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Chou JY, Marchant JN, Nalon E, Huynh TTT, van de Weerd HA, Boyle LA, Ison SH. Investigating risk factors behind piglet facial and sow teat lesions through a literature review and a survey on teeth reduction. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:909401. [PMID: 36532351 PMCID: PMC9755856 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.909401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Piglet facial and sow teat lesions are the main reported reasons why pig producers routinely practice teeth resection. This is a painful procedure performed on piglets, where their needle teeth are clipped or ground to resect the pointed tip. The practice raises welfare concerns. In contrast to other procedures, such as tail docking, we know little about the risk factors for these two types of lesions. Methods We employed two methods to answer these questions: (1) reviewing the literature to identify potential risk factors, and (2) surveying pig production stakeholders worldwide to identify the occurrence of these lesions and the strategies used in practice that enable pig producers to manage or prevent these lesions while avoiding teeth resection. For the literature review, we used Google Scholar to include peer-reviewed publications and gray literature. We distributed the survey using convenience sampling and documented information on the current situation regarding teeth resection, including the methods, frequencies, and reasons for resecting piglets' teeth, the occurrence of piglet facial and sow teat lesions, and measures used to prevent and control these lesions. Results The literature review identified six major risk factors for both lesions, including the presence or absence of teeth resection, housing system, litter size, piglet management, environmental enrichment, milk production and other piglet management practices. However, most studies focused on the effects of the first two factors with very few studies investigating the other risk factors. There were 75 responses to the survey from 17 countries. The survey showed that half of the respondents practiced teeth resection with many recognizing that facial and teat lesions are the main reasons behind this practice. However, many producers used other interventions rather than teeth resection to prevent these lesions. These interventions focused on improving milk production of the sow, managing large litters, and providing environmental enrichment. Discussion More research is needed to validate these interventions and more science-based advice is needed to bridge the gap between research and practice to help more producers further understand the cause of piglet facial and sow teat lesions to transition toward the cessation of routine teeth resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Yun Chou
- Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, Ireland
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Clinical Studies, Swine Teaching and Research Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jeremy N. Marchant
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | | | - Thuy T. T. Huynh
- Farm Technology, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Laura A. Boyle
- Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, Ireland
| | - Sarah H. Ison
- World Animal Protection International, London, United Kingdom
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Lee VE, Arnott G, Turner SP. Social behavior in farm animals: Applying fundamental theory to improve animal welfare. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:932217. [PMID: 36032304 PMCID: PMC9411962 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.932217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental understanding of behavior is essential to improving the welfare of billions of farm animals around the world. Despite living in an environment managed by humans, farm animals are still capable of making important behavioral decisions that influence welfare. In this review, we focus on social interactions as perhaps the most dynamic and challenging aspects of the lives of farm animals. Social stress is a leading welfare concern in livestock, and substantial variation in social behavior is seen at the individual and group level. Here, we consider how a fundamental understanding of social behavior can be used to: (i) understand agonistic and affiliative interactions in farm animals; (ii) identify how artificial environments influence social behavior and impact welfare; and (iii) provide insights into the mechanisms and development of social behavior. We conclude by highlighting opportunities to build on previous work and suggest potential fundamental hypotheses of applied relevance. Key areas for further research could include identifying the welfare benefits of socio–positive interactions, the potential impacts of disrupting important social bonds, and the role of skill in allowing farm animals to navigate competitive and positive social interactions. Such studies should provide insights to improve the welfare of farm animals, while also being applicable to other contexts, such as zoos and laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E. Lee
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Victoria E. Lee
| | - Gareth Arnott
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P. Turner
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Goumon S, Illmann G, Moustsen VA, Baxter EM, Edwards SA. Review of Temporary Crating of Farrowing and Lactating Sows. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:811810. [PMID: 35372543 PMCID: PMC8969568 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.811810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporary crating (TC) provides lactating sows with the opportunity to move more freely after crate opening a few days after parturition. The aim of this paper was to evaluate whether TC gives overall welfare improvement when compared to permanent crating or free farrowing. This review shows that when pens with TC allow the sows to turn during the majority of time in the farrowing unit, it is the pen design and period of confinement in a crate within it that influence the extent to which different functional and motivated behaviors can be fulfilled. This review also indicates that there are at least short-term benefits to sows when confinement is reduced, as shown by reported increases in motivated behaviors such as exploration and interactions with piglets when not permanently crated. It remains unclear whether there are any longer-term beneficial effects (until or beyond weaning) due to the paucity of studies. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether the observed short-term benefits translate to other welfare indicators. Research findings indicate no reduction in the frequency of stereotypies or body lesions and do not provide a clear answer regarding sow stress response when released from confinement. Compared to free farrowing, TC appears beneficial for reducing piglet mortality. The impact of the time of onset of TC on the farrowing process and piglet mortality have been inconsistent. While confinement before farrowing prevents nest building behavior, consequences of this for sow physiology have been ambiguous. Confining the sow briefly after farrowing may be the best compromise, allowing the sow to perform motivated nest-building behavior, but the risks of crushing during the unconfined farrowing period may increase. Subsequent crate reopening seems to increase piglet mortality but only if done earlier than 3–5 days after farrowing. The review also provides methodological considerations, a proposal for consistent and accurate terminology when describing systems and highlights gaps of knowledge. In conclusion, TC is a step forward to better pig welfare compared to the farrowing crate, as it allows some freedom of movement for sows without impairing piglet welfare. However, more comprehensive research is needed to draw sound conclusions as to whether TC is a viable transition from permanent crating to free farrowing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Goumon
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Sébastien Goumon
| | - Gudrun Illmann
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czechia
- Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Emma M. Baxter
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra A. Edwards
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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4
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Allonursing in Wild and Farm Animals: Biological and Physiological Foundations and Explanatory Hypotheses. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113092. [PMID: 34827824 PMCID: PMC8614478 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The dams of gregarious animals must develop a close bond with their newborns to provide them with maternal care, including protection against predators, immunological transference, and nutrition. Even though lactation demands high energy expenditures, behaviors known as allonursing (the nursing of non-descendant infants) and allosuckling (suckling from any female other than the mother) have been reported in various species of wild or domestic, and terrestrial or aquatic animals. These behaviors seem to be elements of a multifactorial strategy, since reports suggest that they depend on the following: species, living conditions, social stability, and kinship relations, among other group factors. Despite their potential benefits, allonursing and allosuckling can place the health and welfare of both non-filial dams and alien offspring at risk, as it augments the probability of pathogen transmission. This review aims to analyze the biological and physiological foundations and bioenergetic costs of these behaviors, analyzing the individual and collective advantages and disadvantages for the dams' own offspring(s) and alien neonate(s). We also include information on the animal species in which these behaviors occur and their implications on animal welfare.
