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Reimert I, Webb LE, van Marwijk MA, Bolhuis JE. Review: Towards an integrated concept of animal welfare. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 4:100838. [PMID: 37612226 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare is an important field of study due to animal sentience, yet there is to date no consensus on the definition of animal welfare. There have been four key developments in the field of animal welfare science since its birth: the theoretical and empirical study of affective states, and hence our understanding thereof, has increased; there has been a shift from a primary focus on unpleasant experiences towards an inclusion of pleasant experiences; there has been an increasing mention and investigation of the notion of cumulation of experiences in time, and with this, the importance of the time component of both affective states and animal welfare has come forward. Following others, we define welfare as a balance or cumulation of pleasant and unpleasant experiences over time. The time period of welfare depends on when welfare considerations are necessary, and may range from the duration of single and relatively short-term experiences to the entire life of an animal. We further propose that animal welfare conceptualised in this way can be assessed at three levels: level 1 represents the assessment of the environment and 'internal factors' such as health and personality, which interact in their impact on the affective experiences of animals; level 2 represents the assessment of affective states; and level 3 represents the assessment of the balance or cumulation of these affective states in time. The advancement of research necessitates studies to be more or less comparable, and this would be facilitated by researchers mentioning which concept of animal welfare they are basing their work on, at which level of assessment they are working, which assumptions they might be drawing from to infer welfare and which time period of interest they are focusing on, even if this is not mirrored by the timing of the assessment in practice. Assessment at levels 2 and 3 still needs much study, at both the theoretical and empirical levels, including agreements on validation tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - L E Webb
- Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M A van Marwijk
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - J E Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Tang T, Gerrits W, Soede N, van der Peet-Schwering C, Reimert I. Effects of Timing of Grouping and Split-weaning on Growth Performance and Behaviour of Piglets in a Multi-suckling System. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Tang T, J. J. Gerrits W, Reimert I, M. C. van der Peet-Schwering C, Soede N. Variation in piglet body weight gain and feed intake during a 9-week lactation in a multi-suckling system. Animal 2022; 16:100651. [DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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Dervishi E, Reimert I, van der Zande LE, Mathur P, Knol EF, Plastow GS. Relationship between indirect genetic effects for growth, environmental enrichment, coping style and sex with the serum metabolome profile of pigs. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23377. [PMID: 34862433 PMCID: PMC8642533 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02814-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Including Indirect Genetic Effects (IGE) in breeding programs to reduce aggression in group housed animals has been proposed. However, the effect of selection for IGE for growth on animal metabolism and physiology is unknown. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) To investigate the effects of this new breeding method along with two housing (barren and straw), coping style (high and low resisters) and sex (female and castrated males) options on the metabolome profile of pigs. (2) To identify and map biological processes associated with a regrouping test at 9 weeks of age. We used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to quantify 49 serum metabolites at week 8, 9 and 22. Also, we quantified 3 catecholamines (tyramine, epinephrine, phenylethylamine) and serotonin and three water soluble vitamins (B2, B5 and B7). Overall, no significant differences were observed between negative and positive IGE animals. The magnitude of change (delta) of many metabolites as a response to the regrouping test was significantly affected by IGE, especially that of the amino acids (P < 0.05), being greater in positive IGE pigs. The regrouping test was associated with alteration in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. In conclusion positive and negative IGE animals respond differently to the regrouping test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elda Dervishi
- Livestock Gentec, University of Alberta, 116 St and 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada.
