of pain-related vocalization in young pigs, Journal of Sound and Vibration (2003) Amsterdam 266, 3, pp. 687-698Moraes, E., Kiefer, C., Iandara Schettert Silva, I., S.Ractopamina em dietas para suínos machos imunocastrados, castrados e fêmeas (2010) Ciência Rural, Santa Maria40, pp. 2409-2414Moura, D.J., Silva, W.T., Nääs, I.A., Tolon, Y.B., Lima, K.A.O., Vale, M.M., Real timecomputer stress monitoring of piglets using vocalization analysis (2008) Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, Amsterdam, 64, pp. 111-118Nääs, I.A., Campos, L.S.L., Baracho, M.S., Tolon, Y.B., Uso de redes neurais artificiais na identificação de vocalização de suínos (2008) EngenhariaAgrícola, Jaboticabal, 28, pp. 2204-2216Pauly, C., Spring, P., O'doherty, J.V., Kragten, S.A., Bee, G., Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat qualityof group-penned surgically castrated, immunocastrated(Improvac®) and entire male pigs and individually pennedentire male pigs (2009) The International Journal of Animal Biosciences, Cambridge, 3 (7), pp. 1057-1066Rault, J.-L., Lay, J.R., Marchant-Forde, J.N., Castration induced pain in pigs and other livestock (2011) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Amsterdam, 135 (3), pp. 214-225Risi, N., Uso da vocalização como indicador patológico em leitões na fase de maternidade. 2010. 93 f. Dissertação (Mestrado) - Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo (2010) PiracicabaSilva, R.B.T.R., Nääs, I.A., Moura, D.J., Silveira, N.A., Welfare norms for swine production under intensive rearing system.Brazilian Journal of Biosystems Engineering (2007) Campinas, 1 (2), pp. 137-145Smith, A.L., Stalder, K.J., Serenius, T.V., Baas, T.J., Mabry, J., W.Effects of piglet birth weights at weaning and 42 days post weaning (2007) Journal of Swine Health and Production, 15 (4), pp. 213-218Taylor, A.A., Weary, D.M., Vocal responses of piglets to castration: identifying procedural sources of pain (2000) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Amsterdam, 70 (1), pp. 17-26Tolon, Y.B., Baracho, M.S., Nääs, I.A., Rojas, M., Moura, D.J., Ambiências térmica, aérea e acústica para reprodutores suínos EngenhariaAgrícola (2010) Jaboticabal, 30 (1), pp. 1-1

Vocalization As A Tool For Identifying The Level Of Stress In Piglets

Amongst the challenges in pig production under today's competitive market the issue of meeting the standards of animal welfare is enhanced. Animal vocalization can be a useful tool to identify the level of stress in piglets. This research aimed to evaluate the vocalization of piglets during a surgical procedure with and without anesthesia, and assess their level of stress by analyzing their vocal expressions. Two level of stress were assessed: moderate stress and acute stress. No difference was found the level of pain in both treatments.165168Cordeiro, A.F.S., Pereira, E.M., Nääs, I.A., Silva, W.T., Moura, D.J., Medida de vocalização de suínos (Sus scrofa) como um indicador de gasto energético. (abstract in English) (2009) Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Biosistemas, 2, pp. 143-152Leidig, M.S., Hertrampf, B., Failing, K., Schumann, A., Reiner, G., Pain and discomfort in male piglets during surgical castration with and without local anesthesia as determined by vocalization and defense behaviour (2009) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 116, pp. 174-178Manteuffel, G., Schon, P.C., Measuring pig welfare by automatic monitoring of stress calls (2004) Bornier Agratechnische Bericht, 29, pp. 110-118Marx, G., Horn, T., Thielebein, J., Knubel, B., Borell, E., Analysis of pain-related vocalization in young pigs (2003) Journal of Sound and Vibration, 266, pp. 687-698Schrader, L., Todt, D., Vocal quality is correlated with levels of stress hormones in domestic pigs (1998) Etology, 104, pp. 859-876Weary, D.M., Fraser, D., Vocal response of piglet to weaning: Effect of piglet age (1997) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 54, pp. 153-16