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Spießberger M, Hoelzl F, Smith S, Vetter S, Ruf T, Nowack J. The tarnished silver spoon? Trade-off between prenatal growth and telomere length in wild boar. J Evol Biol 2021; 35:81-90. [PMID: 34687577 PMCID: PMC9298079 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Life-history theory predicts a trade-off between growth rates and lifespan, which is reflected by telomere length, a biomarker of somatic state. We investigated the correlation between telomere length and early-life growth of wild boar piglets, Sus scrofa, kept under semi-natural conditions with high food availability to examine our hypothesis that increased pre- and postnatal growth will lead to telomere length attrition, but that a high supply of nutrient may provide the possibility to compensate telomere loss via telomere repair mechanisms. As predicted, our data showed a clear negative correlation between birth body mass and initial telomere length: heavier neonates had shorter telomeres at birth, and we did not find an influence of the mother on initial telomere length. Body mass at birth correlated with body mass later in life and postnatal growth rate did not affect telomere length. We observed an increase in telomere length during postnatal development, suggesting that high food availability allowed piglets to invest into both, growth and telomere restoration. The increase in telomere length over the duration of the study was not accompanied by telomerase activity; thus, telomere elongation was caused either by alternative mechanisms or by short pulses of telomerase activity that we missed. Taken together, this study suggests a trade-off between investment into growth and telomere maintenance even before birth and the possibility to compensate telomere attrition during growth under high amounts of available energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Spießberger
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Hoelzl
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Steve Smith
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Vetter
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Ruf
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Nowack
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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Rödel HG, Oppelt C, Starkloff A, Prager N, Long E, Rüdiger AT, Seltmann MW, Monclús R, Hudson R, Poteaux C. Within-litter covariance of allele-specific MHC heterozygosity, coccidian endoparasite load and growth is modulated by sibling differences in starting mass. Oecologia 2020; 194:345-357. [PMID: 32980896 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04764-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Although littermates in altricial mammals usually experience highly similar environmental conditions during early life, considerable differences in growth and health can emerge among them. In a study on subadults of a European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population with low MHC polymorphism, we tested whether litter-sibling differences in endoparasitic coccidia load and body mass at the end of the vegetation period were associated with within-litter differences in starting body mass (measured around 2 weeks prior to weaning) and in immune-genetic (MHC class II DRB) constitution. We hypothesized that siblings with a lighter starting mass might be more susceptible to endoparasite infections and thus, negative effects of a more unfavourable MHC constitution might be particularly pronounced in such individuals. Within-litter comparisons revealed that animals with a lighter starting mass reached a relatively lower body mass in autumn. Furthermore, there were indications for an allele-specific heterozygote advantage, as animals with heterozygous combinations of the allele Orcu-DRB*4 had relatively lower hepatic coccidia loads than their littermates with certain homozygous allele combinations. Consistent with our hypothesis, significantly higher hepatic coccidia loads and tendentially lower autumn body masses in homozygous compared to heterozygous individuals for the allele Orcu-DRB*4 were evident in initially lighter but not in heavier siblings, suggesting synergistic effects between an unfavourable MHC constitution and a light starting mass. Taken together, these effects might lead to notable differences in fitness among litter siblings, as a low body mass and a high endoparasite burden are key factors limiting young rabbits' survival during winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko G Rödel
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France. .,Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
| | - Claus Oppelt
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Anett Starkloff
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Nelly Prager
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Emilie Long
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Anna-Theresa Rüdiger
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Martin W Seltmann
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Raquel Monclús
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Chantal Poteaux
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
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Andersson E, Frössling J, Westin R, Algers B, Gunnarsson S. Associations between litter size and medical treatment of sows during farrowing and lactation. ACTA AGR SCAND A-AN 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2020.1779800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Andersson
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Skara, Sweden
| | - J. Frössling
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - R. Westin
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Skara, Sweden
- Farm and Animal Health Service, Uddetorp Röda Huset, Skara, Sweden
| | - B. Algers
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Skara, Sweden
| | - S. Gunnarsson
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Skara, Sweden
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Bugenyi AW, Cho HS, Heo J. Association between oropharyngeal microbiome and weight gain in piglets during pre and post weaning life. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2020; 62:247-262. [PMID: 32292932 PMCID: PMC7142290 DOI: 10.5187/jast.2020.62.2.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Birth weight and subsequent weight gain is of critical importance in the survival and performance of piglets on a commercial swine farm setting. Oropharyngeal microbiome could influence immunity, and feeding behavior thus impacting health and weight gain. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to profile the composition and predicted metabolic functionality of the oropharyngeal microbiota in 8 piglets (4 with a birthweight ≤ 1.0 kg and 4 with a birthweight ≥ 1.7 kg) at 11, 26, and 63 days of age. We found 9 genera that were significantly associated with average daily gain (ADG) at 11 days (false discovery rate, FDR < 0.05) and 26 days of age (FDR < 0.1), respectively. The microbial functional profile revealed several pathways associated with ADG (FDR < 0.05). Among these, pathways related to degradation of catechols showed a positive association with ADG at 11, 26, and 63 days of age, implying a potential to breakdown the host-derived catecholamines. We also noted that pathways related to the biodegradation of nucleosides and nucleotides increased with ADG during the pre-weaning phase, while those involved in their biosynthesis decreased. Our findings provide insights into the oropharyngeal microbial memberships and metabolic pathways that are involved in a piglet's weight gain. Thus, providing a basis for the development of strategies aimed at improving weight gain in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Wange Bugenyi
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Ho-Seong Cho
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54596, Korea
| | - Jaeyoung Heo
- International Agricultural Development and Cooperation Center, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