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisette E van der Zande
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center B.V, 6640 AA, Beuningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pramod Mathur
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center B.V, 6640 AA, Beuningen, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert F Knol
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center B.V, 6640 AA, Beuningen, The Netherlands
| | - Graham S Plastow
- Livestock Gentec, University of Alberta, 116 St and 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
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Clouard C, Reimert I, Fleming SA, Koopmans SJ, Schuurman T, Hauser J. Dietary sialylated oligosaccharides in early-life may promote cognitive flexibility during development in context of obesogenic dietary intake. Nutr Neurosci 2021; 25:2461-2478. [PMID: 34565309 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2021.1975877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Oligosaccharides found in mammalian milk have shown the potential to alter brain development across multiple species. The diversity and concentration of these oligosaccharides is species-specific and varies greatly between individuals, thus understanding their role in cognitive development is warranted. We investigated the impact of early life dietary fucosylated/neutral or sialylated human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) on behaviours in tasks assessing anxiety, motivation, appetite, learning, and memory.Methods: Sixty-four female Göttingen minipigs were artificially reared from 2 weeks postnatal and provided milk replacers. The study used four groups: no additional oligosaccharides (Con), fucosylated and neutral oligosaccharides (FN, 4 g/L), sialylated oligosaccharides (SL, 0.68 g/L), or both FN and SL (FN + SL, 4 g/L) from 2 to 11 weeks postnatal. One reference group was sow-reared. Weaning occurred between 10 and 11 weeks postnatal, and thereafter an obesogenic diet was provided. Behavioral tasks were conducted over three periods: 1) 0-11 weeks; 2) 16-29 weeks; 3) 39-45 weeks. Tasks included a spatial holeboard task, open field task, exposure to a novel object, runway task, single-feed task, and home pen behaviour observation.Results: In the holeboard, the SL group demonstrated improved reference memory during reversal trials between 16-29 weeks. All groups demonstrated equivalent behavior in open field, novel object, runway, and single-feed tasks, as well as in their home pens (Ps > 0.05).Discussion: These results suggest that early life dietary intake of sialylated oligosaccharides may provide an improvement to cognition during the equivalent developmental stage of adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Clouard
- Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.,PEGASE, INRAE, Institut Agro, Saint-Gilles, France
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Sietse-Jan Koopmans
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands
| | - Teun Schuurman
- Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jonas Hauser
- Brain Health, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Nannoni E, Aarnink AJ, Vermeer HM, Reimert I, Fels M, Bracke MB. Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10112025. [PMID: 33153115 PMCID: PMC7693532 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The soiling of pig pens has important negative consequences in terms of animal welfare, health, workload, and environmental emissions of pig farming. The aim of this review is to present the state-of-the-art regarding pigs’ normal eliminatory behaviour (i.e., defaecation and urination) and pen soiling, aimed here at solving pen-soiling problems in existing systems, and in a following publication aimed at the design of a more sustainable pig-farming system. To this end, we summarize a large body of literature on pen soiling and pigs’ eliminative behaviour in different farming systems. We propose a “disease framework” interpretation of pen soiling, to help identify its causes, underlying mechanisms, and solutions. Abstract This is a comprehensive review on the pigs’ normal eliminatory behaviour (i.e., defaecation and urination) and pen soiling. This review is aimed primarily at solving issues with pen soiling in current systems, and ultimately at the future design of a well-functioning pig toilet, which we intend to elaborate on in a subsequent publication. In this paper, first, normal elimination is described in relation to what is known about its phylogeny, ontogeny, causation, and function, i.e., according to Tinbergen’s four why questions concerning animal behaviour. Then, pen soiling is described as if it were a medical disorder, highlighting its importance, aetiology, symptoms, diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention. Due to its negative consequences in terms of animal welfare, health, workload, and environmental emissions, possible methods to address pen soiling in current systems are described. Probably, pigs do not choose a specific place to eliminate but rather choose the most comfortable place for resting, and avoid eliminating there. We identified four main strategies to reduce pen soiling: (1) reducing the suitability of the designated elimination area to be used for other functions, especially resting or thermoregulation; (2) improving the suitability of other functional areas in the pen to be used for their specific function, such as resting and activity; (3) reducing the suitability of other functional areas to be used for elimination; and (4) improving the suitability of the elimination area for elimination. These prevention strategies and the encompassing disease framework provide a structured approach to deal with pen soiling in existing systems and to support the future design, development, and implementation of a well-functioning pig toilet that can help to achieve some of the main goals of modern pig production, namely reducing environmental emissions as well as substantially improving pig welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Nannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy;
| | - André J.A. Aarnink
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands; (A.J.A.A.); (H.M.V.)
| | - Herman M. Vermeer
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands; (A.J.A.A.); (H.M.V.)
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Michaela Fels
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine, 30173 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Marc B.M. Bracke
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands; (A.J.A.A.); (H.M.V.)
