Impact de la coupe de queue sur le comportement des porcelets allaités

Tail docking is still applied in Europe to prevent tail biting, despite its evident negative impact on pig welfare. We aimed at characterising consequences of tail docking on suckling piglets. We compared 48 piglets with tail docked (C) to 50 undocked piglets submitted to a non-painful simulation of docking (S). Their behavioural reaction during docking and for 20 s following the process was observed: vocalisations, tail posture and movements. Observations were repeated on C animals and on 48 other animals left intact from birth (I), 4 h after the docking process, 3 days after and once a week, in addition giving a score to the state of the tail. Fifteen days after birth, their reaction to a motionless seated human was observed. The C piglets vocalised more and louder during the docking process than S piglets (P < 0.05). For the 20 s after docking, their tail remained immobile longer (P < 0.05). The tail was also more immobile during the whole suckling period (P < 0.05). The C piglets approached the unfamiliar human later than the I piglets (P < 0.05). The I piglets tended to have more tail lesions than the C group (P < 0.1) during suckling. Tail docking thus induces reactions indicating pain on the day of docking and throughout the suckling period. Evidence of first episodes of tail biting were also found in I pigs. Longer term effects remain to be characterised (pain and bitings)

Evidence of pain, stress, and fear of humans during tail docking and the next four weeks in piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Tail docking is widely performed in pig farms to prevent tail biting. We investigated the consequences of this practice on behavioral indicators of pain and stress, and on the human-piglet relationship during lactation. Within 19 litters, piglets (1–3 days of age) were submitted on day 0 (D0) to docking with a cautery iron (D), sham-docking (S), or no docking (U). Piglets from the D and S groups were observed during the procedure (body movements and vocalizations) and just after, in isolation, during 20 s for body, tail and ear postures as well as ear movements. Piglets from the three treatments were observed in their home pen after docking on D0 and D3 afternoon for body posture, tail posture and movements. Piglets from the D and U groups were observed on D6, D12, D19, and D26 in their home pen for oral behavior, body, and tail posture. Tail damage and tear staining were scored on D5, D11, D18, and D25. A 5-min motionless human test was performed on D14. During the procedure, D piglets screamed more and with a higher intensity (P < 0.05) than S piglets (n = 48–50). Just after docking, D piglets held their ears in a posture perpendicular to the head-tail axis and changed their ear posture more often (P < 0.05). Between D6 and D26, D piglets kept their tail immobile (P < 0.001) and in a horizontal position (P < 0.01) more often than U piglets (n = 45–47). Between D11 and D25, U piglets had higher scores for tail damage and damage freshness than D piglets (0.09 < P < 0.02) whereas tear-stain score was similar. In the human test, D piglets interacted later with an unfamiliar human than U piglets (P = 0.01, n = 18/group). Present data indicate signs of acute pain and stress in piglets due to docking during the procedure itself and adverse consequences throughout lactation thereafter, including on their relationship with humans. On the other hand, the presence of tail lesions shows that undocked piglets are subject to more tail biting, even before weaning

Conséquences douloureuses de la caudectomie chez les porcelets domestiques

Pour prévenir des problèmes de morsures de queue entre porcs, la coupe d'une partie de la queue, peuaprès la naissance, est souvent pratiquée dans les élevages. Afin d'évaluer les conséquences douloureusespotentielles, nous avons comparé 48 porcelets soumis à la coupe de queue (traitement C) et 50 porceletssoumis à une simulation de coupe de queue (traitementS, séparés de la portée et manipulés) dans les 2jours suivant la naissance (=JO). Nous avons observé leur comportement pendant la procédure et j,usteaprès :vocalisations, posture et mouvements (corps, queue et oreilles). Nous avons ensuite comparé les48 porcelets Cà 48 porcelets laissés dans leur loge sans manipulation depuis la naissance (traitement NCpour« non coupe») par des observations hebdomadaires: posture du corps et de la queue, lésions à laqueue. Les porcelets C vocalisent plus et plus fort pendant la procédure que les S (P < 0.05). Juste aprèsla procédure, leur queue reste plus longtemps immobile (P < 0.05), leurs oreilles bougent plus et sont plusobservées en position perpendiculaire à l'axe de la tête (P < 0.05). La queue est aussi plus souventobservée immobile pendant les observations hebdomadaires (P < 0.05) chez les animaux C que les NC.Cependant, les porcelets NC tendent à avoir plus de lésions à la queue que les porcelets Cà Jll et J18 (P< 0.09) et en ont plus à J25 (P < 0.02). La coupe de queue induit donc des réactions signes de douleur aumoment même et pendant les 4 semaines qui suivent la procédure. Par contre, l'absence de coupe rendles animaux plus vulnérables aux lésions de la queue, probablement dues à des morsures de la part de lafratrie. Des solutions alternatives à cette pratique douloureuse doivent être envisagées

Influence de l’agressivité sur le comportement alimentaire, le développement sexuel et les odeurs sexuelles chez le porc mâle entier

