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Van Kerschaver C, Turpin D, Michiels J, Pluske J. Reducing Weaning Stress in Piglets by Pre-Weaning Socialization and Gradual Separation from the Sow: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101644. [PMID: 37238074 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The weaning of pigs in most commercial pork production systems is an abrupt event performed at a fairly young age, i.e., mostly between 2.5 and 5 weeks of age. This practice induces a stress response, and its impact on behavior, performance and the gastrointestinal tract has been well described. Historically, there has been a focus on pre- and post-weaning nutritional strategies and post-weaning housing conditions and medication to improve production and reduce mortality after weaning. However, alternative pre-weaning housing and management systems that promote the development of natural social behaviors of piglets before weaning have recently received more attention. Co-mingling of non-littermates before weaning is a strategy that aims to initiate social interactions prior to weaning. The separation of the litter from the sow in the period leading up to weaning, termed intermittent suckling, aims to enhance the gradual separation from the sow. In addition, these practices encourage the young pig to learn explorative nutrient sourcing. Altogether, they may reduce weaning-associated stress. In this review, these strategies are defined, and their effects on behavior, performance, mortality, gastrointestinal function and immunocompetence are described. Though these strategies may be adapted to a commercial setting, it also becomes clear that many factors can contribute to the success of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Van Kerschaver
- Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Diana Turpin
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth 6151, Australia
| | - Joris Michiels
- Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - John Pluske
- Australasian Pork Research Institute Limited, Willaston 5118, Australia
- Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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Ipema AF, Gerrits WJJ, Bokkers EAM, van Marwijk MA, Laurenssen BFA, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Assessing the Effectiveness of Providing Live Black Soldier Fly Larvae ( Hermetia illucens) to Ease the Weaning Transition of Piglets. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:838018. [PMID: 35252425 PMCID: PMC8890697 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.838018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Weaning is a stressful event for piglets, involving substantial changes to their nutritional and social environment. Providing edible enrichment around weaning may ease the weaning transition by increasing pre-weaning feed intake and improving post-weaning performance, health, behavior, and affective state. In this study, we investigated the effects of providing live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as edible enrichment pre- and/or post-weaning. Pre-weaning, piglets received either only creep feed (Pre-C, n = 14 litters) or creep feed and live BSFL (Pre-L, n = 15 litters) ad libitum, and post-weaning piglets either had no access to live BSFL (Post-C, n = 24 pens) or they could rotate tubes that released BSFL (Post-L, n = 24 pens) at levels up to 20% of their expected daily dry matter intake, resulting in treatments CC, CL, LC, and LL. No interaction between pre- and post-weaning treatment was found for any of the measured parameters. Before weaning, Pre-L piglets preferred to interact with larvae over creep feed, and Pre-C piglets interacted more with creep feed than Pre-L piglets. Total time spent on feed-directed behaviors did not differ. Continuous larvae provisioning increased caecum length and proximal stomach digesta pH, while it decreased the passage of glucose and fluorescein isothiocyanate through the colon wall on d3 post-weaning (CC vs. LL, n = 12 piglets/treatment). Post-weaning diarrhea and final body weight were not affected by treatment. After weaning, Pre-C piglets tended to eat more and grew marginally faster than Pre-L piglets. Post-C piglets spent more time eating and had a higher feed intake post-weaning than Post-L piglets. Based on home-pen behavioral observations, Post-L piglets actively explored and ate the larvae. Post-C piglets spent more time on exploring the environment and nosing pen mates, and they spent more time on manipulating pen mates on d8 and played more on d8 & 15 compared to Post-L piglets. Piglet responses to a novel environment and an attention bias test on d4 & 5 post-weaning were not influenced by larvae provisioning. In conclusion, pre-weaning larvae provisioning did not improve pre-weaning feed intake and post-weaning performance, however post-weaning larvae provisioning did benefit piglet behavior as less manipulation of pen mates was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyson F. Ipema
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Walter J. J. Gerrits
- Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Eddie A. M. Bokkers
- Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Manon A. van Marwijk
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Bjorge F. A. Laurenssen
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - J. Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Early socialization and environmental enrichment of lactating piglets affects the caecal microbiota and metabolomic response after weaning. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6113. [PMID: 33731752 PMCID: PMC7969613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85460-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the possible impact of early socialization and an enriched neonatal environment to improve adaptation of piglets to weaning. We hypothesized that changes in the microbiota colonization process and in their metabolic response and intestinal functionality could help the animals face weaning stress. A total of 48 sows and their litters were allotted into a control (CTR) or an enriched treatment (ENR), in which piglets from two adjacent pens were combined and enriched with toys. The pattern of caecal microbial colonization, the jejunal gene expression, the serum metabolome and the intestinal physiology of the piglets were assessed before (-2 d) and after weaning (+ 3d). A differential ordination of caecal microbiota was observed after weaning. Serum metabolome suggested a reduced energetic metabolism in ENR animals, as evidenced by shifts in triglycerides and fatty acids, VLDL/LDL and creatine regions. The TLR2 gene showed to be downregulated in the jejunum of ENR pigs after weaning. The integration of gene expression, metabolome and microbiota datasets confirmed that differences between barren and enriched neonatal environments were evident only after weaning. Our results suggest that improvements in adaptation to weaning could be mediated by a better response to the post-weaning stress.