- Correspondence:
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Luo L, Reimert I, Middelkoop A, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Effects of Early and Current Environmental Enrichment on Behavior and Growth in Pigs. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:268. [PMID: 32582773 PMCID: PMC7287207 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Enriched environments are known to beneficially affect the behavior of pigs, as compared with barren pens. The influence of enrichment may, however, depend on pigs' early life housing experiences. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of early and later life environmental enrichment on behavior and growth in pigs with different coping styles. Pigs were housed in either barren pens or in larger pens enriched with rooting substrates from birth, and half of them experienced a housing switch, i.e., a loss or gain of enrichment, at 7 weeks of age, creating four treatment groups. Home pen behavior and body weight were recorded until 19 weeks of age. Pigs were classified as reactive or proactive based on a backtest at 2 weeks of age. Enrichment increased time spent exploring, chewing, and play and decreased oral manipulation of penmates and pen-directed exploring and chewing. Behavior of pigs that switched from barren to enriched pens or vice versa reflected not only their actual environment, but also their early life housing. As early and later life enrichment affected most behaviors in opposite directions, effects of enrichment, or lack thereof, after the switch were more pronounced in pigs that had experienced a different early life condition. For instance, pigs experiencing an upgrade from barren to enriched pens seemed to "catch-up" by showing more exploration and play. Conversely, pigs exposed to a downgrade displayed more oral manipulation of penmates than ones kept barren throughout, which particularly held for pigs with a reactive coping style. Effects of early life and current housing on several other behaviors depended on coping style too. Pigs housed in enriched conditions appeared better able to cope with weaning than barren housed pigs, as they gained more weight and had higher feed intake post-weaning. Barren housed pigs had a lower body weight than enriched pigs just before the switch, after which growth was mainly determined by actual housing, with enriched kept pigs having a higher feed intake and body weight. Thus, not only current housing conditions, but also a (mis)match with the early life environment may affect behavior and growth of pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Luo
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Anouschka Middelkoop
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - J Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Luo L, Reimert I, Graat EAM, Smeets S, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Effects of early life and current housing on sensitivity to reward loss in a successive negative contrast test in pigs. Anim Cogn 2019; 23:121-130. [PMID: 31720926 PMCID: PMC6981316 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01322-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Animals in a negative affective state seem to be more sensitive to reward loss, i.e. an unexpected decrease in reward size. The aim of this study was to investigate whether early-life and current enriched vs. barren housing conditions affect the sensitivity to reward loss in pigs using a successive negative contrast test. Pigs (n = 64 from 32 pens) were housed in barren or enriched conditions from birth onwards, and at 7 weeks of age experienced either a switch in housing conditions (from barren to enriched or vice versa) or not. Allotting pigs to the different treatments was balanced for coping style (proactive vs. reactive). One pig per pen was trained to run for a large reward and one for a small reward. Reward loss was introduced for pigs receiving the large reward after 11 days (reward downshift), i.e. from then onwards, they received the small reward. Pigs housed in barren conditions throughout life generally had a lower probability and higher latency to get the reward than other pigs. Proactive pigs ran overall slower than reactive pigs. After the reward downshift, all pigs ran slower. Nevertheless, reward downshift increased the latency and reduced the probability to get to the reward, but only in pigs exposed to barren conditions in early life, which thus were more sensitive to reward loss than pigs from enriched early life housing. In conclusion, barren housed pigs seemed overall less motivated for the reward, and early life housing conditions had long-term effects on the sensitivity to reward loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Luo
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - I Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - E A M Graat
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - S Smeets
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - B Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J E Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Luo L, Reimert I, de Haas EN, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Effects of early and later life environmental enrichment and personality on attention bias in pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). Anim Cogn 2019; 22:959-972. [PMID: 31250144 PMCID: PMC6834757 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01287-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We investigated effects of early and later life housing on attention bias, as an indicator of affective state, in pigs differing in coping style [reactive (LR) vs. proactive (HR)]. Pigs (n = 128) in barren or enriched housing from birth (B1 vs. E1) that experienced either a switch in housing at 7 weeks of age or not (creating B1B2, B1E2, E1E2, and E1B2 treatments), were studied in a 180-s attention bias test at 11 weeks. Pigs exposed to a 10-s-auditory-and-sudden-motion threat in the test arena paid more attention to the location of the threat, were more vigilant, showed less eating, more walking and were more likely to utter high-pitched vocalisations than non-threat pigs. During threat presence, HR pigs from post-switch enriched housing (E2-HR, i.e., B1E2 + E1E2) showed more vigilance but less exploration than others. After threat removal, no effects were found on time spent paying attention to the threat, vigilance, and eating, but E2-HR pigs paid attention to the threat more frequently, were more likely to utter high-pitched vocalisations and walked more compared to (part of) other groups, suggesting the most negative affective state in these animals. E2 pigs grunted more than B2 pigs. Thus, current housing, but not early life housing, affected behaviour in a personality-dependent manner in this attention bias test. Housing effects were opposite to expectation, possibly due to the short-term effect of the relative contrast between the home pens of the pigs and the test room. This potentially overruled putative long-term effects of environmental conditions on attention bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Luo