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Equipping Farrowing Pens with Straw Improves Maternal Behavior and Physiology of Min-Pig Hybrid Sows. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10010105. [PMID: 31936338 PMCID: PMC7022457 DOI: 10.3390/ani10010105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This study used different sow breeds combined with an enriched environment to relieve stress and to improve the welfare level of sows. Both groups of sows were in loose-housed pens. Sows living in a barren environment (BE) without straw were compared with sows in farrowing crates that received 3.5 kg of straw daily (enriched environment (EE)). Compared with BE sows, EE sows showed more nest-building behavior prior to farrowing, more nursing behavior, and less ventral recumbency behavior during the first three days postpartum. Furthermore, compared with BE sows, EE sows tended to have higher concentrations of serum oxytocin and prolactin, while the concentration of cortisol was lower, suggesting an increase in maternal behavior and a reduction of stress in this group. In addition, the concentration of oxytocin and both the frequency and duration of prepartum nest-building behavior were higher in Duroc × Min and Landrace × Min sows compared with Landrace × Yorkshire sows. However, the concentration of prolactin was significantly lower in both Duroc × Min and Landrace × Min sows than in Landrace × Yorkshire sows, indicating that hybrid sows of Min-pig inherited good maternal characteristics. Based on these results, straw enrichment improved Min-pig hybrid sow welfare during farrowing and lactation. Abstract This study investigated the effects of two factors, enriched environment (EE) and different crossbreeds, on the maternal behavior and physiology of Min-pig hybrid sows. The analysis was performed on a total of 72 multiparous sows, including Duroc × Min pig (DM), Landrace × Min pig (LM), and Landrace × Yorkshire (LY) sows, using a total of 24 sows per cross. The sows were housed in two different farrowing pens, one with straw (EE) and one without straw (barren environment (BE)). The results showed that nest-building behavior, including the frequency, total duration, and bout duration, was significantly higher in EE sows than in BE sows (p < 0.01). The frequency and duration of prepartum nest-building behavior were higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.0001). During the first three days postpartum, EE sows spent a shorter time in ventral recumbency compared with BE sows (p < 0.05). The oxytocin (p < 0.05) and prolactin (p < 0.01) concentrations of EE sows were significantly higher than in BE sows; however, the concentration of cortisol followed the opposite (p < 0.01). The concentration of oxytocin was significantly higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.01). In conclusion, both EE increased the expression of hormones related to parental behaviors and prenatal nesting and nursing behavior of sows. Furthermore, an EE can also reduce stress in sows. Min-pig hybrids may inherit highly advantageous characteristics of maternal behavior of Min-pig sows.
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Skok J, Prevolnik Povše M. In polytocous mammals, weakling neonates, but not their stronger littermates, benefit from specialized foraging. Curr Zool 2019; 65:675-683. [PMID: 31857814 PMCID: PMC6911854 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adjusting foraging strategies is a common phenomenon within groups of animals competing for the same resource. In polytocous mammals, neonates concurrently compete for limited milk and alternate between two foraging (suckling) strategies: adaptable exploratory foraging with random sampling of teats, and ordered foraging with a tendency towards exploiting a particular suckling position. Some theoretical (game theory) models have shown that weaker siblings in particular benefit from foraging specialization (suckling order). Neonate piglets establish a well-defined suckling order that develops gradually and fluctuates throughout the lactation period, implying the existence of inter-individual differences in foraging strategies. We therefore analyzed suckling behavior in pigs to determine whether one foraging strategy was more beneficial to neonates in terms of their body weight and foraging environment. We found that intermediate and heavy littermates tended to adjust their suckling strategy according to the foraging environment; however, the selected foraging strategy did not affect their overall growth performance. Lighter individuals that consumed significantly less milk did not greatly alternate their foraging strategy according to the foraging environment, but their growth rate was significantly higher whenever they performed less-exploratory foraging behavior. Although suckling order appeared to be a relatively stable behavioral phenotype, it was beneficial exclusively for weaklings. These results confirm theoretical predictions and indicate that specializing in a suckling position is a beneficial strategy for weaker, light neonates. These findings suggest that physically weaker neonates might have driven the evolution of neonatal foraging specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janko Skok
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, 2311 Hoče, Slovenia
| | - Maja Prevolnik Povše
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, 2311 Hoče, Slovenia
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11
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Son DH, Hwang NH, Chung WH, Seong HS, Lim H, Cho ES, Choi JW, Kang KS, Kim YM. Whole-genome resequencing analysis of 20 Micro-pigs. Genes Genomics 2019; 42:263-272. [PMID: 31833050 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-019-00891-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Miniature pigs have been increasingly used as mammalian model animals for biomedical research because of their similarity to human beings in terms of their metabolic features and proportional organ sizes. However, despite their importance, there is a severe lack of genome-wide studies on miniature pigs. OBJECTIVE In this study, we performed whole-genome sequencing analysis of 20 Micro-pigs obtained from Medi Kinetics to elucidate their genomic characteristics. RESULTS Approximately 595 gigabase pairs (Gb) of sequence reads were generated to be mapped to the swine reference genome assembly (Sus scrofa 10.2); on average, the sequence reads covered 99.15% of the reference genome at an average of 9.6-fold coverage. We detected a total of 19,518,548 SNPs, of which 8.7% were found to be novel. With further annotation of all of the SNPs, we retrieved 144,507 nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs); of these, 5968 were found in all 20 individuals used in this study. SIFT prediction for these SNPs identified that 812 nsSNPs in 402 genes were deleterious. Among these 402 genes, we identified some genes that could potentially affect traits of interest in Micro-pigs, such as RHEB and FRAS1. Furthermore, we performed runs of homozygosity analysis to locate potential selection signatures in the genome, detecting several loci that might be involved in phenotypic characteristics in Micro-pigs, such as MSTN, GDF5, and GDF11. CONCLUSION In this study, we identified numerous nsSNPs that could be used as candidate genetic markers with involvement in traits of interest. Furthermore, we detected putative selection footprints that might be associated with recent selection applied to miniature pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Hye Son
- College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Hyun Hwang
- College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Hyong Chung
- Research Division of Food Functionality, Research Group of Healthcare, 245, Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Iseo-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Seung Seong
- College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungbum Lim
- Medikinetics Co., Ltd, 4 Hansan-gil, Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17792, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Seok Cho
- Division of Swine Science, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheonan, 31000, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Woo Choi
- College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyung-Soo Kang
- Medikinetics Co., Ltd, 4 Hansan-gil, Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong-Min Kim
- Division of Swine Science, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheonan, 31000, Republic of Korea.