Vocalization Data Mining For Estimating Swine Stress Conditions

This study aimed to identify differences in swine vocalization pattern according to animal gender and different stress conditions. A total of 150 barrow males and 150 females (Dalland® genetic strain), aged 100 days, were used in the experiment. Pigs were exposed to different stressful situations: thirst (no access to water), hunger (no access to food), and thermal stress (THI exceeding 74). For the control treatment, animals were kept under a comfort situation (animals with full access to food and water, with environmental THI lower than 70). Acoustic signals were recorded every 30 minutes, totaling six samples for each stress situation. Afterwards, the audios were analyzed by Praat® 5.1.19 software, generating a sound spectrum. For determination of stress conditions, data were processed by WEKA® 3.5 software, using the decision tree algorithm C4.5, known as J48 in the software environment, considering cross-validation with samples of 10% (10-fold cross-validation). According to the Decision Tree, the acoustic most important attribute for the classification of stress conditions was sound Intensity (root node). It was not possible to identify, using the tested attributes, the animal gender by vocal register. A decision tree was generated for recognition of situations of swine hunger, thirst, and heat stress from records of sound intensity, Pitch frequency, and Formant 1.343445450Balsby, J.S.T., Adams, D.M., Vocal similarity and familiarity determine response to potential flock mates in orange-fronted conures (Psittacidae) (2011) Animal Behaviour, 81 (5), pp. 983-991. , AmsterdamBaptista, R.I.A., Bertani, G.R., Barbosa, C.N., Indicadores do bem-estar em suínos (2011) Ciência Rural, Santa Maria, 41 (10), pp. 1823-1830Caldara Fabiana, R., Rosa, P.G., Ferreira, R.A., Reis, N.M.O., Nääs, I.A., Paz, I.C.L.A., Garcia, R.G., Ferreira, V.M.O.S., Behavior, performance and physiological parameters of pigs reared in deep bedding (2012) Engenharia Agrícola, Jaboticabal, 32 (1), pp. 38-46Cordeiro, A.F.S., Nääs, I.A., Oliveira, S.R.D.M., Violaro, F., Almeida, A.C.M., Efficiency of distinct data mining algorithms for classifying stress level in piglets from their vocalization (2012) Engenharia Agrícola, Jaboticabal, 32 (2), pp. 208-216Düpjan, S., Schön, P., Puppe, B., Tuchscherer, A., Manteuffel, G., Differential vocal responses to physical and mental stressors in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) (2008) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 114, pp. 105-115. , AmsterdamGeberzahn, N., Goymann, W., Muck, C., Ten Cate, C., Females alter their song when challenged in a sex-role reversed bird species (2009) Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 64 (2), pp. 193-204. , BerlimGogoleva, S.S., Volodin, I.A., Volodina, E.V., Kharlamova, A.V., Trut, L.N., Effects of selection for behavior, human approach mode and sex on vocalization in silver fox (2012) Journal of Ethology, pp. 1-6. , http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10164-012-0353-x/fulltext.html, online. DOI:10.1007/s10164-012-0353-x. Access: 7 dez 2012Grandin, T., The feasibility of using vocalization scoring as an indicator of poor welfare during slaughter (1998) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 56 (2), pp. 121-128. , AmsterdamLeidig, M.S., Hertrampf, B., Failing, K., Schumann, A., Reiner, G., Pain and discomfort in male piglets during surgical castration with and without local anesthesia as determined by vocalization and defence behaviour (2009) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 116 (2), pp. 174-178. , AmsterdamMarx, G., Horn, T., Thielebein, J., Knubel, B., Borell, E., Analysis of pain-related vocalization in young pigs (2003) Journal of. Sound Vibration, 266 (4), pp. 687-698. , AmsterdamMatrosova, V.A., Blumstein, D.T., Volodin, I.A., Volodina, E.V., The potential to encode sex, age, and individual identity. Naturwissenschaften, Berlim (2011), 98 (3), pp. 181-192Nääs, I.A., Campos, L.S.L., Baracho, M.S., Tolon, Y.B., Uso de redes neurais artificiais na identificação de vocalização de suínos (2008) Engenharia Agrícola, Jaboticabal, 28, pp. 204-216Risi, N., (2010) Uso da vocalização como indicador patológico em leitões na fase de maternidade, , 93f. Dissertação (Mestrado) - Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, 2010Roller, W.L., Goldman, R.F., Response of swine to acute heat exposure (1969) Transactions of the ASAE, St. Joseph, 12 (2), pp. 164-169. , 174Roriz, M., (2003) Psicrom 1.0 - Relações Psicométricas, , Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Engenharia Civil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Construção Civil. São CarlosSampaio, C.P., Nääs, I.A., Salgado, D.D., Marcos, P.G., Queirós, M.P.G., Avaliação do nível de ruído em instalações para suínos (2007) Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental, Campina Grande, 11 (4), pp. 436-440Schrader, L., Todt, D., Vocal quality is correlated with levels of stress hormones in domestic pigs (1998) Ethology, 104 (10), pp. 859-876. , BerlimSpinka, M., Social dimension of emotions and its implication for animal welfare (2012) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 138 (2), pp. 170-181. , Amsterda