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elske N de Haas
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Dervishi E, van der Zande L, Reimert I, Mathur P, Knol E, Plastow G. PSIX-15 A pilot study to investigate the relationship between social behavior and serum metabolite concentration in finisher pigs. J Anim Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky404.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- E Dervishi
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta,Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - I Reimert
- Wageningen University & Research,Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - P Mathur
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center,Beuningen, Netherlands
| | - E Knol
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center,Beuningen, Netherlands
| | - G Plastow
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta,Edmonton, AB, United States
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Luo L, van Dixhoorn IDE, Reimert I, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE, Parmentier HK. Effect of enriched housing on levels of natural (auto-)antibodies in pigs co-infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Vet Res 2017; 48:75. [PMID: 29126442 PMCID: PMC5681819 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-017-0481-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Housing of pigs in barren, stimulus-poor housing conditions may influence their immune status, including antibody responses to (auto-)antigens, and thus affect immune protection, which will influence the onset and outcome of infection. In the present study, we investigated the effects of environmental enrichment versus barren housing on the level of natural (auto-)antibodies (NA(A)b) and their isotypes (IgM and IgG) binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), myelin basic protein (MBP), and phosphorycholine conjugated to bovine serum albumin (PC-BSA) in pigs co-infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae). Pigs (n = 56) were housed in either barren or enriched pens from birth to 54 days of age. They were infected with PRRSV on 44 days of age, and with A. pleuropneumoniae 8 days later. Blood samples were taken on 7 different sampling days. Housing significantly affected the overall serum levels of NA(A)b binding KLH, MBP and PC-BSA, and before infection barren housed pigs had significantly higher levels of NA(A)b than enriched housed pigs, except for KLH-IgM and PC-BSA-IgG. Infection only affected the IgM, but not the IgG isotype. Moreover, changes in MBP-IgM and PC-BSA-IgM following infection were different for enriched and barren housed pigs. These results suggest that the effect of infection on NA(A)b is influenced by housing conditions and that NA(A)b, especially IgM may be affected by infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Luo
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jantina Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik Karel Parmentier
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Reimert I, Fong S, Rodenburg TB, Bolhuis JE. Emotional states and emotional contagion in pigs after exposure to a positive and negative treatment. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Hoonhout L, Reimert I, Daigle CL. 003 Relationship between allogrooming and disease in feedlot steers: Social interactions may provide information about individual animal health. J Anim Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.2527/asasann.2017.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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van Dixhoorn IDE, Reimert I, Middelkoop J, Bolhuis JE, Wisselink HJ, Groot Koerkamp PWG, Kemp B, Stockhofe-Zurwieden N. Enriched Housing Reduces Disease Susceptibility to Co-Infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) in Young Pigs. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161832. [PMID: 27606818 PMCID: PMC5015855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Until today, anti-microbial drugs have been the therapy of choice to combat bacterial diseases. Resistance against antibiotics is of growing concern in man and animals. Stress, caused by demanding environmental conditions, can reduce immune protection in the host, influencing the onset and outcome of infectious diseases. Therefore psychoneuro-immunological intervention may prove to be a successful approach to diminish the impact of diseases and antibiotics use. This study was designed to investigate the effect of social and environmental enrichment on the impact of disease, referred to as “disease susceptibility”, in pigs using a co-infection model of PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae. Twenty-eight pigs were raised in four pens under barren conditions and twenty-eight other pigs were raised in four pens under enriched conditions. In the enriched pens a combination of established social and environmental enrichment factors were introduced. Two pens of the barren (BH) and two pens of the enriched housed (EH) pigs were infected with PRRSV followed by A. pleuropneumoniae, the other two pens in each housing treatment served as control groups. We tested if differences in disease susceptibility in terms of pathological and clinical outcome were related to the different housing regimes and if this was reflected in differences in behavioural and immunological states of the animals. Enriched housed pigs showed a faster clearance of viral PRRSV RNA in blood serum (p = 0.014) and histologically 2.8 fold less interstitial pneumonia signs in the lungs (p = 0.014). More barren housed than enriched housed pigs developed lesions in the lungs (OR = 19.2, p = 0.048) and the lesions in the barren housed pigs showed a higher total pathologic tissue damage score (p<0.001) than those in enriched housed pigs. EH pigs showed less stress-related behaviour and differed immunologically and clinically from BH pigs. We conclude that enriched housing management reduces disease susceptibility to co-infection of PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae in pigs. Enrichment positively influences behavioural state, immunological response and clinical outcome in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jenny Middelkoop
