Physiological and reproductive correlates of behavioural strategies in female domestic pigs

Mendl, Michael; Zanella, Adroaldo José; Broom, Donald M.

doi:10.1016/s0003-3472(05)80323-9

Cited by 233 publications

(123 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In the present study, no alteration in immune cell distribution and no shift from cellular to humoral immunity were found in stressed gilts. An absence of social stress effects on humoral immunity was also reported in 9-month-old pregnant gilts (Mendl et al, 1992). The lacking effect of cortisol elevation on the immune function of the pregnant gilts in our study may be explained by the particular physiological state of the adult pregnant female.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 48%

“…In agreement with our results, Otten et al (1997) found that aggressive high-ranking animals showed higher cortisol release in response to a grouping with unfamiliar conspecifics than low-ranking pigs. In contrast, Mendl et al (1992) reported higher basal cortisol levels in gilts of intermediate rank in comparison to high-and no-success gilts 5 weeks after grouping. This discrepancy can be explained by the fact that Otten et al (1997) and the present study investigated the cortisol response relatively shortly after grouping, whereas Mendl et al (1992) investigated it 5 weeks later.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…In contrast, Mendl et al (1992) reported higher basal cortisol levels in gilts of intermediate rank in comparison to high-and no-success gilts 5 weeks after grouping. This discrepancy can be explained by the fact that Otten et al (1997) and the present study investigated the cortisol response relatively shortly after grouping, whereas Mendl et al (1992) investigated it 5 weeks later. Shortly after grouping, the social hierarchy is still being established, whereas several weeks after grouping, social interactions between individuals were more predictable and the level of aggression was lower.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…The H gilts were more aggressive, and it can be hypothesized that additional fights occurred after the period of observation, inducing new stress reactions with adrenal axis stimulation. Such variability associated with the social rank of the pigs was also described by Otten et al (1997) in growing pigs of high or low social rank reintroduced in a new group after 10 days of social isolation and by Mendl et al (1992) in pregnant gilts submitted to a single grouping during mid-gestation. In agreement with our results, Otten et al (1997) found that aggressive high-ranking animals showed higher cortisol release in response to a grouping with unfamiliar conspecifics than low-ranking pigs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Effects varied from higher birth weight in the case of maternal ACTH administration (Kanitz et al, 2006) to lack of effect in case of maternal restraint and social stress (Tuchscherer et al, 2002;Jarvis et al, 2006) and to lower birth weight in the case of maternal cortisol treatment (Kranendonk et al, 2006). A lower birth weight of the litter was observed in pregnant sows that displayed higher cortisol levels in relation to their social rank (Mendl et al, 1992). Therefore, additional work is needed to clarify the relationships between the adrenal activity of the pregnant mother and foetal growth in pigs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behavioural, endocrine and immune responses to repeated social stress in pregnant gilts

Couret

Otten

Puppe

et al. 2009

Animal

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Pregnant sows are exposed to various stressors in intensive pig husbandry that may have negative consequences on their health, reproductive performances and welfare. Social stress is one of these challenges, because gestating sows have to be housed in groups according to EU guidelines (2001/88/CE). The purpose of this study was to determine the consequences of repeated social stress in pregnant female pigs on their behavioural, endocrine and immunological responses and on pregnancy outcome. Pregnant gilts were submitted to a repeated social stress procedure induced by housing unfamiliar gilts in pairs changed twice a week between days 77 and 105 of gestation (S group, n 5 18). Control gilts were housed in stable pairs during the same period (C group, n 5 18). Agonistic behaviour was observed during the first 3 h after each grouping. Skin lesions were numbered 2 h after each grouping. Salivary cortisol was measured before and repeatedly during the 4 weeks of grouping. Gilts were immunized against keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) on days 81 and 95 of gestation. Immunoglobulins G against KLH, proliferative responses to concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharide, pokeweed mitogen and KLH and peripheral blood leukocyte numbers were evaluated 1 week before the first grouping and 3 days after the last one. Agonistic interactions and skin lesions were observed in S gilts at each grouping, although there was a decline between the first and the last grouping ( P , 0.05). The repeated social stress induced a sustained endocrine response as shown by elevated salivary cortisol levels from 1 to 48 h after grouping in S gilts compared to C gilts. The cellular as well as the humoral immunity and the leukocyte numbers were not influenced by social stress. Gestation length tended to be shorter in S gilts ( P 5 0.09), but litter size, piglet weight or mortality at birth were not affected. Variability of the response of S gilts to groupings was partly explained by their average success value determined according to the outcome (defeat or win) of all the groupings. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the application of repeated social stress to pregnant gilts during the last third of their gestation repeatedly activates their hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis but does not impair their immune function and pregnancy outcome.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 48%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behavioural, endocrine and immune responses to repeated social stress in pregnant gilts

