Sociable swine : indirect genetic effects on growth rate and their effect on behaviour and production of pigs in different environments

Social interactions between pigs can influence their health, welfare, and productivity. The effects of social interactions on individuals are partly genetic, and this genetic effect is known as an Indirect Genetic Effect. IGEs are thus the heritable effects of an individual on the trait values of its social partners, e.g. group mates. Previous research has identified IGE for production traits, which suggests that selection for IGE may contribute to selection response. However, validation through selection experiments is required. The objectives of this thesis were a) to determine the consequences of selection for ‘IGE on growth rate’ (IGEg) for production traits and behaviour of pigs, and b) to study possible mechanisms underlying IGEg in pigs. First, the relationship between pig behaviour and growth rate was studied in several trials. This showed that oral manipulative behaviours directed at pen mates, such as tail- and ear biting and chewing, can reduce growth rate of the victims, whereas receiving social nosing may enhance growth rate. Second, a one-generation selection experiment was conducted in pigs. Sires (n= 24) and dams (n= 64) were selected to create a high vs. low contrast for IGEg in the offspring (n= 480). The contrast was 14 g average daily gain (ADG). Offspring were studied in a 2×2 arrangement with IGEg (high vs. low) and housing conditions (conventional vs. enriched with straw bedding) to examine genotype × environment (GxE) interactions. Selection did not alter production traits, including ADG. Behaviour showed consistent changes, whereby high IGEg pigs showed less biting behaviour towards group mates and objects. High and low IGEg pigs did not differ in aggression or body lesions during 24-h regrouping with unfamiliar pigs. They did, however, differ in aggression towards their own group members when they were reunited after the temporary regrouping test. In combination with other tests and observations, this might indicate that high IGEg pigs are less fearful or less stress sensitive than low IGEg pigs. There were no G×E interactions, but enrichment had a positive effect on behaviour which was additive to that of selection. Despite the lack of response in ADG, genetic selection for IGEg and enriched housing conditions improved the behaviour and welfare of pigs.</p

Aggression and Affiliation during Social Conflict in Pigs

Social conflict is mostly studied in relation to aggression. A more integral approach, including aggressive and affiliative behaviour as well as physiology, may however give a better understanding of the animals' experience during social conflict. The experience of social conflict may also be reflected in the spatial distribution between conspecifics. The objective was to assess the relationship between behaviour, physiology, and spatial integration in pigs (Sus scrofa) during social conflict. Hereto, 64 groups of pigs (9 wk of age) were studied in a 24 h regrouping test whereby pairs of familiar pigs were grouped with 2 unfamiliar pairs, in either barren or straw-enriched housing. Data on aggressive and affiliative behaviour, skin lesions, body weight, and haptoglobin could be summarized into three principal component analysis factors. These three factors were analysed in relation to spatial integration, i.e. inter-individual distances and lying in body contact. Pigs stayed up to 24 h after encounter in closer proximity to the familiar pig than to unfamiliar pigs. Pigs with a high factor 1 score were more inactive, gave little social nosing, had many skin lesions and a high body weight. They tended to space further away from the familiar pig (b = 1.9 cm; P = 0.08) and unfamiliar ones (b = 0.7 cm; P = 0.05). Pigs that were involved in much aggression (factor 2), and that had a strong increase in haptoglobin (factor 3), tended to be relatively most far away from unfamiliar pigs (b = 0.03 times further; P = 0.08). Results on lying in body contact were coherent with results on distances. Pigs in enriched housing spaced further apart than pigs in barren housing (