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - J. Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Henk J. Wisselink
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Reimert I, Elizabeth Bolhuis J, Kemp B, Bas Rodenburg T. Erratum to: Emotions on the loose: emotional contagion and the role of oxytocin in pigs. Anim Cogn 2015; 18:1193-4. [PMID: 26070872 PMCID: PMC4714008 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-015-0881-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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Ellen ED, Rodenburg TB, Albers GAA, Bolhuis JE, Camerlink I, Duijvesteijn N, Knol EF, Muir WM, Peeters K, Reimert I, Sell-Kubiak E, van Arendonk JAM, Visscher J, Bijma P. The prospects of selection for social genetic effects to improve welfare and productivity in livestock. Front Genet 2014; 5:377. [PMID: 25426136 PMCID: PMC4227523 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interactions between individuals living in a group can have both positive and negative effects on welfare, productivity, and health of these individuals. Negative effects of social interactions in livestock are easier to observe than positive effects. For example, laying hens may develop feather pecking, which can cause mortality due to cannibalism, and pigs may develop tail biting or excessive aggression. Several studies have shown that social interactions affect the genetic variation in a trait. Genetic improvement of socially-affected traits, however, has proven to be difficult until relatively recently. The use of classical selection methods, like individual selection, may result in selection responses opposite to expected, because these methods neglect the effect of an individual on its group mates (social genetic effects). It has become clear that improvement of socially-affected traits requires selection methods that take into account not only the direct effect of an individual on its own phenotype but also the social genetic effects, also known as indirect genetic effects, of an individual on the phenotypes of its group mates. Here, we review the theoretical and empirical work on social genetic effects, with a focus on livestock. First, we present the theory of social genetic effects. Subsequently, we evaluate the evidence for social genetic effects in livestock and other species, by reviewing estimates of genetic parameters for direct and social genetic effects. Then we describe the results of different selection experiments. Finally, we discuss issues concerning the implementation of social genetic effects in livestock breeding programs. This review demonstrates that selection for socially-affected traits, using methods that target both the direct and social genetic effects, is a promising, but sometimes difficult to use in practice, tool to simultaneously improve production and welfare in livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther D Ellen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - T Bas Rodenburg
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Gerard A A Albers
- Hendrix Genetics, Research and Technology Centre Boxmeer, Netherlands
| | | | - Irene Camerlink
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands ; Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Naomi Duijvesteijn
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands ; TOPIGS Research Centre IPG Beuningen, Netherlands
| | | | - William M Muir
- Department of Animal Science, Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Katrijn Peeters
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands ; Hendrix Genetics, Research and Technology Centre Boxmeer, Netherlands
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ewa Sell-Kubiak
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Piter Bijma
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University Wageningen, Netherlands
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Reimert I, Bolhuis JE, Kemp B, Rodenburg TB. Emotions on the loose: emotional contagion and the role of oxytocin in pigs. Anim Cogn 2014; 18:517-32. [PMID: 25385575 PMCID: PMC4320767 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-014-0820-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We studied emotional contagion, a simple form of empathy, and the role of oxytocin herein in pigs. Two training pigs per pen (n = 16 pens) were subjected to a positive treatment (pairwise access to a large compartment filled with peat, straw and some chocolate raisins) and a negative treatment (social isolation in a small compartment) in a test room using a within-subjects design. Thereafter, two naive pen mates joined the training pigs in the test room, but were not given access to the treatments. This allowed testing for emotional contagion. Subsequently, the naive pigs, serving as their own controls, were given 24 IU of oxytocin or a placebo intranasally 30 min before accompanying the training pigs, which were exposed to either the negative or positive treatment, to the test room. Behavioral differences found between the positive and negative treatments (e.g., play and “tail wagging” vs. standing alert, urinating, defecating and ears backward) show that the treatments induced a positive and negative emotional state in the training pigs, respectively. Changes in behaviors of the training pigs with and without naive pigs present (e.g., in ears backwards) and of the naive pigs with and without training pigs present (e.g., in standing alert) indicated that emotional contagion occurred, especially during the negative treatment. Oxytocin did not seem to affect the behavior of the treated naive pigs, but did affect behaviors (e.g., defecating) of the training pigs which had not received oxytocin. This suggests a role for oxytocin in pig communication, which merits further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inonge Reimert
- Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands,