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Sow-Piglet Nose Contacts in Free-Farrowing Pens. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9080513. [PMID: 31370345 PMCID: PMC6720435 DOI: 10.3390/ani9080513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nose contact is a frequent form of social behaviour in pigs, but the motivational reasons underlying this behaviour remain unclear. We investigated the frequency, direction and type of sow-piglet nosing behaviour and its association with sow and piglet traits. Social nosing behaviour was recorded by live observations and video recordings in 22 sows and their 249 piglets in free-farrowing pens once weekly during the first three weeks after farrowing (3 times 30 min of observations per litter). Piglet-to-sow nosing occurred on average 32.8 ± 2.35 times per 30 min per litter. Heavier piglets at one week of age nosed the sow more than lighter piglets (P = 0.01). Piglet-to-sow nosing was unrelated to the piglet's sex or teat order. Sow-to-piglet nosing occurred on average 3.6 ± 0.53 times per 30 min, and this was unrelated to litter size. Primiparous sows nosed their piglets more in the second week after farrowing. Litters in which piglet-to-sow nosing occurred more showed less variation in the expression of this behaviour across the weeks. Social nosing between sow and piglets deserves further research to understand the positive implications of this behaviour for sow and piglet welfare.
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Aigueperse N, Houdelier C, Nicolle C, Lumineau S. Mother-chick interactions are affected by chicks' sex and brood composition in Japanese quail. Dev Psychobiol 2019; 61:832-842. [PMID: 30895607 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Sex is a trait which leads mothers to invest asymmetrically in their young, especially in species with a strong dimorphism. Authors usually consider that members of the largest sex require the most investment by mothers. In other cases, mothers care preferentially for members of the sex that increase their fitness, e.g. males, in numerous species. In quail, a precocial bird, mother seems to take more care of their males which are more sensitive to their separation. This study investigates the influence of chicks' sex and brood's sexual composition on the maternal behavior of quail. We evaluated three batches of mothers, composed of (a) unisex broods of males (MM), (b) unisex broods of females (FF), and (c) mixed sex broods (Mx). We recorded mother-chick interactions during 11 days of mothering. We found that MM mothers spent more time warming their chicks and FF mothers were more active. Moreover, females rejected more aggressively and earlier their female chicks than their male chicks. Finally, Mx chicks, whatever their sex, interacted more with their mothers. Our results highlight a greater quantity and quality of maternal care towards male. Mothers invest more in male chicks. We discussed results in terms of each sex's needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadège Aigueperse
- Ethos (Ethologie animale et humaine), Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Cécilia Houdelier
- Ethos (Ethologie animale et humaine), Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Céline Nicolle
- Ethos (Ethologie animale et humaine), Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Sophie Lumineau
- Ethos (Ethologie animale et humaine), Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, Rennes, France
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14
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Nurse sow strategies in the domestic pig: I. Consequences for selected measures of sow welfare. Animal 2018; 13:580-589. [PMID: 29986790 DOI: 10.1017/s175173111800160x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Management strategies are needed to optimise the number of piglets weaned from hyper-prolific sows. Nurse sow strategies involve transferring supernumerary new-born piglets onto a sow whose own piglets are either weaned or fostered onto another sow. Such 'nurse sows' have extended lactations spent in farrowing crates, which could have negative implications for their welfare. This study used 47 sows, 20 of which farrowed large litters and had their biggest piglets fostered onto nurse sows which were either 1 week (2STEP7, n=9) or 3 weeks into lactation (1STEP21, n=10). Sows from which piglets were removed (R) were either left with the remainder of the litter intact (I) (remain intact (RI) sows, n=10), or had their litters equalised (E) for birth weight using piglets of the same age from non-experimental sows (remain equalised (RE) sows, n=9). Piglets from 2STEP7 were fostered onto another nurse sow which was 3 weeks into lactation (2STEP21, n=9). Back-fat thickness was measured at entry to the farrowing house, at fostering (nurse sows only) and weaning. Sows were scored for ease of locomotion and skin and claw lesions at entry to the farrowing house and weaning. Salivary cortisol samples were collected and tear staining was scored at 0900 h weekly from entry until weaning. Saliva samples were also taken at fostering. Data were analysed using GLMs with appropriate random and repeated factors, or non-parametric tests were applied where appropriate. Back-fat thickness decreased between entry and weaning for all sows (F 1,42=26.59, P<0.001) and tended to differ between treatments (F 4,16=2.91; P=0.06). At weaning RI sows had lower limb lesion scores than 2STEP7 and RE sows (χ 2 4=10.8, P0.05) and all nurse sows had a higher salivary cortisol concentration at fostering, compared with the other days (F 10,426=3.47; P<0.05). Acute effects of fostering differed between nurse sow treatments (F 2,113=3.45, P0.05). In conclusion, no difference was detected between nurse sows and non-nurse sows in body condition or severity of lesions. Although some nurse sows experienced stress at fostering, no long-term effect of the nurse sow strategies was detected on stress levels compared with sows that raised their own litter.
