AbstractsMedical & Health Science

It is well-known that prepartum sows have a strong instinct to build a nest before parturition. Under commercial conditions, however, the farrowing crate, widely used in modern pig husbandry, restricts this innate behaviour due to the lack of space, materials or both. Restriction of nest-building (NB) behaviour could generate an increase in physiological stress, resulting in a decrease in endogenous hormones, especially oxytocin (OT), which is recognized for its effect on reproductive and behavioural characteristics in mammals. The role of OT in modulation of maternal behaviour, parturition, and lactation has been demonstrated in a wide range of species, including pigs. It is also known that OT is related to the stress reaction, that it reduces anxiety and that it plays a part in emotional reactions in social situations. This study evaluated the effects of provision of space and abundant nesting materials on actual NB behaviour and circulating OT concentrations in prepartum sows. In addition, it also investigated whether facilitating prepartum NB behaviour could improve postpartum maternal characteristics during early lactation, possibly because of elevated OT concentrations in sows. All sows included in the experiment, approximately seven days before the expected parturition date, were housed in: 1) CRATE: the farrowing crate closed (210 × 80 cm), with provision of a bucketful of sawdust, 2) PEN: the farrowing crate opened, with provision of a bucketful of sawdust, and 3) NEST: the farrowing crate opened, with provision of abundant nesting materials. All sows were confined to the farrowing crates, without additional supply of nesting materials, after the first piglet was delivered until seven days post-parturition. Sow blood samples were collected for hormonal assays via indwelling ear vein catheters on days -3, -2, -1, +1, +2, +4 and +7 from parturition, twice a day. Pigs were video-recorded to observe prepartum NB, postpartum nursing and carefulness behaviour. Blood samples from piglets were collected to determine immunoglobulin concentrations. The longest duration of NB behaviour was observed in NEST sows, followed by PEN and CRATE sows respectively (III), and this duration tended to be correlated with prepartum OT (III). Both prepartum OT and prolactin (PRL) concentrations were greater in NEST than in CRATE and PEN sows (III). An interaction was recorded between prepartum OT and PRL concentrations (III). During the periods from days -3 to +7, NEST also brought about an increase in OT concentrations compared with CRATE and PEN (I), and PRL concentrations in NEST sows were also greater than for CRATE sows during those periods (I). From days one to seven of lactation, PRL concentrations were positively correlated with OT (I). Sows in NEST tended to have higher serum NEFA concentrations from days -3 to +7 (II). Piglet growth during early lactation was slower in CRATE than in PEN (II). Post-natal mortality, including piglet deaths resulting from crushing or other factors, indicated no differences between the…