Couret

Otten

Puppe

et al. 2009

Animal

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Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) in U.S. zoos: II. behavior, breeding success, and mortality in relation to housing facilities

et al. 1999

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The captive population of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is not self-sustaining. The reasons for suboptimal reproduction and high mortality need to be investigated. This can only be achieved by cross-institutional analyses of environments, behavior, and performance. In this study, we collected data on 23 zoos with black rhinoceros to compare zoo environments with reproductive success, mortality, and behavior. Institutional variation was characterized by enclosure area, percentage of walls around enclosure perimeter, percentage of public access along enclosure perimeter, climate, noise level, number of years zoo has maintained black rhinoceros, frequency of chlorine use, and number of male and female black rhinoceros at a zoo simultaneously. Birth and death rates for each institution were calculated from studbook records. We found that the breeding success of a zoo since 1973 correlated positively with enclosure area, and zoos with two or more females had a lower reproductive rate than zoos with only one female. Females residing during their pre-reproductive years at a zoo with another reproductive female gave birth for the first time on average 3 years later than sole females. Mortality since 1973 correlated positively with percentage of public access. In Part I, we developed behavior profiles of 29.31 individual black rhinoceros from keeper ratings. Scores for males on the behavior trait Fear also correlated positively to percentage of public access, and we suggest that this aspect of black rhinoceros exhibits is a stressor for this species, especially the males. We found that different aspects of captive environments are associated with male and female black rhinoceros behavior. Male scores on the behavior trait dominant were higher in smaller enclosures, and female scores for a group of behaviors suggesting agitation (chasing/stereotypy/mouthing) were positively correlated with percentage of walls in their enclosure. These two behavior traits were found in Part I to be negatively correlated with the breeding success of an individual male or female. We re-surveyed the behavior and husbandry of 29 36 Carlstead et al.black rhinoceros pairs in zoos 2 years after the original data were collected. The re-survey confirmed that compatible black rhinoceros pairs are those with assertive females and submissive males, and that enclosure area and a low percentage of concrete walls around the enclosure are positive predictors of a pair's reproductive success. We conclude that temperament traits of individuals and characteristics of their captive environments both have an impact on a pair's breeding success. Our study demonstrates that cross-institutional comparisons of zoo facilities, when integrated with behavioral assessments of individual animals, are a valuable tool for investigating potential causes of poor reproduction and wellbeing in zoo animals.

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Behavioral differences as predictors of breeding status in captive cheetahs

1999

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Individual behavioral variation of 44 adult captive‐born cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatus, was assessed using observer and keeper ratings on a variety of behavioral attributes. Inter‐rater consensus was high for most questionnaire items, several of which were significantly correlated with direct behavioral measures recorded in a mirror‐image experiment. Principal component analysis was applied to identify patterns of individual variation as measured by observer and keeper ratings. Three major components, labeled as tense‐fearful, excitable‐vocal, and aggressive, accounted for 69% of the observed variation. Females showed significantly higher scores on the component tense‐fearful than males. Non‐breeders of both sexes scored significantly higher on the component tense‐fearful than breeders. Assessment of individual behavioral variation through questionnaire ratings may therefore provide a simple and non‐invasive tool for predicting an individual's ability to adjust to the constraints of certain husbandry regimens and to reproduce in captivity. Simple measures of behavioral attributes may offer new insights for solving breeding problems and improving conservation management of endangered species in captivity. Zoo Biol 18:335–349, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Physiological and reproductive correlates of behavioural strategies in female domestic pigs

Cited by 233 publications

References 48 publications

Behavioural, endocrine and immune responses to repeated social stress in pregnant gilts

Behavioural, endocrine and immune responses to repeated social stress in pregnant gilts

Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) in U.S. zoos: II. behavior, breeding success, and mortality in relation to housing facilities

Behavioral differences as predictors of breeding status in captive cheetahs

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