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15
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Gamelon M, Gayet T, Baubet E, Devillard S, Say L, Brandt S, Pélabon C, Sæther BE. Does multiple paternity explain phenotypic variation among offspring in wild boar? Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marlène Gamelon
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Thibault Gayet
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Villeurbanne, France
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Châteauvillain, France
| | - Eric Baubet
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Châteauvillain, France
| | - Sébastien Devillard
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Ludovic Say
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Serge Brandt
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Châteauvillain, France
| | - Christophe Pélabon
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bernt-Erik Sæther
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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16
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17
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Cram DL, Monaghan P, Gillespie R, Clutton-Brock T. Effects of early-life competition and maternal nutrition on telomere lengths in wild meerkats. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.1383. [PMID: 28855370 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity can affect health, survival and fitness later in life, and recent evidence suggests that telomere attrition may link early conditions with their delayed consequences. Here, we investigate the link between early-life competition and telomere length in wild meerkats. Our results show that, when multiple females breed concurrently, increases in the number of pups in the group are associated with shorter telomeres in pups. Given that pups from different litters compete for access to milk, we tested whether this effect is due to nutritional constraints on maternal milk production, by experimentally supplementing females' diets during gestation and lactation. While control pups facing high competition had shorter telomeres, the negative effects of pup number on telomere lengths were absent when maternal nutrition was experimentally improved. Shortened pup telomeres were associated with reduced survival to adulthood, suggesting that early-life competition for nutrition has detrimental fitness consequences that are reflected in telomere lengths. Dominant females commonly kill pups born to subordinates, thereby reducing competition and increasing growth rates of their own pups. Our work suggests that an additional benefit of infanticide may be that it also reduces telomere shortening caused by competition for resources, with associated benefits for offspring ageing profiles and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic L Cram
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK .,Kalahari Meerkat Project, Kuruman River Reserve, PO Box 64, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape 8467, South Africa
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Robert Gillespie
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Tim Clutton-Brock
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.,Kalahari Meerkat Project, Kuruman River Reserve, PO Box 64, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape 8467, South Africa
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18
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Huting AMS, Almond K, Wellock I, Kyriazakis I. What is good for small piglets might not be good for big piglets: The consequences of cross-fostering and creep feed provision on performance to slaughter. J Anim Sci 2017; 95:4926-4944. [PMID: 29293727 PMCID: PMC6292320 DOI: 10.2527/jas2017.1889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Major improvements in sow prolificacy have resulted in larger litters but, at the same time, increased the proportion of piglets born light weight. Different management strategies aim to enhance the performance of, and limit light-weight piglet contribution to, BW variation within a batch; however, consequences on heavy-weight littermates are often neglected. This study investigated the effects of different litter compositions, created through cross-fostering, and the provision of creep feed on preweaning behavior and short- and long-term performance of piglets born either light weight (≤1.25 kg) or heavy weight (1.50-2.00 kg). Piglets were cross-fostered at birth to create litters with only similar-sized piglets (light weight or heavy weight; UNIFORM litters) and litters with equal numbers of light-weight and heavy-weight piglets (MIXED litters); half of the litters were offered creep feed and the remaining were not. Piglet behavior during a suckling bout and at the creep feeder was assessed; a green dye was used to discern between consumers and nonconsumers of creep feed. The interaction between litter composition and birth weight (BiW) class influenced piglet BW at weaning ( < 0.001): piglets born light weight were lighter at weaning in MIXED litters than those in UNIFORM litters (6.93 vs. 7.37 kg); however, piglets born heavy weight performed considerably better in MIXED litters (8.93 vs. 7.96 kg). Total litter gain to weaning was not affected ( = 0.565) by litter composition. Teat position affected heavy-weight piglet performance by d 10 ( < 0.001), with heavy-weight piglets in UNIFORM litters being disadvantaged when suckling the middle and posterior teats. Creep feed provision did not affect BW at weaning ( > 0.05) for either BiW class. However, litter composition significantly affected daily creep feed consumption ( = 0.046) and fecal color ( = 0.022), with heavy-weight piglets in UNIFORM litters consuming the highest amount of creep feed and having the greenest feces. In addition, a lower number of heavy-weight piglets in UNIFORM litters were classified as nonconsumers ( = 0.002). The weight advantage heavy-weight and light-weight piglets had at weaning when reared in MIXED and UNIFORM litters, respectively, was sustained throughout the productive period. In conclusion, reducing BW variation within litter (UNIFORM litters) was beneficial for piglets born light weight but not for piglets born heavy weight; the latter were disadvantaged up to slaughter. Although heavy-weight piglets in UNIFORM litters consumed the greatest amount of creep feed, this was not able to overcome their growth disadvantage compared with heavy-weight piglets in MIXED litters.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. M. S. Huting
- Agriculture, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - K. Almond
- Primary Diets, AB Agri Ltd., Melmerby, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5HP, UK
| | - I. Wellock
- Primary Diets, AB Agri Ltd., Melmerby, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5HP, UK
| | - I. Kyriazakis
- Agriculture, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
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19
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Trade-offs between litter size and offspring fitness in domestic pigs subjected to different genetic selection pressures. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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20
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Feeding upon and preserving a carcass: the function of prehatch parental care in a burying beetle. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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21