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Reimert I, Rodenburg TB, Ursinus WW, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Selection based on indirect genetic effects for growth, environmental enrichment and coping style affect the immune status of pigs. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108700. [PMID: 25275507 PMCID: PMC4183536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigs living in intensive husbandry systems may experience both acute and chronic stress through standard management procedures and limitations in their physical and social environment, which may have implications for their immune status. Here, the effect of a new breeding method where pigs were selected on their heritable influence on their pen mates' growth, and environmental enrichment on the immune status of pigs was investigated. Hereto, 240 pigs with a relatively positive genetic effect on the growth of their pen mates (+SBV) and 240 pigs with a relatively negative genetic effect on the growth of their pen mates (-SBV) were housed in barren or straw-enriched pens from 4 to 23 weeks of age (n = 80 pens in total). A blood sample was taken from the pigs before, three days after a 24 h regrouping test, and at week 22. In addition, effects of coping style, as assessed in a backtest, and gender were also investigated. Mainly, +SBV were found to have lower leukocyte, lymphocyte and haptoglobin concentrations than -SBV pigs. Enriched housed pigs had a lower neutrophil to lymphocyte (N:L) ratio and lower haptoglobin concentrations, but had higher antibody titers specific for Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) than barren housed pigs. No interactions were found between SBV class and housing. Furthermore, pigs with a proactive coping style had higher alternative complement activity and, in the enriched pens, higher antibody titers specific for KLH than pigs with a reactive coping style. Lastly, females tended to have lower leukocyte, but higher haptoglobin concentrations than castrated males. Overall, these results suggest that +SBV pigs and enriched housed pigs were less affected by stress than -SBV and barren housed pigs, respectively. Moreover, immune activation might be differently organized in individuals with different coping styles and to a lesser extent in individuals of opposite genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inonge Reimert
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - T. Bas Rodenburg
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Winanda W. Ursinus
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Animal Behaviour & Welfare, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J. Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Ursinus WW, Van Reenen CG, Reimert I, Bolhuis JE. Tail biting in pigs: blood serotonin and fearfulness as pieces of the puzzle? PLoS One 2014; 9:e107040. [PMID: 25188502 PMCID: PMC4154847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tail biting in pigs is a widespread problem in intensive pig farming. The tendency to develop this damaging behaviour has been suggested to relate to serotonergic functioning and personality characteristics of pigs. We investigated whether tail biting in pigs can be associated with blood serotonin and with their behavioural and physiological responses to novelty. Pigs (n = 480) were born in conventional farrowing pens and after weaning at four weeks of age they were either housed barren (B) or in straw-enriched (E) pens. Individual pigs were exposed to a back test and novel environment test before weaning, and after weaning to a novel object (i.e. bucket) test in an unfamiliar arena. A Principal Component Analysis on behaviours during the tests and salivary cortisol (novel object test only) revealed five factors for both housing systems, labeled ‘Early life exploration’, ‘Near bucket’, ‘Cortisol’, ‘Vocalizations & standing alert’, and ‘Back test activity’. Blood samples were taken at 8, 9 and 22 weeks of age to determine blood platelet serotonin. In different phases of life, pigs were classified as tail biter/non-tail biter based on tail biting behaviour, and as victim/non-victim based on tail wounds. A combination of both classifications resulted in four pig types: biters, victims, biter/victims, and neutrals. Generally, only in phases of life during which pigs were classified as tail biters, they seemed to have lower blood platelet serotonin storage and higher blood platelet uptake velocities. Victims also seemed to have lower blood serotonin storage. Additionally, in B housing, tail biters seemed to consistently have lower scores of the factor ‘Near bucket’, possibly indicating a higher fearfulness in tail biters. Further research is needed to elucidate the nature of the relationship between peripheral 5-HT, fearfulness and tail biting, and to develop successful strategies and interventions to prevent and reduce tail biting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winanda W. Ursinus
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Animal behaviour & Welfare, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Cornelis G. Van Reenen
- Animal behaviour & Welfare, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J. Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Reimert I, Bolhuis JE, Kemp B, Rodenburg TB. Social support in pigs with different coping styles. Physiol Behav 2014; 129:221-9. [PMID: 24631308 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.02.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The presence of a conspecific during a stressful situation, i.e. social support, can considerably lower the stress response of an individual compared to experiencing the stressful situation alone. Pigs also benefit from social support, but it is not known whether the extent to which they benefit is dependent on their personality or coping style. In this study, therefore, the effect of social support on behavioral and physiological (i.e. salivary cortisol, heart rate and the heart rate variability parameters standard deviation (SDNN) and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)) stress responses was studied in pigs with different coping styles. Based on the backtest, piglets were classified as high-resisting (HR) or low-resisting (LR). At 11weeks of age, 12 gilts of each coping style were subjected to a 15min restraint test in a weighing cage without a pen mate present (i.e. no support treatment) and 12 other gilts of each coping style were subjected to this test with a pen mate, a boar with the same coping style, present (i.e. support treatment). With the pen mate present, LR gilts showed less standing alert behavior and they had their ears back less often than without the pen mate present. On the other hand, HR gilts seemed to spend less time on escaping the cage and more HR gilts seemed to urinate in the situation when the pen mate was present than without the pen mate present, but this was not significant. Independently of the test