Facial expression as a potential measure of both intent and emotion

Abstract Facial expressions convey information on emotion, physical sensations, and intent. The much debated theories that facial expressions can be emotions or signals of intent have largely remained separated in animal studies. Here we integrate these approaches with the aim to 1) investigate whether pigs may use facial expressions as a signal of intent and; 2) quantify differences in facial metrics between different contexts of potentially negative emotional state. Facial metrics of 38 pigs were recorded prior to aggression, during aggression and during retreat from being attacked in a dyadic contest. Ear angle, snout ratio (length/height) and eye ratio from 572 images were measured. Prior to the occurrence of aggression, eventual initiators of the first bite had a smaller snout ratio and eventual winners showed a non-significant tendency to have their ears forward more than eventual losers. During aggression, pigs’ ears were more forward orientated and their snout ratio was smaller. During retreat, pigs’ ears were backwards and their eyes open less. The results suggest that facial expressions can communicate aggressive intent related to fight success, and that facial metrics can convey information about emotional responses to contexts involving aggression and fear

Minimally invasive biomarkers to detect maternal physiological status in sow saliva and milk

In this study, we aimed to validate existing plasma assays to measure biomarkers for maternal signalling in milk and saliva of lactating sows. These biological samples are minimally invasive to the animal and could give a physiological profile of maternal qualities available to their piglets. Sows were farrowed in a zero-confinement system, and their colostrum and milk samples were manually collected during naturally occurring let-downs (i.e. not induced) over the lactation period. Saliva sampling involved sows voluntarily accepting cotton buds to chew without restraint. Commercial kits designed for blood plasma were tested, and any modifications and results are given. We successfully measured total protein, cortisol, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and oxytocin in pig milk and saliva and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in pig milk samples. We were unsuccessful at measuring relaxin and serotonin in these biological samples. We observed higher levels of biomarkers in milk than in saliva. The measurement of TNF-α in pig milk for the first time revealed increased levels with larger litters. This development will allow more detailed understanding of biomarkers in milk. There was also evidence that the minimally invasive technique of using saliva sampling did not interrupt natural oxytocin production around parturition

Indirect Genetic Effects for Growth Rate in Domestic Pigs Alter Aggressive and Manipulative Biting Behaviour

Indirect genetic effects (IGEs) are heritable effects of an individual on phenotypic values of others, and may result from social interactions. We determined the behavioural consequences of selection for IGEs for growth (IGEg) in pigs in a G × E treatment design. Pigs (n = 480) were selected for high versus low IGEg with a contrast of 14 g average daily gain and were housed in either barren or straw-enriched pens (n = 80). High IGEg pigs showed from 8 to 23 weeks age 40 % less aggressive biting (P = 0.006), 27 % less ear biting (P = 0.03), and 40 % less biting on enrichment material (P = 0.005). High IGEg pigs had a lower tail damage score (high 2.0; low 2.2; P = 0.004), and consumed 30 % less jute sacks (P = 0.002). Selection on high IGEg reduced biting behaviours additive to the, generally much larger, effects of straw-bedding (P <0.01), with no G × E interactions. These results show opportunities to reduce harmful biting behaviours in pigs

AKTUELLE BESTANDSSITUATION VON 3 GEFÄHRDETEN SCHAFRASSEN IM DONAURAUM

Die konkrete Bestandssituation der einzelnen aufgeführten Rassen ist den Tabellen zu entnehmen. Die geschilderten Problemsituationen zeigen sehr gut die Dringlichkeit einer überregionalen und internationalen Zusammenarbeit. Sie zeigen auch, daß die Rassen in verschiedenen Ländern unter ganz verschiedenen Bedingungen gehalten werden und infolgedessen den in situ Erhaltungsprojekten unbedingt der Vorrang zu geben ist. Weiterhin wird es deutlich, daß die genetische Enge, die in manchen Fällen besteht, einen Austausch von Zuchttieren unter den verschiedenen Ländern erforderlich macht. Um dies begründen bzw. verantwoten zu können, wäre es jedoch notwendig, in allen Fällen durch genetische Distanzanalysen die optimalen Austauschpopulationene festzulegen. Bei Kleinstbestanden wie dem Walachenschaf istes dringend erforderlich, da8 dieprivaten Zuchterdurch die Populationsgenetiker mit fundierten Anpaarungsprogrammen unterstiitzt werden. Es bleibt zu hoffen, daß im Rahmen von DAGENE künftig aktive Projekte bzw. konkrete Problemlösungen für derartige Fälle entstehen