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Canario L, Lundeheim N, Bijma P. The early-life environment of a pig shapes the phenotypes of its social partners in adulthood. Heredity (Edinb) 2017; 118:534-541. [PMID: 28327581 PMCID: PMC5436026 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2017.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interactions among individuals are abundant, both in natural and domestic populations, and may affect phenotypes of individuals. Recent research has demonstrated that the social effect of an individual on the phenotype of its social partners may have a genetic component, known as an indirect genetic effect (IGE). Little is known, however, of nongenetic factors underlying such social effects. Early-life environments often have large effects on phenotypes of the individuals themselves later in life. Offspring development in many mammalian species, for example, depends on interactions with the mother and siblings. In domestic pigs, individuals sharing the same juvenile environment develop similar body weight later in life. We, therefore, hypothesized that offspring originating from the same early-life environment also develop common social skills that generate early-life social effects (ELSEs) that affect the phenotypes of their social partners later in life. We, therefore, quantified IGEs and ELSEs on growth in domestic pigs. Results show that individuals from the same early-life environment express similar social effects on the growth of their social partners, and that such ELSEs shape the growth rate of social partners more than IGEs. Thus, the social skills that individuals develop in early life have a long-lasting impact on the phenotypes of social partners. Early-life and genetic social effects were independent of the corresponding direct effects of offspring on their own growth, indicating that individuals may enhance the growth of their social partners without a personal cost. Our findings also illustrate how research devoted to quantifying IGEs may miss nongenetic and potentially confounded social mechanisms which may bias the estimates of IGEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Canario
- Department of Animal Genetics, INRA French National Institute for Agricultural Research, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - N Lundeheim
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - P Bijma
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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22
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Ocepek M, Andersen-Ranberg I, Edwards SA, Fredriksen B, Framstad T, Andersen IL. Can a super sow be a robust sow? Consequences of litter investment in purebred and crossbred sows of different parities. J Anim Sci 2017; 94:3550-3560. [PMID: 27695774 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016-0386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this project was to study the consequences of litter investment on physical characteristics in primiparous and multiparous sows in 3 Norwegian breeds (Norsvin Duroc [ = 12], Norsvin Landrace [ = 12], and crossbreeds [Norsvin Landrace and Swedish Yorkshire { = 15}]). We predicted that the maternal sow line (Norsvin Landrace) would invest more in their litter in term of higher weight at birth, resulting in a higher litter weight of weaned piglets but with the consequence of greater loss in body condition and a higher prevalence of shoulder lesions. It was predicted that this should be more pronounced in primiparous sows than in multiparous sows. As predicted, the maternal pure line (Norsvin Landrace) had higher litter investment in terms of litter weight at birth ( = 0.003) and litter weight at weaning ( = 0.050) as well as higher total litter investment (litter weight at weaning plus weight of dead piglets [stillborn and mummified piglets and weight of piglets that died after farrowing but before weaning]; = 0.050) and suffered larger losses of body condition ( = 0.016) and had a higher prevalence of shoulder lesions ( = 0.008) during lactation than other breeds. Moreover, only in Norsvin Landrace was development of shoulder lesions related to inadequate feed consumption ( = 0.006). This has become a major welfare concern of modern pig breeding. Although primiparous and multiparous sows had similar litter sizes, primiparous sows had lower litter investment in terms of litter weight at birth ( = 0.032) and litter weight at weaning ( = 0.007) as well as total litter investment ( = 0.008). Primiparous sows suffered greater losses in body condition ( = 0.012) and developed more shoulder lesions ( = 0.026) due to lower total feed consumption ( < 0.001) during lactation than multiparous sows. Especially in the highly productive maternal line (Norsvin Landrace), development of shoulder lesions during the lactation period was more pronounced in primiparous sows than in multiparous sows ( < 0.001). The selection program has shifted the balance to greater investments in earlier life, when sows still need resources for their own growth and development. This has resulted in a larger number of weaned piglets but at a higher sow welfare cost in terms of higher losses in body condition and a higher prevalence of shoulder lesions. Our results pinpoint the importance of improving the balance between economic traits and traits that improve welfare and longevity of the sows.
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23
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Gerlinskaya LA, Maslennikova SO, Anisimova MV, Feofanova NA, Zavjalov EL, Kontsevaya GV, Moshkin YM, Moshkin MP. Modulation of embryonic development due to mating with immunised males. Reprod Fertil Dev 2017; 29:565-574. [DOI: 10.1071/rd15173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The modification of pre- and postnatal development conferred by immunogenic stimulation of mothers provides a population-level adaptation mechanism for non-genetic transfer of maternal experiences to progeny. However little is known about the transmission of paternal immune experiences to offspring. Here, we show that immune priming of males 3–9 days before mating affects the growth and humoral environment of developing embryos of outbred (ICR) and inbred (C57BL and BALB/c) mice. Antigenic stimulation of fathers caused a significant increase in embryonic bodyweight as measured on Day 16 of pregnancy and altered other gestation parameters, such as feto–placental ratio. Pregnant females mated with immunised males were also characterised by changes in humoral conditions as shown by measurements of blood and amniotic progesterone, testosterone and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cytokine concentrations. These results emphasise the role of paternal effects of immune priming on the in utero environment and fetal growth.
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24
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Being a weakling and surviving: Keep the fittest siblings close-by when eating. Behav Processes 2016; 133:12-14. [PMID: 27793750 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Weaklings serve as a buffer, allowing an increase in the overall prospect of offspring survival. Whereas birds are able to directly determine which offspring to invest in via selective feeding, multiparous mammals have fewer methods of excluding weaklings from milk provision. In pigs the maternal investment strategy is based on the vigorousness of the progeny, whereby weaklings can suffer hunger due to an inability to sufficiently stimulate the mammary gland. However, the vigorous massage might stimulate higher milk production in the surrounding glands and it is possible that a weakling's survivability is conditioned also by suckling at a position adjacent to heaviest littermate. Results of the present study have confirmed this prediction, showing that the surviving weaklings tended to have the heaviest littermates as nearest neighbours during suckling. It appears, therefore, that weaklings which establish a type of commensal, rather than competitive, relationship with strongest siblings might increase their survivability.