situation, HR gilts grunted more than LR gilts and they were more likely to urinate than LR gilts. Salivary cortisol concentrations were not affected by treatment or coping style, but were increased at 30min after the start of the test after which concentrations decreased again to starting levels. The heart rate and heart rate variability parameters RMSSD and RMSSD/SDNN ratio were not affected by treatment or coping style, but the SDNN was lower in the LR pigs during the first and last 5min of the test when a pen mate was present than without the pen mate present. In addition, heart rate and heart rate variability were increased during the test compared to before and after the test. No differences in behavior and salivary cortisol concentrations were found between the HR and LR accompanying boars. Although effects of social support were not found on all variables measured, the results do indicate that pigs may benefit from social support during a stressful situation and that pigs with a low-resisting coping style will likely benefit more than pigs with a high-resisting coping style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inonge Reimert
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - J Elizabeth Bolhuis
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - T Bas Rodenburg
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Behavioural Ecology Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
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van der Vinne V, Simons MJP, Reimert I, Gerkema MP. Temporal niche switching and reduced nest attendance in response to heat dissipation limits in lactating common voles (Microtus arvalis). Physiol Behav 2014; 128:295-302. [PMID: 24518859 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Revised: 10/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
According to the heat dissipation limit theory, maximum metabolic turnover is limited by the capacity of the body to dissipate excess heat. Small mammals, including common voles (Microtus arvalis), face a heat dissipation limitation during lactation. Pup growth and milk production are reduced under higher ambient temperatures. Heat dissipation problems might in part be alleviated by modifying behavior, such as reducing nest attendance and being active at energetically optimal times of day. According to the circadian thermo-energetics hypothesis, animals can make use of daily ambient temperature fluctuations to alter their energetic expenditure. In this study we test whether heat challenged (housing at 30 °C compared to 21 °C) lactating common voles allocate their time differently among behaviors and whether their ultradian and circadian behavioral rhythmicity are altered. Behavior was scored every 13 min from automated picture recordings, while general locomotor activity was measured by passive infrared detectors to assess ultradian and circadian organization. The effects of ambient temperature on the ultradian organization of behavior were assessed by determining the ultradian period length and the distribution of activity within the ultradian bout. Changes in circadian organization were assessed by the distribution of activity over the light and dark phase. As a complementary measure nest temperature recordings were used to quantify nest attendance distribution between day and night. Lactating dams at 30 °C reduced the fraction of time spent on the nest while increasing the fraction of time resting without pups away from the nest. The ultradian period of locomotor activity was longer in voles housed at 30 °C during pregnancy and lactation, but not after weaning when the pups were removed. No differences in the distribution of activity within the ultradian bout could be detected. The circadian organization was also modulated by ambient temperature. Lactating voles housed at 30 °C became more day active and a loss of day-night differences in nest temperature suggests a shift of nest attendance towards the night. Reducing the time attending the nest can reduce the risk of hyperthermia, and may be the behavioral component resulting in lower milk production and hence reproductive output. Becoming more day active allows feeding and nursing of the pups during the rest phase to occur during the night at which lower ambient temperatures are expected in the field. In natural situations this strategy will increase heat dissipation and lactation capacity. Whether there are similar benefits associated with a longer ultradian period is currently unknown, but these are likely to result from decreased energy turnover at 30 °C. In conclusion, our study shows that lactating common voles facing heat dissipation problems re-organize their behavior in a way that can maximize heat dissipation capabilities and thereby optimize lactation capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent van der Vinne
- Chronobiology Unit, Centre for Behaviour and Neurosciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, NL 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Mirre J P Simons
- Chronobiology Unit, Centre for Behaviour and Neurosciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, NL 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inonge Reimert
- Chronobiology Unit, Centre for Behaviour and Neurosciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, NL 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Menno P Gerkema
- Chronobiology Unit, Centre for Behaviour and Neurosciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, NL 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Reimert I, Rodenburg TB, Ursinus WW, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Responses to novel situations of female and castrated male pigs with divergent social breeding values and different backtest classifications in barren and straw-enriched housing. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Reimert I, Rodenburg TB, Ursinus WW, Duijvesteijn N, Camerlink I, Kemp B, Bolhuis JE. Backtest and novelty behavior of female and castrated male piglets, with diverging social breeding values for growth. J Anim Sci 2013; 91:4589-97. [PMID: 23942705 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2013-6673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pigs housed together in a group influence each other's growth. Part of this effect is genetic and can be represented in a social breeding value. It is unknown, however, which traits are associated with social breeding values. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate whether personality and response to novelty could be associated with social breeding values for growth in piglets. Female and castrated male piglets from 80 litters, with either an estimated relative positive or negative social breeding value (+SBV or -SBV) for growth, were individually tested in a backtest and novel environment test, and group-wise in a novel object (i.e., a feeder with feed) test and human approach test. All tests were performed during the suckling period. No differences between +SBV and -SBV piglets were found for the frequency and latency of struggling and vocalizing in the backtest (at least, P > 0.30). In the novel object test, piglets with a +SBV for growth touched the feeder faster than piglets with -SBV for growth (P = 0.01) and were more frequently present near the person in the human approach test (P < 0.01). No behavioral differences between +SBV and -SBV piglets were found in the novel environment test (at least, P > 0.40), but piglets that struggled more in the backtest walked more in this test (P = 0.02). Behavior was affected by gender in each test. Female piglets were faster than castrated male piglets to start struggling in the backtest (P = 0.047). In the novel object test, females were faster than males to touch the feeder and sample the feed. In the human approach test, they were also faster than male piglets to touch a person (all, P < 0.001). Females were also more frequently present near the feeder (P < 0.001) and person (P = 0.03). In the novel environment test, female piglets explored the floor more (P = 0.046), produced less low- (P = 0.04) and high-pitched vocalizations (P = 0.02), and defecated (P = 0.08) and urinated less than male piglets (P < 0.01). It was concluded that +SBV and -SBV piglets do not differ in their response to the backtest, and only subtle differences were found in their response to novelty. More research is warranted to identify the traits underlying SBV for growth in pigs. Moreover, castrated male piglets seemed to react more fearfully to each test than female piglets.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Reimert
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Reimert I, Bolhuis JE, Kemp B, Rodenburg TB. Indicators of positive and negative emotions and emotional contagion in pigs. Physiol Behav 2012; 109:42-50. [PMID: 23159725 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
For the welfare of group-housed animals, such as pigs, the emotional state of an individual pig is relevant, but also the extent to which pen mates are affected by the distress or pleasure of other individuals, i.e. emotional contagion, a simple form of empathy. Therefore, indicators of positive and negative emotions were investigated in pigs during anticipation and experience of a rewarding (access in pairs to a compartment with straw, peat and chocolate raisins) or aversive (social isolation combined with negative, unpredictable interventions) event. Thereafter the same indicators were investigated in naive pigs during anticipation and experience of a rewarding or aversive event by their trained pen mates. Positive emotions could be indicated by play, barks and tail movements, while negative emotions could be indicated by freezing, defecating, urinating, escape attempts, high-pitched vocalizations (screams, squeals or grunt-squeals), tail low, ears back and ear movements. Salivary cortisol measurements supported these behavioral observations. During anticipation of the aversive event, naive pigs tended to show more tail low. During the aversive event, naive pigs tended to defecate more, while they played more during the rewarding event. These results suggest that pigs might be sensitive to emotional contagion, which could have implications for the welfare of group-housed pigs. Pig emotions and the process of emotional contagion merit, therefore, further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inonge Reimert
- Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology Group, The Netherlands.
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Simons MJP, Reimert I, van der Vinne V, Hambly C, Vaanholt LM, Speakman JR, Gerkema MP. Ambient temperature shapes reproductive output during pregnancy and lactation in the common vole (Microtus arvalis): a test of the heat dissipation limit theory. J Exp Biol 2011; 214:38-49. [PMID: 21147967 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.044230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The heat dissipation limit theory suggests that heat generated during metabolism limits energy intake and, thus, reproductive output. Experiments in laboratory strains of mice and rats, and also domestic livestock generally support this theory. Selection for many generations in the laboratory and in livestock has increased litter size or productivity in these animals. To test the wider validity of the heat dissipation limit theory, we studied common voles (Microtus arvalis), which have small litter sizes by comparison with mice and rats, and regular addition of wild-caught individuals of this species to our laboratory colony ensures a natural genetic background. A crossover design of ambient temperatures (21 and 30°C) during pregnancy and lactation was used. High ambient temperature during lactation decreased milk production, slowing pup growth. The effect on pup growth was amplified when ambient temperature was also high during pregnancy. Shaving fur off dams at 30°C resulted in faster growth of pups; however, no significant increase in food intake and or milk production was detected. With increasing litter size (natural and enlarged), asymptotic food intake during lactation levelled off in the largest litters at both 21 and 30°C. Interestingly, the effects of lactation temperature on pup growth where also observed at smaller litter sizes. This suggests that vole dams trade-off costs associated with hyperthermia during lactation with the yield from investment in pup growth. Moreover, pup survival was higher at 30°C, despite lower growth, probably owing to thermoregulatory benefits. It remains to be seen how the balance is established between the negative effect of high ambient temperature on maternal milk production and pup growth (and/or future reproduction of the dam) and the positive effect of high temperatures on pup survival. This balance ultimately determines the effect of different ambient temperatures on reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirre J P Simons
- Department of Chronobiology, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, NI 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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