Vocalização como indicativo do bem-estar de suínos submetidos a situações de estresse

Objetivou-se com este trabalho estimar o bem-estar de suínos a partir de registros de sua vocalização, durante alojamento em granja comercial. Foram utilizados 150 suínos machos castrados, distribuídos aleatoriamente em cinco baias. Os suínos foram submetidos a diferentes situações de estresse: sede (sem acesso a água), fome (sem acesso ao alimento), estresse térmico (Índice de temperatura e umidade - ITU >74). Para o tratamento controle, os animais foram mantidos em situação de conforto, com acesso a alimento e água, e ambiente com ITU <70. Foram registrados os sinais acústicos a cada 30 minutos, durante período ininterrupto de três horas, totalizando seis coletas para cada situação de estresse. Os sinais foram digitalizados a uma frequência de até 44.100Hz, por um período de 3 minutos. Posteriormente, os áudios foram analisados pelo software Praat(r) 5.1.19. Os atributos gerados a partir desse software foram a energia do sinal (Pa²*s), amplitude máxima e amplitude mínima (Pa), a frequência de picht (Hz), a intensidade sonora (dB) e quatro níveis de formantes (F1; F2; F3 e F4), também chamados de harmônicas (Hz). Verificou-se que, dependendo do estímulo estressor e de sua duração, os atributos acústicos energia e intensidade do sinal, frequência de pitch e as formantes 2 e 4 apresentaram diferenciação. Os atributos sonoros da vocalização de suínos variam de maneira distinta em função do tipo e duração do estímulo estressante, funcionando, quando associados, como ferramenta eficiente para quantificar o grau de estresse dos animais

Locomotor problems in broilers reared on new and re-used litter

Two field trials were conducted to assess locomotor problems in broilers. Males and females broilers were used from two commercial strains reared on two different litter materials, new and re-used. In the first experiment (E1) rice husks and wood shavings were used as new litter, and in the second experiment (E2) the same litter was re-used. A batch of one-day-old chicks (2968) was reared randomly distributed in experimental pens, in a 2x2x2 factorial scheme (two genetic strains, two sexes and two litter materials). The same fodder and water were available to all birds <em>ad libitum</em>. Broilers locomotion problems were evaluated using the characteristics of gait score, incidence of <em>valgus</em> and <em>varus</em>, foot-pad lesions, degeneration, femoral, tibial dyschondroplasia, spondylolisthesis and breast calluses. The number of birds with high gait score was less than 30% in the two experiments. Males presented higher gait score (GS) (28.46% GS 1 and 2 compared to females, 20.98%); greater incidence of angular deformities (26.62% with <em>valgus</em> compared to 14.71% of the female); and femoral degenerative joint lesions (70.83% in average, compared to 55.16% of the female), and the correlation between these traits varied from 0.18 to 0.87 (P&lt;0.05). There was an increase of foot-pad lesions in re-used litter leading to poor welfare. The use of rice husks in deep litter for broiler production might be a viable alternative of wood shavings