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25
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Hofer H, Benhaiem S, Golla W, East ML. Trade-offs in lactation and milk intake by competing siblings in a fluctuating environment. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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26
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Ocepek M, Andersen-Ranberg I, Edwards SA, Andersen IL. Udder characteristics of importance for teat use in purebred and crossbred pigs1. J Anim Sci 2016; 94:780-8. [PMID: 27065148 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-9420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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27
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Balzani A, Cordell HJ, Sutcliffe E, Edwards SA. Sources of variation in udder morphology of sows1. J Anim Sci 2016; 94:394-400. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-9451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. Balzani
- School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle on Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - H. J. Cordell
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle on Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - E. Sutcliffe
- ACMC Ltd., Upton House, Beeford, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO258AF, UK
| | - S. A. Edwards
- School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle on Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
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28
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Nitrous oxide as a humane method for piglet euthanasia: Behavior and electroencephalography (EEG). Physiol Behav 2015; 151:29-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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29
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Contribution of within-litter interactions to individual differences in early postnatal growth in the domestic rabbit. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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30
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Furness AI, Morrison KR, Orr TJ, Arendt JD, Reznick DN. Reproductive mode and the shifting arenas of evolutionary conflict. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2015; 1360:75-100. [PMID: 26284738 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In sexually reproducing organisms, the genetic interests of individuals are not perfectly aligned. Conflicts among family members are prevalent since interactions involve the transfer of limited resources between interdependent players. Intrafamilial conflict has traditionally been considered along three major axes: between the sexes, between parents and offspring, and between siblings. In these interactions, conflict is expected over traits in which the resulting phenotypic value is determined by multiple family members who have only partially overlapping fitness optima. We focus on four major categories of animal reproductive mode (broadcast spawning, egg laying, live bearing, and live bearing with matrotrophy) and identify the shared phenotypes or traits over which conflict is expected, and then review the empirical literature for evidence of their occurrence. Major transitions among reproductive mode, such as a shift from external to internal fertilization, an increase in egg-retention time, modifications of embryos and mothers for nutrient transfer, the evolution of postnatal parental care, and increased interaction with the kin network, mark key shifts that both change and expand the arenas in which conflict is played out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew I Furness
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Keenan R Morrison
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Teri J Orr
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California.,Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Jeff D Arendt
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - David N Reznick
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California
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31
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Intrauterine position as a predictor of postnatal growth and survival in the rabbit. Physiol Behav 2015; 138:101-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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32
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Klemme I, Ala-Honkola O. Relatedness Does not Affect Competitive Behavior of Rival Males or Offspring Growth in Multiply Sired Litters of Bank Voles (Myodes glareolus). Ethology 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Klemme
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science; University of Jyväskylä; Jyväskylä Finland
| | - Outi Ala-Honkola
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science; University of Jyväskylä; Jyväskylä Finland
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33
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad Universitaria; Mexico City DF Mexico
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34
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Affiliation(s)
- Janko Skok
- Department of Animal Science; Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences; University of Maribor; Hoče Slovenia
| | - Dejan Škorjanc
- Department of Animal Science; Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences; University of Maribor; Hoče Slovenia
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35
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Melišová M, Illmann G, Chaloupková H, Bozděchová B. Sow postural changes, responsiveness to piglet screams, and their impact on piglet mortality in pens and crates. J Anim Sci 2014; 92:3064-72. [PMID: 24778328 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2013-7340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Free farrowing pens (pens) improve the welfare of sows but may increase sow activity and negatively influence piglet production. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pens and crates on sow postural changes, piglet trapping, sow responses to piglet screams, piglet mortality, and piglet BW gain. It was predicted that provision of greater space (in pens) would increase not only the frequency of sow postural changes and the probability of trappisng but also sow responses to the screams of piglets; thus, the outcome would be no differences in fatal piglet crushing or overall mortality between the housing systems. Sows were randomly moved to either a farrowing pen (n = 20) or farrowing crate (n = 18). Sow behavior was recorded and analyzed for 72 h from the birth of the first piglet (BFP). Sow postural changes included rolling from a ventral to lateral position and vice versa and going from standing to sitting, standing to lying, and sitting to lying. Occurrences of piglet trapping and sow responsiveness to real crushing situations were analyzed. Sow responsiveness was assessed in response to audio playbacks (PB) of piglet screams on d 3 postpartum (48 to 72 h after BFP; PB crush calls) and real piglet crushing during the first 72 h after BFP (real crush calls). Piglet BW gain was estimated 24 h after BFP, piglet BW was recorded at weaning, and piglet crushing and piglet mortality were recorded during the 72 h after BFP. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED and PROC GENMOD of SAS. Sows in pens showed more postural changes (P = 0.04) and tended to have greater incidences of piglet trapping (P = 0.07) than those in crates. Sow response to PB crush calls was greater in pens (P = 0.04) but did not differ for real crush calls between pens and crates (P = 0.62). There was no effect on the probability of piglet crushing (P = 0.38) and mortality (P = 0.41) during the 72 h after BFP nor in piglet mortality at weaning (P = 0.81) between pens and crates. Piglet BW gain at 24 h after BFP (P = 0.01) and piglet BW at weaning (P = 0.02) were greater in pens. Sows in pens showed more postural changes and tended to trap more piglets; however, the response to real crush calls did not differ between the two housing systems. Despite this, there was no increase in piglet crushing or mortality in pens, which might be influenced by the better piglet body condition observed in pens, which in turn could influence their ability to avoid crushing by the sow.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Melišová
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague- Uhříněves, Czech Republic, 104 00
| | - G Illmann
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague- Uhříněves, Czech Republic, 104 00
| | - H Chaloupková
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague- Uhříněves, Czech Republic, 104 00
| | - B Bozděchová
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague- Uhříněves, Czech Republic, 104 00
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Douglas SL, Edwards SA, Kyriazakis I. Management strategies to improve the performance of low birth weight pigs to weaning and their long-term consequences. J Anim Sci 2014; 92:2280-8. [PMID: 24671578 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2013-7388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Performance of pigs from birth to slaughter is a result of a complex interaction of factors, with the early stages of a pig's life likely to affect lifetime performance. During the preweaning stage, piglets are reliant on the sow for nutrition, and sibling competition is likely to affect growth, in particular for low birth weight (LBiW) piglets. The objective of the experiment was to determine the effect of litter composition (littermate weight) and milk supplementation during lactation on the performance of LBiW pigs to weaning and the long-term consequences of treatment to slaughter. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial with littermate weight (normal or LBiW) and provision of supplementary milk from d 1 to 28 (yes or no) as factors. A total of 265 piglets were selected within 24 h of birth and cross-fostered to create 2 litter types (LOW = LBiW pigs [≤ 1.25 kg] only and MX = both LBiW and normal birth weight pigs [1.6 to 2.0 kg]); half of the litters within a type were supplemented with milk and the other half were not. The behavior of litters given milk was recorded to identify milk consumption patterns. Piglets were weaned at d 28 and kept in their litters until d 70 and then subsequently housed in mixed groups until slaughter. No difference was observed at any stage in the ADG of pigs given access to supplementary milk or not (P > 0.05) nor was there any significant interaction between milk provision and litter composition (P > 0.05). However, LOW litters drank significantly more supplementary milk than MX litters (P < 0.001). There was a significant effect of litter type on ADG from d 14 to 28, with LBiW pigs in LOW litters performing better than those in MX litters (0.252 versus 0.217 kg/d; P < 0.05). At weaning, LBiW piglets in LOW litters weighed over 500 g more than those in MX litters (P < 0.05). In MX litters there was a significant interaction between birth weight and supplementary milk on the CV of BW from d 14 to slaughter (P < 0.05). In conclusion, grouping LBiW piglets with similar sized littermates preweaning can improve preweaning performance by reducing competition from heavier littermates; however, this advantage does not persist after weaning. Although supplementary milk does not improve LBiW pig performance before or after weaning, it affects their drinking behavior and can reduce the variation in the BW of LBiW piglets in mixed litters to slaughter.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Douglas