In entire male pigs, social behavior could impact sexual development and feeding behavior. The objectives of the study were to study 1) relationships between aggressiveness and feeding behavior or sexual development; 2) impacts on boar taint; 3) relationships between feeding behavior and sexual development. A total of 216 boars of two different crossbred genotypes were used in the study. They were raised in groups of 12 pigs per pen. Animals were observed for 10 hours per day over two periods of two days: at the beginning and at the end of fattening. Agonistic behaviors (fighting, hitting with the head, biting, threatening, chasing) were counted per boar. Skin lesions (an indicator of aggression) were counted: 48 hours after the start of fattening, in farm before the first departure for slaughtering, and on the carcass. Data obtained from the electronic feeders were used to determine the feeding behavior (the number of meals, their duration and the feed intake) over 96-hour periods. At the end of the fattening period, blood was sampled to measure two sexual hormones (estradiol, testosterone). At slaughter, fat was collected to measure boar taint (androstenone). For one of the genotypes, significant positive correlations were demonstrated between the number of skin lesions at slaughter and sexual hormones and androstenone. These correlations were low if not zero in the other genotype probably because the measured concentrations of sexual hormones were too weak. In both genotypes, significant positive correlations were found between the numbers of sexual behavior and agonistic behavior at the beginning of fattening. Finally, boars with the most numerous skin lesions at the beginning of the fattening period were also the biggest eaters in the middle of the fattening period.Chez le porc mâle entier, le comportement social pourrait influencer le développement sexuel et le comportement alimentaire. Les objectifs de cette étude sont d’étudier 1) les relations entre agressivité et comportement alimentaire ou développement sexuel ; 2) les répercussions sur les odeurs sexuelles ; 3) le lien entre comportement alimentaire et développement sexuel. L’étude porte sur 216 porcs issus de deux types génétiques croisés distincts, élevés en loge collective de 12. Les animaux sont observés 10 heures par jour sur deux périodes de deux jours : à l’entrée et en fin d’engraissement. Les comportements agonistiques (combat, coup de tête, morsure, menace, poursuite) sont dénombrés par individu. Les lésions (indicateur de l’agressivité) sont dénombrées 48 heures après l’entrée en engraissement, en élevage avant les premiers départs à l’abattoir ainsi que sur la carcasse. Les données de distributeurs automatiques de concentré ont été utilisées pour renseigner le comportement alimentaire (le nombre de repas, leur durée et la quantité consommée) sur des périodes de 96 heures. En fin d’engraissement, du sang est prélevé pour mesurer deux hormones sexuelles (oestradiol, testostérone). A l’abattage, du gras est récupéré pour doser les odeurs (androsténone). Dans l’un des deux génotypes, des corrélations significatives positives ont été estimées entre le nombre de lésions à l’abattoir et les hormones sexuelles et l’androsténone. Ces corrélations sont faibles voire nulles dans l’autre génotype probablement parce que les concentrations en hormones sexuelles mesurées sont beaucoup plus faibles. Dans les deux génotypes, il existe des corrélations significatives positives entre les nombres de comportements sexuels et de comportements agonistiques en début d’engraissement. Enfin, les porcs avec le plus de lésions en début d’engraissement sont également les plus gros mangeurs en milieu d’engraissement

Impact of aggressiveness on feeding behaviour, pubertal development and fat androstenone of entire male pigs

International audienceIn boars, social behavior could influence pubertal development and feeding behavior. The objectives of the study were to determine the relationships between aggressiveness, feeding behavior and pubertal development and their influence on fat androstenone. A total of 216 boars of two different crossbred genotypes were used. They were raised in groups of 12 pigs/ pen. Animals were observed for 10 hours/day either at the beginning or at the end of fattening. Agonistic behaviors (fighting, hitting, biting, threatening, chasing) and skin lesions (an indicator of aggressiveness) were counted 48 hours after entering the fattening pen, in their pen before the first departure for slaughtering, and on the carcass. Data obtained from the electronic feeders were used to determine the feeding behavior (number and duration of meals, feed intake) over 96-hour periods. At the end of the fattening period, blood was sampled to measure estradiol and testosterone. At slaughter, fat was collected to measure androstenone. The protocol was approved by the local ethical committee. Prior to statistical analysis, variables were normalized if needed. For each genotype, Pearson correlations were calculated on variables corrected for the pen effect. In one genotype, significant positive correlations (P0.1) in the other genotype probably because the measured concentrations of sex hormones were too low (38.6±3.5 vs 55.1±95 pg/ml for estradiol; and 1.43±0.14 vs 2.86±0.31 ng/ml for testosterone). In both genotypes, significant positive correlations were found between the numbers of sexual and agonistic behaviors at the beginning of fattening (r=0.53 and r=0.28). Finally, boars with the most numerous skin lesions at the beginning of the fattening period were also the biggest eaters in the middle of the fattening period (r=0.41 and r=0.21)