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Roelofs S, van Bommel I, Melis S, van der Staay FJ, Nordquist RE. Low Birth Weight Impairs Acquisition of Spatial Memory Task in Pigs. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:142. [PMID: 29998130 PMCID: PMC6028702 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In commercial pig farming, an increasing number of low birth weight (LBW) piglets are born, due to selection for large litter sizes. While LBW piglets have a higher risk of pre-weaning mortality, a considerable number of these piglets survive to slaughter age. In humans, LBW is a risk factor for long-term cognitive impairments. In pigs, studies examining the post-weaning effects of LBW on cognition have reported contradictory results. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the effects of LBW on cognitive development in pigs using an improved study design, by (1) testing a larger sample size than previous studies, (2) assessing acute and chronic stress responses to account for a potential altered stress response in LBW pigs, and (3) testing both female and male pigs to account for potential confounding effects of sex. Learning and memory of 20 LBW pigs and 20 normal birth weight (NBW) pigs, both groups consisting of 10 females and 10 males, were compared using a spatial holeboard task. In this task, pigs had to learn and remember the locations of hidden food rewards. After a pig had successfully acquired the task, it was presented with two successive reversal phases during which it was presented with a new configuration of reward locations. The holeboard allows for simultaneous assessment of working and reference memory, as well as measures of motivation, exploration, and behavioral flexibility. Mixed model ANOVAs revealed a transiently impaired reference memory performance of LBW pigs, implying they had more difficulty learning their reward configuration in the holeboard. Also, LBW piglets showed increased pre-weaning hair cortisol concentrations compared to their NBW siblings. No other effects of LBW were found. Sex had no direct or interaction effects on any measures of holeboard performance or stress. It is possible that the enriched housing conditions applied during our study had an ameliorating effect on our pigs' cognitive development. Overall, our results suggest LBW has a negative effect on post-weaning cognitive performance in pigs. This could have welfare consequences as cognitive skills are required for pigs to learn how to correctly respond to their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Roelofs
- Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ilse van Bommel
- Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Graduate School of Life Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Stephanie Melis
- Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Study Programme Applied Biology, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Den Bosch, Netherlands
| | - Franz J van der Staay
- Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rebecca E Nordquist
- Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Pluske JR, Turpin DL, Kim JC. Gastrointestinal tract (gut) health in the young pig. ANIMAL NUTRITION (ZHONGGUO XU MU SHOU YI XUE HUI) 2018; 4:187-196. [PMID: 30140758 PMCID: PMC6104527 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
An optimally functioning gastrointestinal tract (GIT) clearly is of importance to the overall metabolism, physiology, disease status and performance of pigs of all stages of growth and development. Recently, the 'health' of the GIT ('gut health') has attracted much attention despite the lack of a clear definition to the term or its aetiology, although in broad terms, 'gut health' encompasses a number of physiological and functional features including nutrient digestion and absorption, host metabolism and energy generation, a stable and appropriate microbiota/microbiome, defence mechanisms including barrier function and mucosal immune mechanisms, and the interactions between these components. 'Gut health' in the newly-weaned (young) pig is of obvious interest due to changes in GIT structure and function associated with the post-weaning transition, and more recently to the upsurge in interest in different feed additives as dietary alternatives/replacements caused by bans/reductions in certain antimicrobial compounds being available in some parts of the world. In the presence of enteric disease(s) after weaning, a deterioration in 'gut health' may be synonymous to the overall health of the pig, and although some direct relationships can be drawn between pig performance and efficiency and a 'healthy' GIT, sometimes this connection is subtler and less obvious, especially in the absence of overt enteric disease(s). The factors and conditions involved in 'gut health' are multifactorial, complex, often poorly described and sometimes incorrectly interpreted, although it is evident that perturbations of the GIT can cause an imbalance and disturb the generalized homeostasis. In addition to any enteric diseases or conditions that might arise as a result of these disturbances, other influences will also impact such as the responses occurring in the GIT in the period immediately after weaning, any changes that might occur after a change in diet, and (or) disruptions to meal patterns and hence the flow of nutrients. Ultimately, 'gut health' represents the outcome of the GIT in response to its capacity and ability to respond and adapt to the insults and challenges it encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Pluske
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Diana L. Turpin
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
- Pork Innovation Western Australia (Inc.), 20 Avon Crescent, Viveash, WA 6056, Australia
| | - Jae-Cheol Kim
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
- AB Vista Asia Pte. Ltd, The Mezo, 329682, Singapore
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