- School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
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Bozděchová B, Illmann G, Andersen IL, Haman J, Ehrlenbruch R. Litter competition during nursings and its effect on sow response on Day 2 postpartum. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Thonhauser KE, Raveh S, Hettyey A, Beissmann H, Penn DJ. Why do female mice mate with multiple males? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013; 67:1961-1970. [PMID: 24273373 PMCID: PMC3827896 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1604-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Females often show multi-male mating (MMM), but the adaptive functions are unclear. We tested whether female house mice (Mus musculus musculus) show MMM when they can choose their mates without male coercion. We released 32 females into separate enclosures where they could choose to mate with two neighboring males that were restricted to their own territories. We also tested whether females increase MMM when the available males appeared unable to exclude intruders from their territories. To manipulate territorial intrusion, we introduced scent-marked tiles from the neighboring males into males' territories, or we rearranged tiles within males' own territories as a control. Each female was tested in treatment and control conditions and we conducted paternity analyses on the 57 litters produced. We found that 46 % of litters were multiply sired, indicating that multiple paternity is common when females can choose their mates. Intrusion did not increase multiple paternity, though multiple paternity was significantly greater in the first trial when the males were virgins compared to the second trial. Since virgin male mice are highly infanticidal, this finding is consistent with the infanticide avoidance hypothesis. We also found that multiple paternity was higher when competing males showed small differences in their amount of scent marking, suggesting that females reduce MMM when they can detect differences in males' quality. Finally, multiple paternity was associated with increased litter size but only in the intrusion treatment, which suggests that the effect of multiple paternity on offspring number is dependent on male-male interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin E Thonhauser
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
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Gamelon M, Douhard M, Baubet E, Gimenez O, Brandt S, Gaillard JM. Fluctuating food resources influence developmental plasticity in wild boar. Biol Lett 2013; 9:20130419. [PMID: 23904566 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To maximize long-term average reproductive success, individuals can diversify the phenotypes of offspring produced within a reproductive event by displaying the 'coin-flipping' tactic. Wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) females have been reported to adopt this tactic. However, whether the magnitude of developmental plasticity within a litter depends on stochasticity in food resources has not been yet investigated. From long-term monitoring, we found that juvenile females produced similar-sized fetuses within a litter independent of food availability. By contrast, adult females adjusted their relative allocation to littermates to the amount of food resources, by providing a similar allocation to all littermates in years of poor food resources but producing highly diversified offspring phenotypes within a litter in years of abundant food resources. By minimizing sibling rivalry, such a plastic reproductive tactic allows adult wild boar females to maximize the number of littermates for a given breeding event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlène Gamelon
- UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université de Lyon, 69000 Lyon, France.
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Buob M, Meagher R, Dawson L, Palme R, Haley D, Mason G. Providing ‘get-away bunks’ and other enrichments to primiparous adult female mink improves their reproductive productivity. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad Universitaria; México; DF; Mexico
| | - Hans Distel
- Institut für Medizinische Psychologie; Ludwig-Maximilians Universität; München; Germany
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Arteaga L, Rödel HG, Elizalde MT, González D, Hudson R. The Pattern of Nipple Use Before Weaning Among Littermates of the Domestic Dog. Ethology 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Arteaga
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta; Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala; Tlaxcala; Mexico
| | - Heiko G. Rödel
- Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité; Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée; Villetaneuse; France
| | - Marise T. Elizalde
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Mexico; DF; Mexico
| | - Daniel González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Mexico; DF; Mexico
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Mexico; DF; Mexico
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Impact of social stress during gestation and environmental enrichment during lactation on the maternal behavior of sows. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Can sow pre-lying communication or good piglet condition prevent piglets from getting crushed? Appl Anim Behav Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Špinka M, Illmann G, Haman J, Šimeček P, Šilerová J. Milk ejection solicitations and non-nutritive nursings: an honest signaling system of need in domestic pigs? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1155-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Andersen IL, Nævdal E, Bøe KE. Maternal investment, sibling competition, and offspring survival with increasing litter size and parity in pigs (Sus scrofa). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2011; 65:1159-1167. [PMID: 21743767 PMCID: PMC3096772 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-010-1128-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2010] [Revised: 11/17/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of litter size and parity on sibling competition, piglet survival, and weight gain. It was predicted that competition for teats would increase with increasing litter size, resulting in a higher mortality due to maternal infanticide (i.e., crushing) and starvation, thus keeping the number of surviving piglets constant. We predicted negative effects on weight gain with increasing litter size. Based on maternal investment theory, we also predicted that piglet mortality would be higher for litters born late in a sow's life and thus that the number of surviving piglets would be higher in early litters. As predicted, piglet mortality increased with increasing litter size both due to an increased proportion of crushed piglets, where most of them failed in the teat competition, and due to starvation caused by increased sibling competition, resulting in a constant number of survivors. Piglet weight at day 1 and growth until weaning also declined with increasing litter size. Sows in parity four had higher piglet mortality due to starvation, but the number of surviving piglets was not affected by parity. In conclusion, piglet mortality caused by maternal crushing of piglets, many of which had no teat success, and starvation caused by sibling competition, increased with increasing litter size for most sow parities. The constant number of surviving piglets at the time of weaning suggests that 10 to 11 piglets could be close to the upper limit that the domestic sow is capable of taking care of.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inger Lise Andersen
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Eric Nævdal
- Frisch Centre, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Knut Egil Bøe
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
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Marques PAM, Leonard ML, Horn AG, Contasti A. How Nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) Integrate their Responses to Hunger and Signalling by Nestmates. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01859.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Rödel HG, Meyer S, Prager G, Stefanski V, Hudson R. Litter size is negatively correlated with corticosterone levels in weanling and juvenile laboratory rats. Physiol Behav 2010; 99:644-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2009] [Revised: 01/14/2010] [Accepted: 01/26/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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49
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Porcine models for the metabolic syndrome, digestive and bone disorders: a general overview. Animal 2010; 4:899-920. [DOI: 10.1017/s1751731110000200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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50
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Hodge S, Thornton A, Flower T, Clutton-Brock T. Food limitation increases aggression in juvenile meerkats. Behav Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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